March 22, 2004

Box Score

BRADENTON, FLA. - One-run games will drive a coach crazy. At the rate the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team is going, head man Jerry Augustine may not make it through the end of the season. The Panthers played their seventh one-run affair in 11 games this season, this time dropping a 5-4 contest to Wright State University at the IMG Academy here Monday (March 22). The loss dropped UWM to 3-8 on the year and 3-4 in games decided by one run. With the victory fellow Horizon League foe Wright State improved to 7-11.

Milwaukee jumped out of the gates quickly and grabbed a 2-0 lead after one-half inning. Brooks Graff singled to start the game and then moved to third on a Charlie Reschke base hit. Then, with one out, designated hitter Zak Rivera ripped a single to left, scoring both Graff and Reschke while giving the Panthers the two-run cushion.

Wright State got one run back in the bottom of the frame, scoring an unearned run thanks to an error by shortstop Nicholas Wichser. WSU tied the game in the bottom of the third, again aided by a UWM error. The Panthers quickly regained the lead in the fourth inning when a Jeremy Wilson sacrifice fly scored Joe Nowicki.

UWM extended its lead to two, 4-2, with another solo run in the seventh. The red-hot Matt Alexander began the inning with a base hit to center field. Alexander then moved to third on Rivera's second base hit of the game. Third basemen Ben Stanczyk drove home Alexander with a sacrifice fly to centerfield.

Unfortunately for Milwaukee the lead was shortlived as the Raiders promptly tied the game with two runs in the bottom half of the seventh. Back-to-back walks with one out set the stage for Pat Masters who drove home both runners with a two-run double to left field. After holding UWM scorless in the eighth and ninth Wright State ended up winning the game thanks to its third unearned run of the contest. Stanczyk, who moved to the mound to begin the ninth inning, gave up a single and a fielders choice before striking out two consecutive batters. However, with runners on second and third and two outs Milwaukee catcher Jeremy Wilson let a Stanczyk pitch get away, allowing the game-winning run to score from third.

Milwaukee outhit Wright State 12-6 on the game but committed three errors to two for WSU. Sam Jansen pitched 6.2 innings and allowed just two earned runs and three hits while striking out five while making his first collegiate start on the mound. Stanczyk (0-2) was the tough luck loser as he was charged with the unearned run in the ninth. Nathan Stevens (2-2) pitched two shutouts innings of relief for WSU en route to his second win of the year.

The Panthers will look to rebound on Tuesday (Mar. 23) when they finish their spring break trip versus Dartmouth. UWM will face the Big Green for the second time in three days with the first pitch scheduled for 9:30 a.m.