Feb. 24, 2013

Box Score

CORAL GABLES, Fla. - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team scored twice in the ninth inning and had the tying run at third base but could get no closer, falling by a score of 7-6 to the University of Miami Sunday afternoon at Mark Light Field.

The Panthers (2-5) were on their way to the upset of the 20th-ranked Hurricanes (7-0), only to see the home team rally with a five-run sixth inning that decided the contest and kept them undefeated on the season.

"It was a really good game," Milwaukee head coach Scott Doffek said. "We let one inning get away from us. Kinger [Eric King] did a nice job through five innings but then fell behind a couple guys and before you know it, we were on our heels. I was happy with the fight from our team late in the game again. We did a nice job of some situational hitting today but, unfortunately, we could not get a big two-out hit."

Senior Will Fadness (2-for-3, 2 runs), junior Pat Wilson (2-for-4) and senior Jonathan Capasso (2-for-3, 2 RBI) all had two hits for the Panthers. Alex Hernandez and Brad Fieger each went 3-for-4 to lead Miami.

Down three runs headed into the ninth, senior Alex Erdmann was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame. Capasso followed with a double to center before the first run scored on an error. A pair of fly balls forced in the second run and left the tying run at third with two outs before a groundout ended the threat.

Sophomore Eric King was the starter, lasting into the sixth in throwing 5.2 innings. He left with a 4-2 lead but took the no-decision, allowing four earned runs, striking out three and walking two.

"Miami's defense really showed some impressive range all over the field," Doffek said. "It was really a difference-maker this weekend. I was happy with how the guys handled the environment - this weekend was a great experience for a young club like ours."

Milwaukee never trailed until the decisive rally, leading 1-0 in the second on a sac fly from Capasso before tacking on two more in the fifth on a double by sophomore Luke Meeteer and another sac fly, this time by sophomore Michael Porcaro, to lead 3-1.

Capasso drove in what appeared to be a vital insurance run in the sixth to make it 4-2 before the Hurricanes rallied. Miami sent eight men to the plate, getting vital two-out hits from Michael Broad and Dale Carey. Broad tied the game with a single to left that plated a pair and Carey followed with a home run to left to make it 6-4.

Milwaukee continues its early season road trip with a journey to Indiana to take on Evansville in a four-game series March 1-3.