May 25, 2005

Box Score

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Junior Aaron Sorenson scattered three hits and one earned run over seven innings to tie a school record with his ninth win of the season and lead the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team to a 7-5 win over Butler in its opening game at the 2005 Horizon League Tournament, Wednesday afternoon in Indianapolis, Ind.

With the win, the third-seeded Panthers (23-29) advance in the tournament to play No. 2 Youngstown State Thursday at 3 p.m. The Penguins took three-of-four from UWM in the final weekend of the regular season.

Milwaukee was in control for most of the day, rallying from a 1-0 deficit to take a 7-2 lead into the eighth inning. The Panthers struck for four runs in the third inning to take a 4-1 lead. Seniors Brooks Graff and Steve Sanfilippo led off the inning with back-to-back singles and sophomore Ross McCoy loaded the bases with a walk. Junior Mike Goetz cleared the bases with his fourth triple of the season. Junior Jeremy Wilson drove in UWM's fourth run with a sacrifice fly to left field.

After allowing an unearned run in the top of the fifth, Milwaukee made it 7-2 with three more runs in the bottom half of the frame. Wilson led off as the first of four-straight singles and senior Charlie Reschke hit the last, scoring Wilson. Two batters later, Graff ripped a two-run double down the left-field line to cap the scoring.

In the eighth inning, the Bulldogs fought back within two at 7-5 on a three-run pinch-hit home run by Matt Martino. Joe Pauley had reached on a Panther error and Robby Santoni walked before Martino followed with his second home run of the season.

Sorenson (9-3) struck out five in tying Quintin Oldenburg's school-record win total from both 2001 and 2002. Sophomore Rob Brockel pitched the final two innings for UWM, allowing a pair of earned runs on Martino's home run.

From the plate, Graff finished with a team-high three hits, while Wilson, Sanfilippo and senior Blake Kangas each had two.