May 19, 2001

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CHICAGO - Scott Gillitzer grounded a two-out single to right field in the bottom of the ninth inning to score two runs and give UWM a thrilling 7-6 victory over UIC Saturday afternoon in the Midwestern Collegiate Conference Tournament.

The Panthers (38-16) advance to Sunday's championship game, and will face upset-minded Cleveland State. The Vikings, the fifth seed, eliminated both Butler and UIC Saturday to advance to the title game. Cleveland State beat Butler, 10-8, before downing UIC, 2-1.

UWM trailed 6-5 entering the bottom of the ninth inning when Jason Crawford led off with a single. Derek Daggett sacrificed him to second base, and after Matt Houk grounded to third, Darin Haugom worked a walk to put the winning run on base.

UIC coach Mike Dee removed starter Wes Gilliam and brought on ace left-hander Steve Carlson. Carlson threw a wild pitch to advance the runners to second and third, and Gillitzer rolled a one-one pitch through the right side plating two runs and a crucial victory for UWM.

"This is a big win for us," Gillitzer said. "We can save some pitching. We now have the advantage. We just have to come back prepared to win one game Sunday."

Gillitzer saw a breaking ball and a fastball before hitting a breaking ball on the ground to right.

"When I hit it I saw both guys (the first and second basemen) going for it, but I thought it had a chance to go through," Gillitzer said. "It was exciting to see it get to the outfield."

The Flames scored three times in the top of the eighth inning to rally from a 5-3 deficit. Panther starter Quintin Oldenburg allowed back-to-back singles to start the inning, and catcher Kevin Nelson reached on an error, scoring a run. Mike Bruszer then hit a bloop single to right to tie the game.

Crawford entered the game in relief of Oldenburg, and after Curtis Granderson advanced the runners to second and third with a bunt, Crawford threw a wild pitch to allow the go-ahead run to score. But, Crawford then enduced Chuck Peters to hit into an inning-ending double play, and again threw a double-play ball to get out of trouble in the top of the ninth.

"He's a bull," head coach Jerry Augustine said of Crawford, who earned his fourth victory of the season. "He never gives in on the mound. He's a kid you put in that role because he's very tough mentally."

The remainder of the scoring in the game came early. UIC scored a single run in the top of the first, and the Panthers countered with three in the bottom of the inning - two on a Steve Guden double to center. The Flames (32-27) tied the game with two in the top of the second, but UWM scored single runs in the third and fourth - one on a sacrifice fly from Guden and the other on a solo home run to right by Derek Daggett.

Gillitzer had three hits, including the game-winner, and got all three hits off of left-handed pitching.

"He just sees the ball and hits it," Augustine said. "He's just one of those kids that concentrates and is so tough. What a great player and great hitter he is."

UWM is now one win away from the MCC Tournament Championship and the accompanying NCAA Tournament berth. Sunday's championship game begins at 1 p.m., with a second game to follow if necessary.