April 27, 2006

Box Score

MILWAUKEE - Freshman Dan Buchholz knocked in the winning run for the second-straight game on Thursday, helping the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team to a 7-5 victory over Carroll College at Henry Aaron Field. The Panthers (19-18) used a four-run seventh inning to earn the comeback victory over the Pioneers (7-21).

Buchholz came to the plate in the seventh with two outs and runners on second and third in a tie game. He sent a chopper over the third baseman's head, plating two runs and making a winner out of the Panthers. His defense also helped close out the game in the ninth, making a tough catch on a pop-up in foul territory with two runners on base and no outs.

"Buchholz came through with another big-time two-out hit," assistant head coach Scott Doffek said. "And that pop-up was huge with runners on second and third and no outs in the ninth. That was one of the best plays I have seen, especially in those wind conditions. That was gigantic."

Milwaukee had to battle back against the Pioneers, who made the going tough through the early part of the game. UWM managed just three hits through the first five innings and finished the game with nine, just the second time in the past 10 games they finished with less then 10 hits.

"I give that team a lot of credit," Doffek said. "Their pitcher did a good job of keeping us off-balance, mixing his pitches, and we did not make an adjustment. I give him all the credit. But for us to come back and come out on top again was very good."

Down 5-3 when the seventh inning started, the Panthers had nobody on base and two outs when the winning rally started. Junior Ross McCoy walked and scored when senior Zak Rivera's ground ball when through the glove of both the Carroll second baseman and centerfielder. After senior Matt Curran singled, freshman Tim Patzman doubled to tie the game and set the stage for Buchholz's heroics.

Milwaukee had jumped out to an early lead in the game, scoring a run in the first when senior Mike Goetz singled, stole second and later scored on McCoy's sacrifice fly. The single in his only at-bat of the game extended his hitting streak to 17. Goetz has now hit safely in 44 of his last 45 contests.

Carroll then jumped ahead, scoring twice in the second and twice in the fourth to take a 4-1 advantage before UWM clawed back into it.

Junior Tom Zimmerman (1-0) earned his first win in a Panther uniform, pitching two scoreless innings in relief. Junior Kelby Mack worked a scoreless eighth and ninth innings with three strikeouts to record his second save of the season. For Carroll, Chris Foley (2-4) suffered the loss despite giving up just two earned runs. He went 6.2 innings, allowing all seven runs, walking four and striking out three.

At the plate, Patzman and junior Kyle Silver were the only Panthers with more than one hit, as each went 2-for-3. Jason Infusino led the Pioneers with a perfect 4-for-4 day at the plate.

Milwaukee returns to action Friday at Henry Aaron Field, opening a weekend Horizon League series with Wright State. The single game is scheduled for a 3 p.m. start.