April 9, 2008

Box Score: Game 1
Box Score: Game 2

CHICAGO, Ill. - Senior Nick Wichser tied a career-high with four runs batted in and extended his hitting streak to 19 games to lead the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team to a 9-7 victory over Chicago State in game two of a doubleheader Wednesday at Brooks Field. The Panthers (7-20) won the opener, 10-9, in extra innings, after watching a 9-0 lead evaporate against the Cougars (3-28). With the sweep, UWM picks up its 16th win in the last 20 meetings between the two teams.

"I am happy to get the two victories," UWM head coach Scott Doffek said. "We've been on the short end all year whether we've played well or not. To get over the hump for a couple of wins is big. Our pitchers did a good job in both games and I thought our offense did too."

Milwaukee broke open a 4-4 tie in game two with a four-run fourth inning, with the entire rally coming with two outs. Senior Jesse Hart singled and was driven in by a Wichser double that banged off the wall in left center. Junior Shawn Wozniak then traded places with Wichser on a single up the middle to make it 6-4. Senior Troy Vesling followed suit, trading places by plating Wozniak with a double to left. The Panthers then added the fourth run of the inning on a Cougar error.

Chicago State made it interesting with a couple of runs late, but seniors Matt Holzheuter (two strikeouts in the sixth) and Adam Ferrell (a 1-2-3 inning for the save) closed it out, making a winner out of freshman Cuyler Franzke. Franzke (1-0) scattered 11 hits in 4.0 innings, striking out two and allowing just two earned runs in his first collegiate start.

Wichser had the big hit early in the game, emptying the bases with a three-run double off the wall in the second that just missed clearing the fence. Freshman Doug Dekoning ended the game with a season-best three hits to lead the offense.

"He (Wichser) has been very steady for us all season," Doffek said. "He is one guy that day-in and day-out continues to put good at bats together."

The Panthers had to bear down to avoid another heartbreaking walk-off loss in the opener, escaping 10-9 in extras after tying a school-record with seven errors. Milwaukee led the game by a score of 9-0 in the fifth before the wheels nearly fell off. The errors almost cost the team the victory, as the seven miscues led to every run that Chicago State scored in the contest come across as unearned.

"I thought our defense was starting to turn the corner, but today, I don't have any idea what happened," Doffek said. "It became infectious and mentally we were not able to get over it."

The Cougars would plate four runs in the fifth and three more in the sixth to get back in it, but UWM would still lead 9-7 when the bottom of the seventh started. A single and fielding error would put runners on second and third with no outs. Another single would plate a run and leave runners at second and third. Milwaukee then intentionally walked the next batter to set up a force out at any base. Michael Carpen looked to be the hero, as his single to right scored the tying run, but freshman Sam Sivilotti saved the game for UWM, throwing out the potential winning run with a perfect strike from right field to get the runner at the plate. Junior Craig Meier then came through as well on the mound, recording the final two outs via strikeouts in the frame.

The Panthers wasted little time in getting the eventual winning run back on the scoreboard. Senior John Sarcia reached on a fielder's choice, stole second, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a single down the line off the bat of junior Andy Gerhartz.

Meier (2-2) got the win, striking out four in his 2.0 inning outing to give UWM its first one-run victory of the season. Junior Tim Hoy had been in line for the victory with a solid start, allowing no earned runs in 5.0 innings, striking out four. For CSU, Robert Vargas (2-7) went the distance, striking out six in allowing all 10 earned runs.

UWM had 10 hits in the game, with Gerhartz and Wichser accounting for two each. Gerhartz also had two runs batted in. Hart drove in three on a double and sacrifice fly while Wozniak had a hit and two RBI's.

Milwaukee finally gets to open the home portion of its schedule next, hosting Cleveland State for a weekend series at Henry Aaron Field. Friday's opener is scheduled for a 2 p.m. start.