May 25, 2011

Box Score | Tournament Central

DAYTON, Ohio - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team rallied in the ninth inning to bring the winning run to the plate, only to see Youngstown State University hold on and hand Milwaukee a 4-2 loss in the first round of the Horizon League Tournament Wednesday at Nischwitz Stadium.

The Panthers (27-27-1) trailed by two and had nobody on with two outs before mounting the late threat against the Penguins (13-39). Senior Cole Kraft was hit by a pitch and advanced to third on a throwing error on freshman Tell Taylor's bunt hit. That brought the winning run to the plate, but YSU's Blake Aquadro induced a fly ball to right center to end it and send the defending-champion Panthers to the consolation bracket.

The Penguins were helped out by a solid performance on the mound from second-team all-league pitcher Phil Klein (5-5). He threw a season-high 140 pitches to get through 8.0 innings, giving up a pair of runs while striking out 10 batters.

"I thought he was effectively wild," UWM head coach Scott Doffek said. "It seemed like he was all over the zone and then would spot up and make some good pitches. He has good stuff, so you have to tip your cap and give him a lot of credit."

Senior Chad Pierce (6-4) was just as good for the first seven innings, as the game was a scoreless pitcher's duel until the top of the eighth. He finished with 7.1 innings of work, allowing just five hits, striking out seven but walking four on 121 pitches.

"It was a hot, humid day and I think he just got tired," Doffek said. "When you get up well over 100 pitches in hot conditions that we have not played in this year, it makes it a bit tougher. We were just unfortunate in the eighth."

Scoreless until that decisive frame, YSU coaxed a leadoff walk but a failed sacrifice bunt attempt left the runner at first with one out. A single made it first and second and another infield hit loaded the bases. Joe Iacobucci walked on a close 3-1 pitch to score the first run and ended Pierce's day.

The next batter attempted the suicide squeeze which turned into an RBI-infield single before another seeing-eye single to right made it 3-0. The Panthers then had another tough break when a chopper to a drawn-in infield plated the fourth run of the frame.

"Unfortunately for us, we gave in a bit emotionally when they scored that first run," Doffek said. "Then we did not execute the out on the squeeze and that turned into two more runs. We had them on the ropes late, but then let them off the hook. But, we will be back to battle tomorrow."

Milwaukee cut the deficit in half in the eighth, scoring a pair of runs on a two-out single to center by sophomore Jonathan Capasso that made it 4-2 at the time.

Freshman Sam Koenig led the offense with a perfect 3-for-3 day, reaching base in all four plate appearances when he added a hit-by-pitch. He also stole two of the four UWM bases on the day. No other player in the lineup had more than one hit and UWM stranded 10 runners on base in the contest.

The Panthers will have their work cut out for them the rest of the way, starting with an elimination game against Butler in game one of tomorrow's action. The Bulldogs lost their opener, 9-0, to Valparaiso.

"That's what I told the team," Doffek said. "We lost a tough game last year and we battled back. So, hopefully we can use that experience and just take care of things one pitch at a time and keep battling."

First pitch between UWM and BU is scheduled for 10 a.m. CST, weather permitting. The forecast calls for plenty of rain in the Dayton area for tonight and tomorrow morning, so check back on the Milwaukee website for any updates.