April 2, 2006

Box Score

DAYTON, Ohio - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team lost a pitchers duel to Wright State on Sunday afternoon, falling 2-0 in a game that featured just seven total hits by both teams. The Panthers (8-12, 2-4 Horizon) put two runners on base with just one out in the ninth, but could not break through against the Raiders (13-10, 6-3 Horizon).

Senior Rick Cavaiani (1-1) put together a strong outing for the second-straight start, allowing just three hits in the complete game effort. He tied his career-high with eight strikeouts and walked just one batter.

"Rick threw just an outstanding game again today," assistant head coach Scott Doffek said. "We just couldn't get any two-out hits today. It's really a shame that we spoiled such a great pitching performance."

Wright State scored two runs in the second courtesy of a leadoff walk, a triple by John Kopilchack and a run-scoring ground out. After that, Cavaiani dominated. He faced the minimum through the final six innings, allowing only a single in the sixth by Brian Shoup who was then caught stealing. He retired 12-straight from the end of the second through the middle of the sixth, and the final seven batters of the game - four by strikeout.

UWM mounted a final rally in the ninth, starting with a leadoff walk to senior Mike Goetz. After one out, junior Ross McCoy singled to right field to put two on. Raider reliever Joe Smith settled down, nailing down his league-leading fifth save of the season by inducing a fly ball and closing the game with a strikeout.

Wright State's Robert Barrett (3-0) also threw well, striking out three in 8.0 scoreless innings of work. Today's game marked the first time the Panthers have been shut out this season.

McCoy had two of Milwaukee's four hits, as WSU brought an end to Goetz's school-record 27-game hitting streak. Goetz finished 0-for-2 with two walks, marking the first time since May 21 of last season that he failed to get a hit. Shoup had two of the three Raider hits in the game.

"He [Goetz] is a special type of player," Doffek said. "As a coach, it's exciting to see a kid come to play every day and not give up an at-bat. Knowing Mike and his work ethic, it won't take long for him to start a new one."

The Panthers get just one day off, heading to Indiana on Tuesday for a non-conference doubleheader against Indiana State. Game one against the Sycamores is set for a 3 p.m. start.