April 17, 2007

Box Score

MILWAUKEE - Senior Rob Brockel and sophomore Shawn Wozniak both hit home runs in a seven-run sixth inning, helping lead the comeback attempt of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team against UIC on Tuesday afternoon. The Panthers (7-21, 6-7 Horizon) rallied from a nine-run deficit to get within two against the Flames (17-13, 9-3 Horizon), but could get no closer in the 14-11 decision.

Down 12-3 in the sixth, the Panthers exploded for seven runs on eight hits in the frame. Junior Jesse Hart started the scoring with a two-run single to chase UIC pitcher Brad Riegler. Brockel then sent reliever Joe Skinner's first pitch deep over the left field fence for a three run shot that made it 12-8.

Sophomore Josh Groves continued his recent hot streak with a single to extend the rally. After a fielder's choice, Wozniak took Skinner over the right field wall for his second home run of the season and made it 12-10 on the scoreboard.

UWM loaded the bases again in the frame and had the potential winning run on base, but Skinner got a fielder's choice ground out and a fly ball to end the rally.

"You have to give our hitters credit, they did not stop playing," UWM head coach Scott Doffek said. "Their pitcher ran into some command problems and we punished him there for a couple of innings. That was really good to see and hopefully we can use that as a spark offensively. Maybe we can use that as a momentum builder."

The Flames then took advantage of a Milwaukee error to grab an important insurance run in the seventh. With two outs on a runner on first, an infield pop-up caused trouble when the UWM fielders ran into each other and the ball dropped, allowing the runner to score all the way from first.

UWM got that run back in the seventh on Brockel's second home run of the game, greeting UIC closer David Cales with his fifth home run of the season. It was just the eighth hit - and first home run - that Cales has allowed in 13 appearances this season.

Cales did close out the victory for UIC, retiring nine of 10 batters after the Brockel home run for his league-leading eighth save of the season.

The Flames jumped out to an early lead, scoring in each of the first three innings. They plated five runs in an unusual third inning, using just one hit of their own to do the damage. The UWM staff was its own worst enemy, helping out with two walks and three hit batters.

Five Milwaukee pitchers took to the hill, with junior starter Brandon Duffy (0-2) taking the loss. He allowed five earned runs in 2.0 innings, striking out one and walking four. Riegler (1-0) picked up the win despite allowing five runs in 3.1 innings of relief.

UWM pounded out a season-best 15 hits, with Brockel adding a season-high four runs batted in to go with the two home runs. He becomes the first Panther with a multi-home run game since Joe Nowicki against Butler May 20 of last season.

Wozniak set season-highs with three hits and three RBIs, sophomore Andy Hetebrueg went 3-for-5 and senior Kyle Silver, Hart and Groves all added two hits apiece. Every spot in the order had a hit or scored a run. For UIC, Mickey Pingree led the way with three RBIs and Chad Schroeder scored four times.

Earlier today, the Panthers announced the team would be adding a game to the schedule against St. Norbert College tomorrow, April 18. That game, originally slated for a 4 p.m. start, will now begin at 7 p.m. at Henry Aaron Field.