Feb. 27, 2011

Box Score

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team battled for over seven and a half hours on the field Sunday, but Illinois State recorded the extra-inning victory following a day filled with three lengthy delays caused by rain, lightning and tornado sirens.

The Panthers (1-4) looked to be in control on several occasions during the game, but allowed the Redbirds (4-3) to come back from a four-run, ninth-inning deficit before tallying a five-run frame in the 11th to win it.

Up 8-4 in the top of the ninth, Milwaukee was one out away from the win, recording the first two outs on a fly ball and ground out. Illinois State then put on the rally caps, plating four runs with the help of two UWM errors, tying the game on a Zach Amrein home run. All four of the runs in the inning were unearned and the teams each went scoreless in the 10th before tornado sirens brought a halt to the contest.

Two hours and 16 minutes later, the teams returned. But not for long, as ISU scored five runs on four hits to end the marathon day at Raymond C. Hand Park.

UWM was actually scheduled to play Austin Peay at 2:30 p.m., but that game was cancelled after game one of the day - featuring delays totaling four hours and 12 minutes - ended after 6:30 p.m.

The Milwaukee offense recorded 16 hits, but again left too many on base, stranding 13 on the day. Senior Sam Sivilotti went 4-for-5 with a home run and three runs scored and senior Cole Kraft (2-for-6), junior Phil Striggow (2-for-2, 2 RBI), sophomore Alex Erdmann (2-for-4) and freshman Ryan Solberg (2-for-6) all adding multi-hit efforts in the contest.

Following a one-hour, 26-minute rain delay to start the game, the Redbirds jumped up, 1-0, in the first. UWM made quick work of the deficit, sending 10 batters to the plate in its half of the first in scoring four runs. Kraft started it with a double, senior Doug Dekoning then doubled in a pair and Striggow's sac fly plated another.

Illinois State chipped away, plating two in the fourth and one more in the fifth to tie it at 4-4. The Panthers then scored the next four runs of the game. Striggow had an RBI-single in the fifth but UWM would not take advantage of a great opportunity in the seventh inning, scoring just once after loading the bases with one out. Sivilotti's first home run of the season in the eighth made it 8-4 and seemed to put Milwaukee in the driver's seat.

Milwaukee hops back on the team bus to take on Arkansas for a three-game series at Baum Stadium. The Panthers and Razorbacks play one game each day from March 4-6.