March 4, 2006

Box Score

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Senior Mike Goetz extended his hitting streak to 17 games and senior Joe Nowicki and sophomore Grant Berkovitz each hit home runs, but it was not enough on Saturday afternoon as the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team dropped a 9-5 decision at No. 20 Missouri. The Panthers (2-7) out-hit the Tigers (8-4) for the second-straight day, this time by a count of 14-to-11.

Berkovitz hit a two-run home run in the top of the fifth inning to tie the score at 4-4, but Missouri responded with two runs in the bottom of the frame to regain the advantage before scoring a run in the seventh and two in the eighth to earn the victory and remain undefeated at home this season (3-0).

"I was happy with the way we battled them," assistant head coach Scott Doffek said. "We swung the bat pretty well today [season-high 14 hits], but just didn't throw enough strikes."

UWM jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first when Goetz led off with a bunt single and advanced to second on an error. Sophomore Jesse Hart singled him home and Milwaukee had a 1-0 lead before they took the field.

After breaking through for a run in the second off junior starter Robert Michalkiewicz, Missouri scored three more in the third, including two on John McKee's double to center field to take a 4-1 lead.

The Panthers chipped one of their deficit in the fourth when Nowicki singled, stole second and scored on junior Ross McCoy's single.

Walks hurt the Panther cause in the fifth, as two-straight Tigers reached base with one out on free passes. McKee made it hurt again, clearing the bases with his second two-run double of the day.

Michalkiewicz (1-1) took his first loss of the season with 6.0 innings of work, walking five with no strikeouts. Senior Rick Cavaiani threw the final two innings for UWM. Nathan Culp (3-1) earned the win for Missouri, allowing five runs (four earned) in 6.2 innings, striking out four and walking none.

Goetz, Nowicki and Berkovitz all had three hits, while Hart added two on the day. Nowicki, who hit his first home run of the season in the fifth, and Goetz both scored twice. For MU, McKee had three hits and his second-straight four-RBI day.

These two teams will get together for the final game in the weekend series on Sunday. Game time is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start at Taylor Stadium.