April 23, 2006

Box Score

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team scored four runs in both the first and second inning on Sunday, as it jumped out to an 8-0 lead in defeating Cleveland State by a final score of 11-6. The Panthers (17-18, 9-9 Horizon) took two out of three from the Vikings (7-26, 6-12 Horizon) on the weekend with the win.

Things started quickly for UWM as senior Mike Goetz hit a home run to lead off the game, a sign of things to come for Goetz on the day. He finished with five hits, tying his season-high with his 22nd multi-hit effort of the year. He extended his current hitting streak to 15 games and has hit safely in 42 of his last 43 contests.

After a four-run first, the Panthers tacked on four more in the second on senior Zak Rivera's grand slam - his third home run in as many games and fifth in the past 11 days.

The Vikings made things interesting with five runs in their half of the second off senior starter Rick Cavaiani (4-1) to make it 8-5. Cavaiani settled down from there, allowing just one more run in his 5.0 inning outing. He struck out seven while walking two.

Milwaukee would add two more insurance runs in the ninth, but relief efforts from seniors Korey Keller and Jed Dolske made sure that wasn't needed. Keller allowed just one hit in 3.0 scoreless innings, striking out two. Dolske pitched the ninth, allowing just one hit and no runs.

Goetz's 5-for-6 day paced UWM's 18-hit attack. Sophomore Jesse Hart added three hits, with junior Ross McCoy, Rivera, sophomore Grant Berkovitz and senior Matt Curran all adding two hits each. Rivera's four RBI was a game-high.

Milwaukee is back in action on Tuesday, taking a break from Horizon League action with a trip to Evanston, Ill., to take on Northwestern starting at 3 p.m.