April 5, 2008

Box Score

CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois University handed the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team its third-consecutive walk-off loss Saturday, winning 5-4 on Dean Cademartori's single in the bottom of the ninth inning. The Panthers (5-19) led 4-2 in the seventh, but allowed the Salukis (16-11) to score two unearned runs in the frame to tie it up before falling in the ninth.

"I was extremely proud of the way our guys came out today and played after an emotional loss yesterday," UWM head coach Scott Doffek said. "They didn't show any signs of it - they came out and played really hard. Andy Hetebrueg did an outstanding job mixing pitches and throwing the ball downhill."

Up 3-2 in the top of the seventh, senior Nick Wichser hit his third home run of the season to stake Milwaukee to a 4-2 advantage.

"We had a lot of quality at bats today that we didn't get rewarded for. When the floodgates open, they are going to open. We have lost 10 games by one run against a good schedule. If these guys stay with it and don't quit, they are going to be a pretty good ball club."

Junior starter Andy Hetebrueg (1-5) pitched well, going the distance in allowing three earned runs. He walked two and struck out four batters.

The Panthers jumped out to a quick lead again today, scoring three times in the top of the first on the strength of three hits. Senior Troy Vesling started the scoring with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly, which was followed by a run-scoring single off the bat of junior Shawn Wozniak and a bases-loaded walk to sophomore Wes Munson.

UWM collected seven hits in the game, with Wichser, sophomore Shaun Wegner and Munson finishing with two each. Wichser extended his hitting streak to 16 games in the first with a bunt single.

The series finale between these two teams will be played Sunday at 1 p.m.