May 13, 2006

Box Score: UWM 3; Youngstown State 4 (12)
Box Score: UWM 3; Youngstown State 6

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Senior Mike Goetz set new season records for hits, doubles and hitting streaks on Saturday, but it was not enough as the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team dropped a doubleheader to Youngstown State. The Panthers (26-22, 14-12 Horizon) lost 4-3 in 12 innings in the opener before falling 6-3 to the Penguins (24-26, 14-12 Horizon) in the nightcap.

Goetz continued his record-breaking season with a 5-for-9 day, extending his current hitting streak to 28 games. That breaks the previous mark of 27 that he already set earlier this season and gives him hits in 55 of his last 56 contests. The former school record was 22 games.

He added double number 21 on the season in the first game, breaking the mark of 20 held by Chad Sadowski and Steve Tylke set in 1999. Additionally, his five hits on the day pushed his season total to 98, eclipsing the UWM record of 97 in a season held by Scott Gillitzer (2001).

UWM battled back from a 5-0 sixth-inning deficit in game two, getting on the board with a run in the sixth and two in the seventh. Senior Zak Rivera had an RBI-ground out to start the scoring before sophomore Jesse Hart made it 5-3 on the scoreboard with a two-run single in the seventh.

Youngstown would battle right back, adding a run of its own in its half of the seventh to push the lead back to three at 6-3. That was as close as it would get, as the Panthers last six batters of the game were retired in order.

Junior Robert Michalkiewicz (1-6) took the loss, surrendering just two earned runs in the game. He struck out three and walked two in six innings. Brian Boone (3-2) earned the victory, striking out eight and allowing just two earned runs in 6.0 innings.

The Panthers let a late lead get away in game one, allowing Youngstown State to score twice in the bottom of the ninth inning after taking a 3-1 advantage. Milwaukee senior starter Aaron Sorenson had a strong outing, pitching into the ninth before being relieved. Two base hits and a walk loaded the bases with just one out for the Penguins, setting the stage for the late rally. Charles Schultz plated the first run with an RBI-single before a bases loaded walk to J.D. Hannon forced in the tying run.

YSU then won it in the 12th when Brent Parks ended the game with a walk-off single, scoring Brandon Caipen who had walked to lead off the inning. Senior Jed Dolske (3-2) took the loss, allowing five hits and three walks in 3.0 innings. Sorenson worked 8.1 innings in the no-decision, allowing two runs, striking out six and walking none. Ryan Sellman (5-0) earned the victory with 3.0 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit.

UWM plated single tallies in the third, seventh and eighth innings to take the 3-1 lead. Goetz singled in a run in the third, Rivera had a run-scoring single in the seventh and senior Joe Nowicki followed with the same in the eighth. The Panthers failed to do more damage in the eighth when they had two runners on and just one out, as two ground balls ended the threat.

Goetz paced Milwaukee's 12-hit attack with a 3-for-4 effort. He also walked twice to reach base safely in five of six plate appearances. Junior Rob Brockel was the only other player with more than one hit, finishing with two.

These two teams will finish the weekend series with a single game on Sunday, set for a first pitch of 1 p.m. EST.