April 29, 2011

Box Score: Game 1
Box Score: Game 2

MILWAUKEE - Senior Chad Pierce threw a one-hitter to lead the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team to an 8-0 victory over Youngstown State University in game two of a doubleheader played Friday at Miller Park. The Panthers (17-21, 8-6 Horizon League) had to settle for the split on the day when the Penguins (11-28, 6-7 Horizon League) scored an unearned run one out away from defeat in the opener before going on to prevail, 3-2, in 10 innings.

Pierce was brilliant in the nightcap, allowing just a walk through the first five innings of no-hit baseball. Greg Dissinger spoiled the no-hit bid leading off the sixth inning, sending a 3-2 pitch sharply to left field for the only YSU hit of the game. Pierce (4-3) finished with the complete-game victory, walking two and striking out three in his 7.0 innings of work.

"Chad did what he has been doing," Milwaukee head coach Scott Doffek said. "He came out and gave us a great effort, giving up just one hit and we got some timely hitting of our own."

The Panthers got on the board immediately in the first on an RBI-ground out from senior Doug Dekoning and then tacked on another in the third on senior Sam Sivilotti's sacrifice fly.

Milwaukee then put the game away with a five-run fifth inning, with Sivilotti legging out an infield hit to shortstop with the bases loaded to start the rally. Junior Paul Hoenecke and sophomore Jonathan Capasso each added base hits that drove in two runs each.

"Big innings are killers, whether you are on offense or defense," Doffek said. "Hopefully, you are the team that puts up the big numbers and it's especially tough in a seven-inning game because everything is so compressed. I thought Alex Erdmann had a great at bat to lead off that fifth. He laid off a couple of tough pitches to lead off and then that inning turned into a five-spot."

Senior Cole Kraft (2-for-4, 3 runs) and sophomore Nick Lingvay (2-for-3) led the offense in game two.

In the opener, the quick-moving game looked to be going UWM's way. Down, 1-0, after the top of the first, the Panthers moved ahead in the bottom of the frame. Following a single by Dekoning, Hoenecke sent the first pitch he saw deep over the right field fence to give Milwaukee a 2-1 lead.

But that was all the damage UWM would do, as two YSU pitchers combined to retire 20 batters in a row from the last out of the first until freshman Derek Peake singled with one out in the eighth inning.

"The first game was a gut-wrenching loss and one that we really gave away," Doffek said. "Switka [the YSU starter] just had a good mix of pitches and we did not do a good job of staying inside the ball. You have to give him credit even though we beat ourselves. I thought Semmelhack was every bit as good as Pierce. His pitches were very good and gave us every opportunity to win a ballgame, we just didn't."

Sophomore Eric Semmelhack threw an impressive game as well, scattering six hits into the seventh inning before YSU ended up scoring the tying run. A leadoff error put a runner on base, but after a sac bunt, Semmelhack struck out Armani Johnson for the second out. Junior Kaleb Engelke came on for the save, but a throwing error allowed the tying run to score with two outs.

Milwaukee threatened in the ninth, putting two runners on when Dekoning singled and Hoenecke's sac bunt attempt resulted in both runners being safe when the throw to second was late. YSU's Kevin McCulloh worked out of the jam, inducing a pop out on a bunt attempt and then an unusual strikeout-pickoff double play to end it. Drew Dosch's bases-loaded sac fly in the top of the 10th then plated the eventual winning run.

Milwaukee collected just five hits on the contest, with Dekoning (2-for-4) the only player with more than one.

Semmelhack finished with no walks and seven strikeouts in his 6.2 innings of work. Junior Greg Blohowiak (1-1) suffered the loss and McCulloh (4-6) picked up the win with 3.0 scoreless innings of relief.

The Panthers return to action tomorrow, welcoming Cleveland State University to Henry Aaron Field for a doubleheader starting at noon.

Game Notes
The 20th Anniversary Team was honored in between games at Miller Park. All 14 members were in attendance.

"From my end of things,I wanted to thank all involved in the 20-year reunion," Doffek said. "I thought it was outstanding and very well done. I think those guys were very appreciative and we are for what they did for the program. But from within our own administration, I wanted to thank everyone for a great event."

The infield consisted of Chad Sadowski (1997-2000) at first base, Jesse Hart (2005-08) at second base, Matt Houk (2000-01) at shortstop and Jak Kraus (1992-96) at third base. The three outfielders to secure spots on the team are Eric Goerdt (2000-01), Mike Goetz (2005-06) and Darin Haugom (1997-2001). The catcher is John Vanden Berg (2001-02). Ben Long (2008-10) is the choice at designated hitter and Charlie Reschke (2002-05) is the utility player selection. The starting pitchers are Quintin Oldenburg (1998-2002) and Ben Stanczyk (2002-04) and Jed Dolske (2002-06) and Matt Freisleben (1999-2002) were honored as the relievers.