April 9, 2005

Box Score - Butler 7, UWM 1
Box Score - UWM 2, Butler 1

MILWAUKEE, Wis. - Sophomore Robert Michalkiewicz scattered just three hits over 6.1 innings to lead the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team to a doubleheader split with Butler Saturday afternoon at Henry Aaron Field. The Panthers (10-13, 2-1 Horizon) fell in game one, 7-1, before rebounding for a 2-1 victory over the Bulldogs (9-17, 1-2 Horizon) in game two.

In game two, UWM broke a scoreless tie, striking for two runs in the fifth inning. Junior Mike Goetz reached on an error to lead off the frame. He then advanced to second on senior Brooks Graff's sacrifice bunt and to third on a wild pitch. Junior Zak Rivera singled up the middle to score Goetz. Freshman John Sarcia was brought in to pinch run for Rivera and immediately stole second. The next batter, junior Joe Nowicki capped the scoring with Milwaukee's second-straight RBI single up the middle.

The Panthers carried the shutout into the seventh, before Butler loaded the bases with one out on a pair of walks and a UWM error. Junior Jed Dolske replaced Michalkiewicz and allowed a sacrifice fly to Jonathan Day, before inducing a ground ball to third for the final out of the game.

Michalkiewicz (1-2) picked up his first win of the season, striking out seven and allowing no earned runs. Dolske retired the final two batters of the game for his sixth save of the season, and fourth in five games.

After an unearned run in the first inning of game one put the Panthers in a 1-0 hole, they rebounded to tie the game with a run in th third inning. Senior Shane Davis led off the frame with a double and moved to third on junior Jeremy Wilson's sacrifice bunt. Two batters later, Goetz singled to center, scoring Davis.

Butler fought back with six unanswered runs, taking advantage of the long ball in doing so. Joe Dempsey led off the fourth inning with a home run, before Joe Pauley repeated the feat to lead off the fifth. Dale Mueller also homered in the fifth, as the Bulldogs scored three times in the frame and twice in the seventh for the 7-1 win.

Junior Rick Cavaiani (0-3) suffered the loss, allowing four earned runs in 6.1 innings of work, while striking out four. Junior Leroy Pederson retired both batters he faced, striking out one, to close out the game.

The series concludes Sunday at Henry Aaron Field. UWM's Korey Keller is scheduled to start against Butler's Jon Dages in the noon contest.