March 19, 2005

Box Score

BRADENTON, Fla. - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team struck for seven runs in the eighth inning to break a 5-5 tie and go on to a 12-9 win over Rhode Island, Saturday afternoon in Bradenton, Fla. UWM (3-7) was playing its first game on a six-day, eight-game trip through the Sunshine State, while the Rams (2-9) were playing their final game of a similar road trip.

Milwaukee had trailed, 5-2, heading into the seventh inning, before knotting the score with three runs in the seventh and taking the lead with seven more runs in the eighth. URI fought back with four runs in the bottom half of the eighth, but could not get any closer against Panther pitching.

Offense was the story of the day, as senior Steve Sanfilippo went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and three RBIs to lead the UWM hit parade. Freshman Nicholas Wichser also tallied three hits, including a double and RBI, while sophomore Rob Brockel also drove in three runs with two hits of his own. Junior Mike Goetz entended his team-leading hitting streak to five games with a 2-for-5 effort, as he also collected a pair of stolen bases and an RBI.

Junior Aaron Sorenson (2-2) got the start and threw eight strong innings in picking up his second win as a Panther. The Sheboygan native scattered six hits and five earned runs on the day, while also striking out eight Ram batters.

UWM will play two games on Sunday (March 20) to continue the early portion of its Spring Break trip through Florida. The Panthers take on Vermont at 9:30 a.m., before playing Ohio State at 1 p.m.