April 22, 2005

Box Score

MILWAUKEE, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team fell behind 7-0 after two innings and could not recover, losing to Cleveland State, 13-5, Friday afternoon at Henry Aaron Field. The game was the first of a four-game series between UWM (14-18, 5-4 Horizon) and the Vikings (8-20, 2-7 Horizon).

CSU jumped on Panther starter Robert Michalkiewicz (2-3), scoring five runs in the first inning and two more in the second to build a 7-0 advantage. Sophomore Rob Brockel replaced Michalkiewicz in the second inning and hurled 5.1 innings of relief, being hit for four runs in the fourth inning as UWM fell behind 11-0.

Milwaukee got on the board with four runs in the sixth inning. Sophomore Matt Curran and freshman Grant Berkovitz led of the frame with singles, and junior Mike Goetz walked to load the bases. Two batters later, junior Zak Rivera scored Curran with a sacrifice fly and junior Joe Nowicki cleared the bases with his sixth home run of the year.

After two more Viking runs in the eighth inning, junior Shane Davis scored UWM's final run after leading off the ninth with a pinch-hit double. Two batters later, freshman Jesse Hart had a pinch-hit single to score Davis.

Michaelkiewicz took the loss for Milwaukee, allowing seven runs in 1.1 innings, while striking out and walking two batters. Gary Ball (1-4) got the win, holding the Panthers hitless until a single by Goetz to lead off the fourth. Brandon Hewitt pitched the final three innings for his first save of the season.

UWM and CSU return to action on Saturday with a doubleheader at Henry Aaron Field. Game one is set for a 1 p.m. start.