March 26, 2008

Box Score

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Ryan Sharpley allowed one hit in five scoreless innings to lead Notre Dame to a 14-3 victory over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team Wednesday at Frank Eck Stadium. The Fighting Irish (12-7-1) took an early lead on the Panthers (3-15) and then broke the game open with six runs in the fifth inning.

The Panthers did score late, plating two in the ninth inning on three walks and four wild pitches. Junior Andy Gerhartz broke up the shutout in the seventh inning, driving in a run with a ground out to give Milwaukee its first tally.

A. J. Pollack led the 15-hit Notre Dame attack with a 4-for-5 day at the plate, scoring five times and adding two spectacular catches in the field to rob UWM batters of sure hits.

Notre Dame scored in four of the first five innings, jumping out to a 6-0 advantage after four and then breaking it open with the big fifth inning in which it sent 11 batters to the plate and recorded five hits.

The Irish scored three runs in the first before even hitting a ball out of the infield. Four walks, a hit batter and an infield single did the damage before a fly ball to right field ended the frame.

Six pitchers worked in the game for Milwaukee, with junior Jordan Herbert (0-3) taking the loss. He allowed three earned runs in just two-thirds of an inning, walking three and striking out one despite not allowing a base hit. Junior Craig Meier struck out four batters in his 1.2 innings of work.

Senior Nick Wichser, junior Shawn Wozniak, sophomore Shaun Wegner and freshman Cole Kraft had the four Panther hits, with Wichser extending his hit streak to 10 games with his safety.

The Panthers return to Indiana this weekend for Horizon League action. Milwaukee will take on Butler in a three-game series, starting Friday at 2 p.m. CST.