April 15, 2005

Box Score

CHICAGO, Ill. - Sophomore Ross McCoy went 3-for-4 with a triple, home run and four RBIs to lead the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team to an 8-6 win over Illinois-Chicago, Friday evening in Chicago. The game was the first in a four-game league between the Panthers (13-13, 4-1 Horizon) and Flames (15-13-1, 1-4 Horizon).

Trailing 4-2 in the fourth inning, Milwaukee struck for six runs to take a commanding 8-4 lead. Senior Charlie Reschke led off the frame with a single and was followed by a game-tying, two-run home run off the bat of McCoy. The Panthers weren't done, as they rallied for four more runs after there were two outs.

Junior Mike Goetz got the rally started when he hit a two-out single. Senior Brooks Graff then walked and junior Zak Rivera was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Sophomore Nick Wichser followed with a three-run double to cap the scoring.

Milwaukee had jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, with a pair of runs in the second inning. Junior Joe Nowicki and Wichser led off the inning with back-to-back singles. Two batters later, McCoy stroked a triple to right center field, scoring both runners.

The Flames battled back to take the lead at 4-2 with four runs in the third inning. After a double to lead off the inning, UIC had a hit batsman and a walk to load the bases. Bryan Russo followed with a two-run single, before a ground out and sacrifice fly gave the home team the lead.

UIC added single runs in the fourth and sixth innings to cut the Milwaukee lead to 8-6, but could not get any closer.

UWM starter Aaron Sorenson (6-2) hurled a complete game to win his fifth-straight start. He allowed just seven hits, while striking out three and walking three for the game. His counterpart, Ryan Zink, threw six innings, allowing eight runs and striking out four in the loss.

Nowicki joined McCoy with three hits on the night, scoring twice, to extend his hitting streak to nine games. Goetz pushed a hit streak of his own to 10 games with two hits, while Wichser also finished with two hits for UWM.

Milwaukee and UIC continue the series Saturday with a doubleheader. Game one is set for a 1 p.m. first pitch at Les Miller Field.