March 24, 2005

Box Score

BRADENTON, Fla. - Junior Aaron Sorenson surrendered just three hits and one run in hurling a complete-game victory to lead the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team over the University of Illinois, 4-1, Thursday morning in Bradenton, Fla. The game was the last in Florida for the Panthers (4-11), who were making their annual Spring Break trip to the state.

Milwaukee jumped on the Fighting Illini in the first inning, scoring in the opening frame for the third-straight game. Junior Mike Goetz and senior Brooks Graff led off the inning with back-to-back singles, while Goetz scored on a third-straight single by junior Zak Rivera. After a double play, Graff scored on another single, this time by sophomore Ross McCoy.

The Panthers scored a single run in each of the next two innings to push their lead to 4-0. Sophomore Matt Curran was hit by a pitch to lead off the second, reached third on senior Steve Sanfilippo's double and scored on a ground out by Goetz. Senior Charlie Reschke capped the scoring with his first home run of the season in the third inning.

After a lead-off double in the first, Sorenson (3-2) cruised to victory, allowing just one more base runner until the fifth inning. The junior transfer went the distance, striking out five in seven innings.

Goetz and McCoy led the Panther offense, collecting a pair of base hits apiece, while four more players hits safely in the contest.

UWM returns home Thursday, and is action next at Illinois State. The Panthers and Redbirds have a three-game set scheduled for April 1-3 in Normal, Ill. Game times are set for 2 p.m. on Friday, 1 p.m. Saturday and noon in the series' finale on Sunday.