May 12, 2007

Game 1: UWM 5; Youngstown State 3
Game 2: UWM 3; Youngstown State 4

NILES, Ohio - Despite two strong starting pitching efforts, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team had to settle for a doubleheader split with Youngstown State Saturday on the road. The Panthers (21-28, 14-12 Horizon) won game one, 5-3, only to see the Penguins (16-31, 8-18 Horizon) claim a 4-3 victory in game two.

"I thought Andy Hetebrueg and Mike Rauwerdink did an excellent job and pitched two quality games for us," UWM head coach Scott Doffek said. "We just couldn't seem to get a runner home from third base with one out. Also, you have to give Youngstown a lot of credit in game two - they made five or six diving plays on defense that changed the game."

Milwaukee got thing started quickly in the opener, plating two runs without the help of an RBI on the strength of three hits and three YSU errors. It added three runs to the lead in the fourth inning, getting one on a wild pitch and the rest on senior Rob Brockel's triple to left center that drove in two.

It stayed 5-0 until the sixth, when the Penguins broke through for two runs on two hits, scoring on a groundout and an error. They got another in the eighth, but sophomore Tim Hoy got out of the jam in the frame and retired the side in order in the ninth for his first career save.

Hetebrueg (2-2) won his second-straight start, throwing seven complete innings. He allowed three runs - two earned - on eight hits, striking out one. Hoy gave up just one hit in two scoreless innings of relief.

The Panthers offense was at it again, collecting 10 or more hits for the 13th-straight game. Sophomore Josh Groves stayed red-hot with a 3-for-5 performance, while senior Kyle Silver was 2-for-5 with two runs scored. Brockel had two hits and two runs batted in and sophomore Shawn Wozniak was 2-for-3. Mike Turjanica was the only Youngstown player with more than one hit, finishing 2-for-4.

Milwaukee fell down early in the second game, giving up three runs - but just one earned - on three hits in the second to trail 3-0.

It got one back in the fourth on Brockel's single, but gave it right back in the top of the fifth when John Koehnlein led off with a triple and scored on a sacrifice fly.

The Panthers made it a one-run game in the sixth, getting run-scoring singles off the bat of junior Nick Wichser and Groves, but left runners on second and third with one out when YSU reliever Ryan Sellman got junior Grant Berkovitz to line out and a comebacker to end the rally.

That was as close as it would get, as UWM was retired in order in the final three innings.

Milwaukee had just six hits in the contest, ending its stretch of games with 10 or more hits at 13-consecutive. Freshman Shaun Wegner and Groves had two each, with Wegner scoring twice. Brockel extended his hitting streak to 12 games.

"We hit the ball better today than we did yesterday," Doffek said. "It's funny that way some times, but that's baseball."

Senior Mike Rauwerdink (1-7) suffered the loss despite a complete game effort. Just two of the four runs he gave up were earned, allowing seven hits, striking out four and walking one.

The Panthers play their final home game of the regular season on Tuesday, hosting Indiana State on what will also be Senior Night. Game time against the Sycamores is scheduled for a 4 p.m. start at Henry Aaron Field.