March 31, 2007

Box Score

DAYTON, Ohio - Junior Dan Luczak threw a complete game and allowed no earned runs to lead the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team to a 2-1 victory over Wright State on Saturday. The Panthers (5-16, 4-2 Horizon) got a much-needed insurance run in the eighth inning to pull out the victory over the Raiders (11-11, 5-4 Horizon).

"That was exactly what we needed," UWM head coach Scott Doffek said. "He (Luczak) commanded a couple of pitches and really found the strike zone when we needed him to. It was just an outstanding effort."

With the victory, the Panthers have now taken two-of-three games in each of their first two Horizon League series, both coming on the road. That insurance run in the eighth came when sophomore Andy Hetebrueg's single drove in junior Nick Wichser with the eventual winning run.

Following a two-hour, five-minute rain delay, the game was a pitcher's duel. WSU starter Kyle Karcher (4-2) allowed six hits through 6.1 innings, striking out six.

Luczak (2-4) was the story. A day after the Raider offense collected 30 hits in a doubleheader, he allowed just six in his complete game outing. He tied a season-high with six strikeouts, with the only run coming across after a miscue of his own. His failed pickoff attempt in the eighth allowed Ross Oeder to reach third and score on a sacrifice fly.

The first run of the game came from a two-out rally in the third inning. Senior Kyle Silver singled to start it, followed by another base hit off the bat of junior Jesse Hart. Senior Rob Brockel then drove in the run, plating Silver with a double down the left field line.

The Panthers missed a chance to extend their lead in the sixth when they loaded the bases with one out. A walk to senior Ross McCoy and a double by Hetebrueg forced WSU to intentionally walk junior Grant Berkovitz to load the bases and set up a force out at any base. Raider reliever Scott Ruthven was then called upon, getting a strikeout and a pop up to get out of the jam.

The Panthers finished with eight hits, with Hetebrueg the only player with more than one (2-for-4).

Up next, the Panthers make the final trek of their 23-game road trip to start the season, heading to Iowa City, Iowa, on Wednesday to play the University of Iowa. The Panthers and Hawkeyes were originally slated to play one game, but will now play a doubleheader starting at 3 p.m.