May 10, 2006

Box Score: UWM 6; Bradley 1
Box Score: UWM 5; Bradley 4

PEORIA, Ill. - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team scored three runs in the final two innings on Wednesday night to hold off a late Bradley rally in a 5-4 victory at O'Brien Field. The Braves (22-24) scored four runs in the final two innings, but senior Joe Nowicki's home run in the sixth and two runs in the seventh were enough to lift the Panthers (26-20) to the non-conference victory.

The win is the fifth in a row for UWM, who is now 11-2 in its past 13 games and a season-best six games over .500. The Panthers won the opener by a score of 6-1 to kick-start the twinbill sweep.

In the nightcap, Milwaukee jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second on a sacrifice fly off the bat of senior Jeremy Wilson and a single from freshman Andy Hetebrueg.

It stayed that way until the sixth, when Nowicki's ninth home run of the season made it 3-0. Bradley made it a game in its half of the sixth, scoring twice on four hits to pull within a run at 3-2.

UWM added two insurance runs in the seventh, scoring on a wild pitch and a fielder's choice to push its advantage back to three runs.

Senior Jed Dolske came on to close out the win. The Braves made things interesting, but Dolske settled down for his sixth save of the season. Junior Kelby Mack (3-2) pitched 2.2 innings for the victory. Freshman Tim Hoy started, striking out four batters in 3.0 scoreless innings.

In game one, Milwaukee jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead and was ahead 4-0 before Bradley spoiled the shutout. The Panthers would go on to add two more in the 6-1 final, in control from start to finish. Three pitchers combined for the win, with senior Korey Keller (3-3) throwing the longest outing with 3.0 innings of work. He allowed one unearned run and struck out two. Dolske closed in game one as well, striking out three batters in two innings.

Offensively, senior Mike Goetz notched his 20th double of the year, tying the school record for two-base hits in a season. He had a hit in each game, extending his current hitting streak to 26 games. Sophomore Jesse Hart added a team-best two runs batted in.

Milwaukee will be back on the road again this weekend, heading to Youngstown, Ohio, for a key Horizon League match-up with Youngstown State. The teams start the weekend action with a single game on Friday, starting at 7 p.m.