March 6, 2004

Box Score

LAWRENCE, KAN. - The University of Wisconsin Milwaukee baseball team drilled 17 hits and rode the right arms of Korey Keller and Jed Dolske in claiming an impressive 9-7 win over the University of Kansas here Saturday (Mar. 6). With the win the Panthers (1-1) evened up the weekend series with the Jayhawks (13-8-1) with the rubber game set for Sunday (Mar. 7). The win was just the second in 30 games all-time versus the Big 12 Conference and the first in 13 tries when opening up the season at a Big 12 Conference school.

Kansas did draw first blood on this day, plating two runs in the bottom of the first inning and one in the second. Keller, the UWM starter, struggled with his control early in his first outing, walking and hitting a batter while throwing two wild pitches in the first two frames. The righthander settled down, however, and gave up just one hit in three consecutive scoreless innings.

Down 3-0, the Milwaukee offense went to work in the top of the fourth. Sam Jansen started things off with a triple to left center. After a Matt Alexander ground out Zak Rivera drove Jansen home with an RBI groundout. With two outs, Ross McCoy doubled and then scored on a Jeremy Wilson double to pull within one, 3-2. UWM then tied the game in the top of the sixth inning when Matt Alexander drilled a leadoff home run to left field. The homer was the second of the season for Alexander and fourth of the year for the Panthers.

Kansas quickly answered in the bottom of the sixth with two more runs off of Keller. However, the rightie was able to stop the Jayhawks from scoring anymore and left the game allowing seven hits and five runs in six workmanlike innings. The Panther offense then rewarded Keller for his efforts, scoring three runs in the top of the seventh to grab the lead for good.

Brooks Graff started the frame with a single and then advanced to second on a Charlie Reschke base knock. Ben Stanczyk then drove a single to right to load the bases with no outs. Pinch-hitter Blake Kangas struck out before Alexander's RBI groundout cut the lead to one. Then, with runners on second and third Rivera delivered the game-winning blow with a two-out, two-run double to right field.

The Panthers added three valuable insurance runs in the top half of the ninth inning thanks to McCoy's big stick. The redshirt freshman hammered a three-run tater to left center in the ninth, scoring fellow freshmen Dan Navarette and Robert Michalkiewicz to give UWM a 9-5 lead. The Jayhawks attempted one last rally but could only plate two runs in the ninth off of Dolske as UWM clinched its first win of the year.

Keller earned the win with his six innings while Dolske notched his first career save while allowing two runs on five hits in three solid innings. Six different Panthers enjoyed multi-hit games led by Sanfilippo's and Stanczyk's three hits apiece. McCoy finished the game 2-5 with two runs scored and three RBI while Rivera added three RBI and a 1-4 showing.

Milwaukee will look to take the series Sunday when the two teams meet at 1:00 p.m. at Hoglund Ballpark on the KU campus. Righthander Ben Stanczyk will take his perfect 6-0 collegiate record to the mound versus the Jayhawks.