April 11, 2006

Box Score: UWM 2; UIC 24
Box Score: UWM 5; UIC 8

MILWAUKEE - The University of Illinois at Chicago scored six runs - four of them unearned - in the final three innings on Tuesday, giving it an 8-5 victory over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team in game two of a doubleheader at Henry Aaron Field. The Flames (17-12, 9-2 Horizon) completed the sweep with the win after dropping the Panthers (12-15, 5-6 Horizon) by a score of 24-2 in the opener.

UWM rebounded quickly from its game one loss, jumping to a 3-0 lead in the first inning of game two off UIC starter Zach Peterson, the Horizon League ERA leader.

Senior Mike Goetz singled up the middle to lead off the contest and advanced to second on a single by sophomore Jesse Hart. After a sacrifice bunt from senior Zak Rivera, junior Rob Brockel plated the first run with a sacrifice fly. The Flames then helped UWM with an error on a failed pickoff attempt, leading to another to make it 2-0. Junior Ross McCoy singled home the final tally to make it 3-0.

The Flames would score once in each of the third and fourth innings, but senior starter Korey Keller and the Milwaukee defense kept things under control. UWM would throw two runners out at the plate in this game and turn an unconventional double play on a suicide squeeze attempt to keep it tight.

Senior Joe Nowicki gave the Panthers a big insurance run in the fifth, making it 4-2 on the scoreboard. Things then fell apart for UWM late, as the Flames would score four of their six runs in the final three innings with the help of Milwaukee miscues.

Hart, Nowicki and McCoy all had two hits for the Panthers in game two. Larry Gempp, Jr., led UIC with a game-high three safeties and added two RBI. Adam Worthington (3-0) earned the win with 3.0 innings of work, allowing just one hit - McCoy's fourth home run of the season - in his outing. Senior Jed Dolske (1-1) took the loss.

The Flames put game one out of reach quickly, as they roughed up junior starter Robert Michalkiewicz (1-4) for six runs in the first inning, including Bart Babineaux's three-run home run. They put up runs in each of the first three innings, making it 11-0 at that point and cruising from there, winning for the 14th time in their last 17 games and ending Milwaukee's win streak at four games.

Babineaux finished with two home runs and five runs batted in, while Chad Schroeder, Mark Hallberg and Nick Rainwater all had three hits. For UWM, Hart was the only player with more than one hit, going 2-for-4 with an RBI. UIC starter Joel Skinner (3-3) allowed no runs on three hits in six complete.

Milwaukee will look to get back on track on Wednesday, when they travel to Chicago, Ill., for a non-conference tilt with Chicago State. Game time against the Cougars is scheduled for 3 p.m.