Feb. 28, 2009

Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Senior Ben Long hit a go-ahead three-run home run in the seventh inning to propel the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team to a 9-7 victory over the University of Akron Saturday afternoon at the Jacksonville Invitational. The Panthers (2-4) trailed the Zips (0-6) on four different occasions in the contest, but won for the second-straight day when Long's home run turned a 7-5 deficit into an 8-7 lead. Senior Craig Meier then shut the door, retiring all six batters he faced in the final two innings for the save.

"This was a good comeback for us, a really gutsy win," UWM head coach Scott Doffek said. "We really fought hard every at-bat but could not maintain a lead. This was a team win, and putting up a zero in the error column was great to see."

After freshman Cameron Amsrud came in and got out of a bases-loaded two-out jam in the top of the seventh with a huge strikeout, the Panthers immediately went to work with the go-ahead rally. Senior Andy Gerhartz, who went 4-for-4 and tied the school record with three stolen bases on the day, led off with a bunt single. Sophomore Cole Kraft then followed with another base hit. One out later Long hit a shot to center field for his first home run of the season to give UWM the lead they would not relinquish.

Meier did the rest, coming on in the eighth and retiring the six batters he faced, including the final two of the game on strikeouts.

Trailing 3-2 in the fourth, junior Tim Patzman lead off the inning with his second home run of the season to tie it. Milwaukee would then go ahead in the fifth on freshman Paul Hoenecke's sacrifice fly, only to give it back in the sixth when the Zips pushed two across to lead 5-4.

UWM would tie it one more time in the sixth on senior Johann Andes' run-scoring double, only to see Akron retake the advantage with two in the seventh.

The offense was clicking again on the day, collecting 14 hits off three opposing pitchers. In addition to Gerhartz's four-hit effort, Kraft, Long, Patzman and senior Shawn Wozniak all had two hits apiece. Long had three RBI and Andes drove in two. Phil Bednar led the Zips with three hits.

Amsrud (1-0) earned the win by facing just one batter, while senior Tim Hoy and Meier went the rest of the way. Senior Brad Lusti got the start, allowing five runs in 5.0 innings, striking out two. Sophomore Cuyler Franzke threw 1.1 innings, getting out of a tough, two-on, no-out situation in the top of the sixth.

"Cuyler did a great job getting out of that situation for us and putting up a stop," Doffek said. "And, Craig Meier was just outstanding today. Offensively, Andy Gerhartz put up a gritty and gutsy performance. His effort today was unbelievable."

The Panthers close out the weekend at the Jacksonville Invitational with a game against the host Dolphins Sunday, starting at 1 p.m. CST.