May 6, 2006

Box Score: UWM 14; Cleveland State 1
Box Score: UWM 6; Cleveland State 0

MILWAUKEE - Senior Rick Cavaiani struck out a career-high 11 batters in eight scoreless innings on Saturday, helping lead the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team to a 6-0 victory over Cleveland State in game two of a doubleheader at Henry Aaron Field. Senior Aaron Sorenson threw seven scoreless innings in the opener, giving the Panthers (23-20, 13-10 Horizon) the sweep with a 14-1 victory over the Vikings (8-33, 6-16) in game one.

Cavaiani (6-1) was in control from start to finish, allowing no runs while scattering six hits and walking just one. Not only did the 11 strikeouts set a career-best, but it is the highest total recorded in Horizon League play this season. He struck two or more batters in each of the third through sixth innings, winning his fifth-straight decision in the process.

"Pitching was the name of the game today," UWM assistant head coach Scott Doffek said. "That was 18 innings with no earned runs ... those were good games to watch. Rick [Cavaiani] had command of all four pitches and was really working the corners."

Milwaukee had jumped out to a 2-0 lead in game two on a sacrifice fly from junior Ross McCoy in the first and a deep solo blast down the right field line by senior Joe Nowicki in the third.

It was Nowicki again who broke the game open, plating senior Mike Goetz and junior Kyle Silver with a double down the right field line with two outs in the fourth inning to extend UWM's advantage to 4-0 at the time.

Milwaukee closed out the scoring in the eighth on a two-RBI double off the bat of sophomore Jesse Hart.

The Panthers collected 10 hits in the game, led by three each from Hart and Nowicki. Goetz added a 2-for-3, three run performance as well to extend his current hitting streak to 23 games. Nowicki's three RBI were a game-high. Joe Furner led CSU with two hits.

On the mound, freshman Tim Hoy and senior Jed Dolske helped close out the combined shutout. For Dolske, today marked his ninth-consecutive scoreless outing. For the Vikings, Nathan Schaefer (1-6) took the loss, allowing four earned runs while striking out five.

Game one featured a brilliant outing by UWM's Sorenson (4-3), throwing seven complete scoreless innings. He struck out six, walked one and allowed just four hits.

After getting out to a 3-0 lead after three innings, Milwaukee exploded for six runs in the fourth and cruised from there. They sent 10 batters to the plate in the inning, getting six runs on the strength of four hits.

The offense finished the game with 19 hits, with sophomore Grant Berkovitz leading the way with his second four-hit game (4-for-5, 3 runs, 2 RBI) of the season. Junior Rob Brockel (3-for-3, 3 RBI) ended with three hits, while Goetz, Nowicki, McCoy, Silver and freshman Dan Buchholz all chipped in with two apiece. Nowicki also homered in game one, giving him home runs in both games of the doubleheader.

These two teams will complete the weekend series with a single game on Sunday. The contest, originally scheduled for a 1 p.m. start, will now begin at noon at Henry Aaron Field.