May 2, 2006

Box Score

MILWAUKEE - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team scored twice in the ninth inning to make it a one-run game, but could not get the tying home in falling 8-7 to Northern Illinois on Tuesday at Henry Aaron Field. The Panthers (21-20) were unable to take advantage of their opportunities against the Huskies (22-23), leaving 11 runners on base in the game.

Down 8-5, UWM loaded the bases with one out in the ninth against NIU reliever Matt German. Senior Zak Rivera plated the first run of the inning on a ground out, putting runners on second and third with two outs but still down two runs. After another walk reloaded the bases, junior Kyle Silver beat out an infield single to make it 8-7. Milwaukee made it interesting against German, but he retired the next batter on a fielder's choice to leave the bases full and earn his 10th save of the season.

The Panthers had to battle back from big deficits twice in the game. NIU broke open a scoreless affair in the fourth with four runs off junior starter Robert Michalkiewicz. They battled right back though, tying the game with four of their own in the bottom of the frame to make it 4-4.

Junior Ross McCoy led off the fourth with his 10th home run of the season. Singles by Rivera and junior Rob Brockel and a walk to Berkovitz then loaded the bases. A run-scoring ground out scored another before senior Mike Goetz came through with a clutch two-out, two-run double down the left field line that tied the game.

The Huskies went right back to work in the fifth, getting an RBI-double from Justin Behm and a two-run home run from Kyle Pettengel to push their advantage back to three runs. After a rough start, senior Korey Keller (2-3) recovered to strike out the next three batters, but the damage was done.

Goetz paced the Milwaukee offense with three hits, extending his current hitting streak to 21 games. He also had a team-high two runs batted in. Brockel and Rivera each finished with two hits. Five different Huskies collected two hits each as NIU registered 14 in the game. Starter Brandon Hodge (1-2) earned the victory with 5.1 innings of work, allowing five runs and striking out two.

The Panthers are back in action on the weekend, hosting Cleveland State in a Horizon League match-up. The two teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday and a single game on Sunday. Game one on Saturday is set for a 2 p.m. first pitch.