April 23, 2005

Box Score

MILWAUKEE, Wis. - Junior Aaron Sorenson scattered four hits over 6.1 innings and allowed just one earned run to win his sixth-straight start and lead the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team to a 4-3 win over Cleveland State, Saturday afternoon at Henry Aaron Field. The Panthers (15-18, 6-4 Horizon) and Vikings (8-21, 2-8 Horizon) have two games remaining in the series, as the day's second scheduled game was moved to Sunday.

Kolin Kelly hit a solo home run to put Cleveland State ahead, 1-0, in the second inning, but the Panthers struck for a pair of runs in the fourth inning to take the one-run lead. Senior Brooks Graff reached on an error to lead off the frame, junior Zak Rivera walked and junior Joe Nowicki was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Sophomore Nick Wichser put UWM with a single through the left side, scoring two runs.

After the Vikings tied the game on a Panther error in the sixth, Milwaukee regained the lead for good with two more runs in the bottom half of the inning. Graff was hit by a pitch, Nowicki walked and both runners moved up on a wild pitch to give UWM runners on second and third with one out. Wichser drove in Graff for his third RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly to center and sophomore Ross McCoy scored Nowicki with a double to left center field.

Sorenson (7-2) struck out eight batters on the day, while walking just one for Milwaukee. Junior Jed Dolske got the final two outs, surrendering an unearned run, for his league-leading seventh save of the season. The Vikings received a good start from Nathan Schaefer (1-1), who went 5.2 innings, allowing just two hits and three earned runs. He struck out five, but walked three in the game.

The Vikings pulled within one, scoring an unearned run it their final at bat. Ben Smith singled to lead off the inning and, after a UWM error, scored on an RBI single by Steve Chinn.

Every game of the series has been effected by inclement weather, as the first game of today's doubleheader was moved up an hour and the second game was moved to Sunday. The series concludes on Sunday, when these two teams will play a seven-inning game and nine-inning game, beginning at 11 a.m. Friday's game had been rescheduled from 7 p.m. to 3 p.m. to avoid rain and dropping temperatures.