March 6, 2011

Box Score

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Kyle Robinson hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning to break a 3-3 tie and help send the University of Arkansas to a 7-3 victory over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team Sunday afternoon at Baum Stadium.

For the third-straight contest the Panthers (1-7) were tied in the fifth inning or later, only to see the No. 16 Razorbacks (10-1) pull away at the end once again.

Senior Doug Dekoning continued his hot start, going 3-for-3 to finish up the weekend series at 7-for-13 (.538). Freshman Sam Koenig added two hits as the offense recorded 31 total hits in the three-game set.

"We did a nice job of swinging the bats all weekend and that was the case again today," UWM head coach Scott Doffek said. "We kept pressure on their pitching with good at bats time and time again. It felt like we had the lead in the fifth inning or later every day and just couldn't close it out. Our job is to find a way to improve every day and I think we did that today."

The Panthers scored early again, plating a run in the first and another in the fourth on an RBI-single from freshman Ryan Solberg to get within a run at 3-2. Milwaukee then tied the game in the sixth inning on freshman Tell Taylor's sac fly.

Senior Chad Pierce (0-3) pitched well through the first six innings, allowing just two earned runs in what was a 3-3 tie game heading into the bottom of the seventh. With two outs and nobody on, a seemingly harmless single set up Robinson for the game-winning home run to left center.

"Chad (Pierce) did a nice job bearing down and making some nice pitches," Doffek said. "He is a great competitor and showed that. You have to tip your hat to their guy, Robinson, he was just a beast at the plate all weekend."

It's the West Coast next for the Panthers, heading to California for an extended trip to play in the Jack Gifford Memorial Tournament. The team plays four games in four days, beginning with a March 10 contest against San Jose State with a first pitch of 8 p.m. CST.