April 11, 2008

Box Score: Game 1
Box Score: Game 2

CHICAGO, Ill. - Junior Ben Long's bases loaded single in the bottom of the ninth inning capped a six-run comeback and gave the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team a thrilling 7-6 victory over Cleveland State University in game one of a doubleheader Friday in Chicago. The Panthers (8-21, 3-5 Horizon) and Vikings (12-13, 4-4 Horizon) spent the day at Les Miller Field after field conditions delayed what was supposed to be the UWM home opener. Game two featured a slugfest, with CSU winning 24-18 after both teams combined for 41 hits.

"The opening game was a great comeback for us," UWM head coach Scott Doffek said. "After getting down early we did not put our heads down. We kept fighting back and chipping away until we finished it off. I was very proud of the guys for the way they battled back in that one. It's tough to not come home with a sweep after the way we hit in the second game, but it's not easy to play under the conditions we played today [wind gusting over 30 mph to left field]. We'll get right back at it tomorrow and try and win the series."

The winning rally started quickly when senior Nick Wichser doubled to lead off the frame. A sacrifice bunt attempt ended with everyone being safe, giving UWM runners on first and third with no outs. An intentional walk loaded the bases and Long sent a fly ball over the five-man infield that dropped softly into deep right for the victory.

The Panthers did have to extinguish a ninth-inning rally first, as sophomore catcher Shaun Wegner personally took two runners off base, throwing out one on a base-stealing attempt and picking a second one off first base.

The Panthers had worked their way back into the game, tying it in the bottom of the seventh on a tape-measure, two-run home run by junior Shawn Wozniak. Heading into the inning down 6-4, a leadoff walk brought the tying run to the plate. Wozniak then sent a 2-1 pitch to deep center, landing beyond the batter's eye and tying the contest.

UWM also got two back in the sixth on a base hit from junior Josh Groves. Home runs got the team on the board to start it, as sophomore Wes Munson and senior Jesse Hart each added a long ball to start the comeback after the team was down 6-0.

Three players ended the game with a team-high three hits each, as Hart, Wichser and Wegner did the honors. Junior Craig Meier (3-2) picked up another win, throwing 1.1 scoreless innings in relief of junior Brad Lusti. Lusti threw well after settling down, walking one and striking out two in 7.2 innings of work.

Game two followed the same storyline briefly, as the Panthers again got down early, trailing 7-2 heading into their half of the fourth. Wegner drove in two with a double to make it 7-4 and Hart followed with an RBI-double to make it 7-5. Wichser then tied the game at 7-7, sending a deep home run to left center that extended his hitting streak to 21 games and made it a game.

Cleveland State took off from there, however, coming right back with an eight-run fifth-inning outburst that Milwaukee could never overcome.

The offense pounded out 19 hits in the nightcap, with Hart (3-for-5, three runs, HR, four RBI) and Wozniak (3-for-6, three RBI) leading the way in runs batted in and hits. Wegner (2-for-3, three runs, two RBI), Long (2-for-5, two RBI), Groves (2-for-6, two RB) and freshman Doug Dekoning (2-for-3) all finished with two hits each.

Alex Kerins led CSU with a 4-for-8 day, driving in six and scoring four times. Travis Miller was 4-for-6 with six RBI's and scored five times.

The two teams will head right back to Les Miller Field Saturday, with the third game of the series set for a 2 p.m. first pitch in downtown Chicago.