March 14, 2009

Box Score: Game 1
Box Score: Game 2

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Juniors Josh Groves and Shaun Wegner each hit home runs in the sixth inning to help propel the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team to a come-from-behind, 3-2 victory over Austin Peay State University in the second game of a doubleheader Saturday at Raymond Hand Park. The Panthers (4-10) were down 2-0 before rallying for the final three runs against the Governors (7-9), plating the winning run in the top of the ninth on an RBI-groundout from Wegner.

The pitching staff was the standout of the nightcap, as freshman Kyle Schmidt and senior Craig Meier combined to limit the Govs to two runs on just three hits in the game.

"Kyle Schmidt was outstanding from the first pitch on," UWM head coach Scott Doffek said. "He had a good mix of all of his pitches, worked locations, had great pace and rhythm and we played good defense behind him. We hit two big home runs to tie it up and then Johann (Andes) came up with a big double in the ninth and we were able to push one across."

Schmidt threw a gem despite getting the no-decision. He allowed two earned runs over 7.0 innings, striking out seven and walking just one batter.

Meier (1-0) came on in relief and finished strong, throwing two hitless innings with one strikeout.

"He (Schmidt) looked like a fifth-year senior, just outstanding pitching," Doffek said. "Then, Craig did what he has done so far this season and shut them down."

Senior Johann Andes led off the top of the ninth inning with a double and sophomore Cole Kraft sacrificed him to third with one out. Sophomore Doug Dekoning was intentionally walked, as was senior Andy Gerhartz to set up a bases-loaded, one-out situation for Wegner. He responded with a bouncer over the pitcher's head, but there was no chance to turn a double play and the eventual winning run came home when sophomore Sam Sivilotti scored easily on the play.

Wegner led off the sixth with a home run to left center and Groves followed with a two-out shot to right center that tied the game at two at the time. That extended Groves' hitting streak to nine games, going 16-for-32 in the stretch.

"He has been barreling everything," Doffek said. "He has been real patient at the plate and getting good pitches to hit and doing a really good job of putting together back-to-back quality at bats."

Austin Peay had went ahead, 2-0, on a home run from Daniel Baggett and a sac fly.

Groves finished 2-for-3, the only batter in either line-up to record more than one hit.

Game one was a seven-inning affair, won by Austin Peay, 7-4.

Milwaukee outhit the hosts, 10-8, but allowed eight walks and hit three batters to offset the offense. APSU put up four runs in the second and responded after each UWM rally and held on for the win.

"Then has been our mantra, for whatever reason, the pitchers are not where they need to be and we're not getting ahead of enough guys," Doffek said. "And, when you walk guys at this level it inevitably comes back to haunt you. And, for us, it always ends up being a big inning instead of putting up a one or a zero."

Down 6-2, the Panthers rallied for two in the top of the sixth. Groves singled, junior Tim Patzman doubled and junior Dan Buchholz was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Kraft singled in one run and a fly ball to left by Dekoning added another on a sacrifice fly but that was all they could push across.

Milwaukee also got a pair back in the fifth, but a full-out diving stop by APSU shortstop Jon Clinard limited the damage. Kraft and Dekoning each singled and a balk put runners on second and third with no outs. Gerhartz then sent a line-drive up the middle that would have scored two, had Clinard not made the great play. Senior Shawn Wozniak did tack on another with a run-scoring single to center.

The ten hits were led by two each from Wozniak, Patzman and Kraft. Junior Nate Caldwell (0-2) suffered the loss, allowing four earned runs in 1.2 innings before coming out. Ryne Mantooth (1-1) earned the win, allowing two earned over 5.0 innings. It marked the third-straight season that Mantooth recorded a victory over Milwaukee.

The first game of the day was delayed by over an hour when overnight rain in the area made the field conditions unplayable for a noon start. By the time the first pitch was thrown, large pools of water remained in several spots, including a couple of large ones in the outfield.

The weekend series wraps up tomorrow, with the first pitch scheduled to be thrown at noon.