April 22, 2011

Box Score

MILWAUKEE - Jake Hibberd's two-out double in the 10th inning scored the eventual winning runs to send Wright State University past the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team, 6-3, Friday afternoon at Henry Aaron Field. The Panthers (16-18, 7-3 Horizon League) had battled back from a 3-0 deficit to tie the Raiders (22-12, 6-3 Horizon League) in the sixth, but were unable to push across the winning run after loading the bases with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Senior Chad Pierce did not factor in the decision, but pitched well and worked the first nine innings of the game. He allowed just one earned run on seven hits, walking one and striking out nine batters to tie his career-high.

"Chad did a great job again and gave us an opportunity to win a game against a really good lineup," UWM head coach Scott Doffek said. "We had opportunities in the game to push runs across and we couldn't do it. We just didn't come out to win, we played not to lose. They hung around and before you knew it, came up with that big two-out hit."

Down, 3-0, in the bottom of the sixth, the Panthers rallied for three runs to tie the game against WSU starter Casey Henn. Senior Cole Kraft doubled to start the inning and, after a walk, a ground ball to second loaded the bases after a bad throw trying to start a double play.

Junior Paul Hoenecke then came through with a big hit, singling to right to score two runs and put runners on the corners with just one out. A wild pitch plated the tying run, but UWM was unable to do any more damage.

In the ninth, freshman Sam Koenig walked with one out and classmate Ryan Solberg followed with a single to center to put runners on the corners. After an intentional walk, the Raider pitcher induced an infield pop out before Schum (6-2) came on to record the final out on a comebacker.

"Our objective is to win a series and that was just one game," Doffek said. "The way I look at it, is I give them credit. They got a two-out hit and we beat ourselves with a couple of walks in the end. Today just wasn't our day and we will come back out tomorrow."

Offensively, freshman Tell Taylor led the way with a 3-for-4 outing, with Kraft, senior Doug Dekoning, Hoenecke, Koenig and Solberg all finishing with one hit apiece. Hibberd finished 3-for-5 with two RBI and three runs scored to lead three WSU hitters with three hits each.

These two teams close out the weekend series with a doubleheader Saturday, set for a first pitch of noon in game one.