May 7, 2005

Box Score - UWM 7, WSU 4
Box Score - UWM 14, WSU 6

MILWAUKEE, Wis. - Senior Charlie Reschke went 6-for-7 with six RBIs over two games to lead the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team to a doubleheader sweep of Wright State Saturday afternoon at Henry Aaron Field. Reschke went 3-for-3 with five RBIs in the game two 14-6 win, after the Panthers (20-22, 11-4 Horizon) took game one from the Raiders (18-25, 7-8 Horizon), 7-4.

Milwaukee broke open a 1-1 game in game one, scoring four times in the third inning. Junior Mike Goetz singled to start things off and scored after being followed by back-to-back doubles. Two batters later, sophomore Nick Wichser hit another RBI double, senior Charlie Reschke singled in a run and sophomore Rob Brockel put UWM up, 5-1, with a double off the top of the wall in center field.

The Raiders wasted little time in answering, mounting a two-out rally in the top of the fourth inning. Pat Masters led off with a single and, after two strikeouts, WSU put together four-straight hits. After a two-run triple by Ross Oeder, Brian Shoup singled in the team's third run, pulling it within one at 5-4.

UWM added valuable insurance runs on sophomore Nick Wichser's RBI single in the fifth and when junior Zak Rivera drew a bases-loaded walk in the sixth, making it 7-4. Milwaukee went up 1-0 early when Goetz led off the first inning with a triple to right center field, leading to the first run of the game. He later scored on a passed ball.

In its next time at bat, Wright State came back to tie the game at 1-1, opening the frame with back-to-back singles. A sacrifice bunt put runners on second and third, and the Raiders' scored on a sacrifice fly to left field.

Junior Korey Keller (5-3) worked five solid innings for his fifth win of the season. He scattered nine hits and struck out five before turning the ball over to sophomore Rob Brockel. Brockel pitched two scoreless inning, striking out two, for his first collegiate save.

A seven-run fifth inning in game two put Milwaukee ahead 14-6 after Wright State had fought to get within one. Reschke led off the inning with a single and reached second on an error. After a sacrifice bunt and strikeout, the next seven batters walked or were hit by pitches, including three with the bases loaded. UWM also got a run on a wild pitch, before Reschke picked up his second hit of the frame, a three-run triple, bringing the score to 14-6.

The Panthers jumped out to a 6-0 lead with three runs in both the third and fourth innings. In the second, Reschke and freshman Grant Berkovitz collected RBI singles, while sophomore Ross McCoy had an RBI double. A Wichser single, sacrifice fly by Reschke and Raider error provided the scoring the in the fourth.

Paul Majestic hit a three-run homer in a four-run fourth inning and Pat Masters slugged a two-run shot in the fifth to pull WSU within one at 7-6, but it would not get any closer.

Sophomore Robert Michalkiewicz (3-4) threw four innings for the win, allowing six hits and four runs. He also struck out one, before sophomore Mike Rauwerdink hurled two innings with a pair of strikeouts. Junior Leroy Pederson completed the game with a scoreless seventh.

Every Panther starter reached base twice and scored at least once on the day to provide a balanced offensive attack. Reschke and Goetz each collected three hits in game one, while Wichser, Brockel, Berkovitz and Nowicki each had multi-hit games.

Reschke's day also marked some milestones in his career at Milwaukee, as he tied the school record with his 45th career double in game one. The Sheboygan native also moved into second on the career hits list with his six for the day. He now has 198 and is within two of becoming the second Panther with 200 career hits.

The series concludes Sunday with a single game at Miller Park. Game time is set for approximately 5 p.m., as it is to follow the Milwaukee Brewers vs. New York Mets at 1:05 p.m.