May 29, 2010

Box Score

GARY, Ind. - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team broke a 1-1 deadlock with a two-run seventh inning in defeating Valparaiso University, 3-1, in an elimination game at the Horizon League Tournament Saturday at the U.S. Steel Yard. The Panthers (31-24) received their third-straight quality start on the mound in the championship, ending the Crusaders (24-32) campaign for the third-consecutive season.

Senior Nino Guerrero legged out a two-out infield single to break the 1-1 tie and freshman Jonathan Capasso tacked on an insurance run with a bases-loaded walk to complete the scoring in the decisive seventh.

Sophomore Kyle Schmidt did not factor into the decision, but threw very well. He worked into the seventh, allowing just one run on six hits, striking out three. Sophomore Greg Blohowiak (2-0) picked up the win with a scoreless inning and sophomore Cameron Amsrud worked around a bit of trouble in the ninth to pick up his eighth save of the season.

"The pitching was outstanding again," UWM head coach Scott Doffek said. "Kyle gave us a great performance, we made routine plays behind him and our bullpen came in and did a great job. It's been a grind offensively; these conditions here are tough. I think we were a little bit hung over from that performance last night and just didn't look real confident in the box. Hopefully, we can just come up with a big hit and bust loose some time yet today."

Milwaukee manufactured a run in the first and made it stand up until the seventh when Valpo tied the game. Junior Cole Kraft was hit to lead off the contest, went to second on a passed ball, to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on an infield ground out off the bat of senior Dan Buchholz.

Schmidt, who was named the U.S. Army Player of the Game, threw quickly and effectively through the first six innings, recording just 71 pitches in that span. He had a pair of 1-2-3 innings and ran into just one jam in the fourth, when a two-out infield single put runners on first and second, but a groundout ended it.

The Panther offense struggled against Tyler Deetjen, not recording its first hit until Buchholz singled sharply up the middle to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning.

The Crusaders tied it in the seventh and almost went ahead after some controversy. For starters, a one-out double came around to score on Steven Scoby's double, knotting the score, 1-1. After a strikeout, Kyle Muhlsteff sent a line drive down the third base line that was ruled foul. After much discussion between Valpo head coach Tracy Woodson and the umpires, the play stood. Blohowiak relieved Schmidt mid-batter, inducing a fly ball to deep right that Guerrero made an impressive catch on right at the warning track to end the threat.

UWM took control in the bottom of the frame, finally getting to Deetjen. Following a Buchholz single, sac bunt and foul out, junior Sam Sivilotti was intentionally walked. Guerrero then came up with the huge hit, legging out an infield single to break the tie. Two more walks forced in a run and gave UWM a 3-1 lead.

The Panthers ended with just five hits, led by a 2-for-4, 1 run, 1 RBI outing from Buchholz.

The Panthers will play immediately at 3 p.m., taking on the Wright State Raiders in the Horizon League Championship. Milwaukee will need to win this afternoon to force a winner-take-all contest in the double-elimination event tomorrow, slated for an 11 a.m. start if necessary.