March 6, 2010

Box Score: Game 1
Box Score: Game 2

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Senior Ben Long hit three home runs and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team scored 20 runs in just six innings in posting a 20-2 victory over Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Saturday at the Riverview Inn Invitational at Raymond Hand Park. The Panthers (3-5) completed the sweep on the day, winning game two, 6-5, against the Cougars (2-7) in comeback fashion.

Long became just the third player to hit at least three home runs in a game in program history, and the first since Chad Sadowski had three in a game in April of 1999.

"Ben Long had a really great day at the plate," UWM head coach Scott Doffek said. "The hitters really got in some power counts and put good swings on the ball. Up and down the lineup, it was just good at bat after good at bat."

Milwaukee jumped out in front quickly, scoring five times in the bottom of the first inning - with four of them coming on senior Dan Buchholz's grand slam down the left field line.

Freshman Eric Semmelhack started the game and put up two scoreless innings before being lifted with an injury concern. Junior Cuyler Franzke (2-1) came on and responded with two more scoreless innings, allowing just one hit, and the route was on.

"Eric came out and put up two zeroes to give us the early momentum," Doffek said. "Cuyler then came in and once again did a great job, this time on short notice."

The Panthers got three in the second on a three-run bomb from junior Doug Dekoning and two more in the third on a double from sophomore Paul Hoenecke.

Long, who started his home run binge in the first, added another solo shot with one out in the fourth and belted the third to lead off the fifth inning.

Hoenecke added a bases-loaded double that plated three in the fifth and the big hits in the sixth came courtesy of two bases-loaded hit by pitches, a single by senior Tim Patzman and a balk.

Long finished 3-for-4 with four runs batted in and scored four times. Hoenecke was 3-for-3 with five RBI, while Patzman, senior Nino Guerrero and junior Jim Lundstrom all had two hits each. Lundstrom scored four times and Dekoning added three RBI's.

The Panthers fell behind, 2-0, in the second inning of game two but scored twice in the bottom of the frame and extended the lead with six unanswered runs before holding on, 6-5.

Tied 2-2 in the third, an RBI-double from Buchholz made it 3-2 before a sacrifice fly from Long and a Patzman double made it 5-2. Hoenecke's first home run of the season made it 6-2 and the team held on from there.

Junior Chad Pierce (1-1) earned the victory, working 6.0 innings in allowing two earned runs, striking out four. Sophomore Cameron Amsrud worked a scoreless seventh for his first save of the season.

"Game two was very competitive from the start," Doffek said. "The guys did a nice job to fight back from the 2-0 hole, put up a zero and then tacked on three to take control. Chad Pierce made some really big pitches when he needed them as well. We weren't flawless on defense all day, but made the big plays when we needed to make them."

Hoenecke was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and has now hit safely in all eight games this season. Dekoning was also 2-for-3 with a pair of runs. Thad Hawkins led SIUE with a perfect 3-for-3 outing.

UWM closes out weekend play Sunday, taking on Dayton with a first pitch scheduled for 11:30 a.m.