April 10, 2005

Box Score

MILWAUKEE, Wis. - Juniors Zak Rivera and Jeremy Wilson each hit home runs in an eight-run fourth inning to lead the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team to a 10-6 win over Butler, Sunday afternoon at Henry Aaron Field. The win is the 300th career win for head coach Jerry Augustine, while the Panthers (11-13, 3-1 Horizon) took 3-of-4 from the Bulldogs (9-18, 1-3 Horizon) over the weekend.

Augustine became the first coach in school history to reach 300 wins at the Division I level. In his 11th season at the helm of the Panther baseball program, he now boasts a career record of 300-254-1 (.541).

After allowing three unearned runs in the top of the fourth, UWM bounced back with eight runs in the bottom half of the frame as 12 Panthers came to the plate. Wilson bunted for a single to lead off the inning and Rivera followed with his first home run of the season. Junior Joe Nowicki followed with a single, and sophomore Nick Wichser stroked a double down the leftfield line. Senior Charlie Reschke scored both runners with a single to left center field.

Three batters later, sophomore Grant Berkovitz got Milwaukee back on track with a single. Junior Mike Goetz followed suit with an RBI single, scoring Reschke, before Wilson returned to the plate and connected for a home run to right field. Before UWM was through, Rivera connected for his second extra base hit of the inning, a double to the wall in center field.

Butler scored two more runs in the top of the sixth on a two-run double from Dale Mueller to make it 8-5, before Milwaukee struck for two more runs in the bottom of the inning. This time, senior Blake Kangas had a pinch-hit sacrifice fly and Rivera drew a bases loaded walk to cap the scoring and make it 10-5.

Junior Korey Keller (3-2) threw seven strong innings for UWM, scattering six hits and allowing five unearned runs. He struck out eight batters in getting the win, his third in a row. Sophomore Rob Brockel pitched two innings of relief, striking out two and allowing just a solo home run in the ninth.

Wilson led the Panthers with three hits, while he and Rivera each drove in three runs. Rivera was joined by Reschke, Goetz and Berkovitz in collecting two hits in the game.

UWM returns to action Wednesday (April 13) at Miller Park, when it hosts Valparaiso in a single game. The Panthers and Crusaders will follow the Milwaukee Brewers vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, which is set for a 12:05 p.m. first pitch. Admission for the UWM/Valpo contest is free and has an approximate start time of 4:30 p.m.