Feb. 25, 2006

Box Score

EVANSVILLE, Ind. - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team loaded the bases with one out in the ninth inning, but could not push the tying run across in falling 3-2 to Eastern Illinois on Saturday afternoon at the Dunn Hospitality Diamond Classic. The Panthers (1-5) took a 2-1 lead in the sixth, only to see Eastern Illinois (1-1) score single runs in the seventh and eighth for the victory.

The Panthers had their ninth-inning rally come up one base hit short. With one out in the inning, junior Rob Brockel singled to right center to start the rally. Senior Matt Curran pinch-hit and singled as well, putting runners on first and second. Senior Mike Goetz followed with an infield hit, loading the bases. EIU pitcher Erik Huber then came on in relief and got a big strikeout for out number two and a ground ball to first to close out the victory for Eastern Illinois.

The game was scoreless until the fifth, with UWM junior starter Robert Michalkiewicz cruising. After giving up a leadoff single, Michelkiewicz faced the minimum through the first four innings without allowing another hit. The EIU Panthers finally broke through in the fifth, scoring a run with two outs after Brockel had thrown out a runner at the plate to preserve the shutout.

Milwaukee responded quickly in the top of the sixth. Sophomore Jesse Hart opened the inning with a single and advanced to third on sophomore Grant Berkovitz's one-out hit. After Hart scored on a wild pitch, freshman Josh Groves gave the Panthers a 2-1 lead with a single through the left side. Eastern Illinois tied the game in the seventh and then took the 3-2 lead with a run in the eighth.

Michalkiewicz did not figure in the decision but pitched well. He threw 7.0 innings, allowing just the two earned runs, walking one while striking out four. Eastern Illinois pitcher Mike Budde got the win with 3.0 scoreless innings of work, while Huber got the save.

Eight different Panthers each had a hit in the game, with Hart and Berkovitz accounting for the Milwaukee runs scored. Three EIU players had two hits, led by Bryan Blaskovitz who was 2-for-4 with two runs batted in.

UWM will wrap up weekend action at the Dunn Hospitality Classic with a final game on Sunday. They will take on Northern Illinois in a game scheduled to start at 2 p.m.