March 4, 2012

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SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Sophomore Mike Schneider pitched a solid 7.1 innings of action for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team, surrendering just four hits, but ultimately getting a hard-luck loss in a 4-1 decision to the University of San Diego in the Aztec Invitational Sunday.

Milwaukee (3-8) brought the go-ahead run to the plate in the eighth inning, only to see the Toreros (9-3) add an insurance run in the bottom half of the inning to secure the win in both teams' fourth game in four days at Tony Gwynn Stadium.

Schneider had an outstanding day on the mound, surrendering just four hits, walking two and striking out four. Entering the seventh, the sophomore kept San Diego on its heels all afternoon until a two-out, two-run homerun to deep left gave the Toreros the lead and proved the difference maker.

"For Mike Schneider to hold a lineup like this down was outstanding," Milwaukee head coach Scott Doffek said. "He really commanded four pitches. His mistake was, when they got a runner on first, he rushed to the plate a little bit, got underneath his pitch a little bit and before you know it it's a two-run homerun."

Down 1-0 entering the fourth inning, Milwaukee quickly got on the board and evened things up. Freshman Luke Meeteer singled to center and advanced to second on an error to lead things off. After a pair of wild pitches and a single by Jim Lundstrom, Paul Hoenecke grounded to the right side to score Meeteer and tie the game at 1-1.

Greg Blowhowiak and Jordan Guth each came in and provided solid relief out of the bullpen.

Meeteer led the way for Milwaukee with two hits and one run in three at bats.

"To this point we've played 11 games and eight of them were against NCAA-Tournament teams, and possibly all 11," Doffek said. "The point of that schedule is not only to get to a regional but also to compete, and no doubt we have been competing. We just have to improve a little bit if we want to win those games."

The Panthers return to the road again next weekend, heading to Arkansas-Little Rock for a three-game series starting Friday (March 9-11).