April 15, 2011

Box Score: Game 1
Box Score: Game 2

AVON, Ohio - Senior Doug Dekoning broke a 3-3 tie with a bases-clearing triple in the eighth inning to send the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team to an 8-3 victory over Cleveland State University Friday at All Pro Freight Stadium.

The Panthers (14-17, 6-2 Horizon League) then had their eight-game winning streak snapped in the nightcap when the Vikings (7-24, 1-10 Horizon League) came from behind in recording the 8-4 victory.

Dekoning came through with the big hit in the opener, tripling to the wall in center field with the bases full and the contest tied late to stake UWM to a 6-3 lead. Senior Sam Sivilotti helped tack on another, getting a sacrifice fly to complete the four-run rally in the frame before Milwaukee closed out the scoring with another in the ninth.

The game was much closer than the final score indicated. The Panthers had a chance in both the sixth and the seventh, but Zach Thompson's full-out diving catch in right field robbed Sivilotti of extra bases with the bags full and two outs in the sixth. The Vikings also closed out the seventh with a double play, throwing out a runner at home plate after a catch in center field.

Senior Chad Pierce got the start but ended up with a no-decision, working into the fifth in a tough outing for him. The efficient righty (12 walks in 50.1 innings coming into today) struggled with control, walking six batters, hitting another and throwing three wild pitches in his outing. He did, however, strike out six in his 4.1 innings of work.

Sophomore Cale Tassi (3-1) picked up the win, working 2.2 innings. He allowed just two hits in his scoreless outing, striking out three and walking none.

Down, 2-0, after three innings, the Panthers went to work, getting a run in the fifth and two more in the sixth to even the game at 3-3. Milwaukee had the bases loaded with just one out in the fifth inning, but could only push one across on a bases loaded walk from Sivilotti.

In the sixth, sophomore Jonathan Capasso was driven in by junior Mark Strey before a groundout made it a new game at 3-3 at the time.

Senior Cole Kraft ended 3-for-5, with Capasso (2-for-4) and freshman Ryan Solberg (2-for-3) both adding two hits. Strey collected a career-high three hits, knocking in a run and scoring another.

In the nightcap, the Panthers scored first but fell behind, 3-1, on a three-run home run by Alex Johnson in the fifth inning. The offense made it a new game at 3-3 in the sixth, scoring a pair on a single off the bat of sophomore Nick Lingvay, only to fall behind by a run when CSU went ahead in the bottom on Anthony Sambula's RBI single.

A walk and a single put runners in scoring position in the seventh for UWM, which allowed Sivilotti to knock in the tying run once again, making it 4-4 at the time. That was when the Vikings took over, plating four runs on five hits to take control.

Every starter had at least one hit except Kraft, who saw his hitting streak end at 10 games. Senior Chad Pierce, Dekoning, Sivilotti and junior Paul Hoenecke all had two hits. Johnson went 3-for-5 with four RBI to pace the Vikings.

Junior Cameron Amsrud (0-1) suffered the loss, allowing three earned runs in just 0.2 innings. Sophomore Eric Semmelhack started, striking out seven in 5.2 innings, allowing just three hits.

These two teams will wrap up the weekend series with a game tentatively scheduled for noon CST Saturday. With heavy rain in the forecast, stay tuned to UWMPanthers.com for updates.