Feb. 24, 2008

Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Junior Craig Meier allowed just two runs in 6.2 innings and junior Josh Groves had two hits and drove in two to lead the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team to a 5-2 win over Richmond on Sunday at the Jacksonville Invitational. The Panthers (1-2) took a 2-0 lead in the third against the Spiders (1-2) and continued to add to their advantage from there.

"We played really well today even though we did not take advantage of some opportunities we had offensively," UWM head coach Scott Doffek said. "Craig Meier was literally a last-second start for (Jeff) Gordon and he came out and did an outstanding job of working the corners and changing speeds."

Meier (1-0) pitched well, throwing into the seventh inning before being relieved. He scattered six hits and gave up just two runs, walking two and striking out six.

In addition to Meier's performance, senior Matt Holzheuter threw 1.1 scoreless innings with two strikeouts and junior Jordan Herbert retired three of four batters he faced in the ninth to earn his first save of the season.

"The bullpen came out and did their job just like you draw it up," Doffek said. "We played outstanding team defense and got a really good team win."

After two scoreless frames, UWM got on the board in the third on a bases-loaded double play ball that scored a run and an infield RBI-single by Groves.

Richmond got one back in its half of the frame, but the Panthers added single tallies in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings to make it 5-1 and take control.

Groves drove in freshman Cole Kraft in the fifth before senior Jesse Hart added a run-scoring single in the seventh.

Groves and senior Nick Wichser both extended their hitting streaks to 19 games on the day. Groves ended the contest 2-for-3 with two RBI's while Wichser was 1-for-4. Junior Ben Long went 2-for-4, with freshman Doug Dekoning scoring twice.

Milwaukee continues its early season road trip with a visit out west next weekend. The Panthers head to California to play Saint Mary's in a four-game set February 29-March 2.