April 23, 2004

Box Score

EASTLAKE, Ohio - Junior Ben Stanczyk struck out a career-high 13 batters and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee built an early 5-0 lead en route to a 6-4 win over Cleveland State in the opener of a four-game Horizon League series Friday night.

UWM (14-18, 5-4 Horizon) scored twice in the third inning and added three more runs in the fifth to give Stanczyk (4-3) all of the cushion he would need in his second complete game of the season. He allowed just one run in the first eight innings before the Vikings rallied for three in the ninth to make the game close.

Matt Alexander had three hits while Stanczyk and Charlie Reschke collected two hits apiece for the Panthers, who won for the second-straight time.

David Boyza (1-5) allowed all six runs and nine hits for the Vikings (7-20, 5-4), who dropped into a three-way tie with UWM and Butler for second place in the Horizon League.

The Panthers' two-run third started after two outs. Stanczyk was hit by a pitch before Alexander singled to left. Reschke followed with a double to right-center, bringing in two runs.

UWM added three more runs in the fifth. Stanczyk again started the rally with a single and came home on an Alexander double. Reschke brought him in with a double down the right-field line and eventually came around to score himself on a stolen base and a throwing error.

Stanczyk, who won his second-straight league outing, was strong throughout the game, scattering 10 hits and throwing 101 of his 134 pitches for strikes.

The two teams continue their series tomorrow with a doubleheader. Game one starts at noon CDT.