April 1, 2006

Box Score: UWM 11; Wright State 6
Box Score: UWM 1; Wright State 5

DAYTON, Ohio - Senior Joe Nowicki drove in five runs and senior Mike Goetz had two more hits to extend his hitting streak, leading the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team to an 11-6 victory over Wright State at Nischwitz Stadium on Saturday. The Panthers (8-11, 2-3 Horizon) were unable to carry the momentum into game two against the Raiders (12-10, 5-3 Horizon), falling 5-1 in the second game of the doubleheader.

UWM used a four-run sixth inning in game one to break a 6-6 tie, with the entire rally starting after the bases were empty with two outs. Senior Jeremy Wilson walked and senior Matt Curran singled through the right side to get it going. Goetz then singled home a run to break the tie and give Milwaukee the lead at 7-6. After a hit batter loaded the bases, Nowicki forced a run in with a walk before two more runs scored on a failed pickoff attempt.

The Panthers held Wright State scoreless for the final five innings, getting fine performances from junior Mike Rauwerdink and senior Jed Dolske. Rauwerdink earned the victory (2-2) with 3.0 scoreless innings of work. Dolske shut the door on the Raiders, coming on in the eighth and not allowing a hit the rest of the way.

UWM found itself with a quick 1-0 lead when junior Rob Brockel hit a home run to lead off the second inning. Just as quickly the lead vanished, as Wright State got to senior starter Aaron Sorenson for five runs on six hits in the second to jump ahead 5-1. Milwaukee battled back immediately, getting four in its half of the third - three on a home run by Nowicki - to tie the game.

UWM outhit its opponent by a count of 14-to-12 in the contest, with five different players recording two hits. Goetz went 2-for-3 with two RBI, two runs and two walks. Nowicki had two hits and tied his career-high with the five runs batted in. Senior Zak Rivera (2-for-4), Brockel (2-for-5) and Curran (2-for-3) rounded out the multi-hit performances. Justin Wilson led the Raiders with three hits.

Wright State starter Chris Snyder (2-3) threw seven scoreless innings in game two, allowing just four hits in his outing while his team built a 5-0 lead.

The Raiders got to junior starter Robert Michalkiewicz (1-3) for a run in the third and three in the fourth to take the early lead.

UWM could not break through until the eighth inning, scoring a run when Nowicki singled up the middle to score Goetz, but left nine runners on base in the game and could get no closer.

Michalkiewicz went 6.2 innings, allowing all five runs while adding a strikeout. Senior Korey Keller threw the final 1.1 scoreless in relief.

Goetz had two more hits to extend his hitting streak to 27 games and raise his average to .521 on the season. Nowicki also had two hits for UWM.

The two teams return to the field on Sunday, playing the final game of the weekend series with a 12 p.m. CST starting time.