Feb. 15, 2014

Box Score

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team pounded out 11 hits and held an early lead but fell to Bakersfield, 8-3, Saturday at Hardt Field.

The Panthers (0-2) grabbed an early 2-0 lead after the first inning against the Roadrunners (2-0), but could not take advantage of the positive start and ended up stranding 12 runners on base in the contest.

"It was kind of a carbon copy today on the mound and we just beat ourselves early," Milwaukee head coach Scott Doffek said. "I thought you could see that our guys were more comfortable in the box and on defense today."

That comfort level came across quickly, jumping to a lead in the first when junior Luke Meeteer doubled and came home on an RBI-single off the bat of sophomore Mitch Ghelfi to make it 1-0. The Panthers doubled that up on junior Tyler Hermann's single through the left side, but eventually stranded a pair of runners on base.

The Roadrunners responded quickly, scoring twice in their half of the inning and making it 3-2 on a home run in the third.

Milwaukee left the bases loaded in the second inning but did tie the game in the fourth when senior Ryan Solberg led off with a single and eventually scored on a Meeteer RBI-groundout.

Once again CSUB had an answer, not allowing the Panthers defense to get right back off the field with a zero. They scored three runs on three hits in the frame and it ended up being the difference.

"Their outfielders have really been impressive down here," Doffek said. "Today they changed the game with their range. There were some real encouraging things I saw today, but there are no moral victories for us. Hopefully we come out tomorrow and put all phases together."

Hermann ended the day a perfect 3-for-3 to lead the way. Meeteer finished 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI and junior Derek Peake (2-for-5) also added a multi-hit effort. Chance Gusbeth was 3-for-4 with 2 RBI to lead the `Runners.

Sophomore Jake Tuttle got the start, but allowed six runs and seven hits and was relived in the fourth inning. Junior Cody Peterson stepped up with 3.0 innings of one-run relief, striking out three. Senior Sam Koenig and junior Tell Taylor made their collegiate debuts with one inning each. Koenig struck out one and did not allow a hit. Taylor allowed two hits but also struck out two in a scoreless frame.

The series wraps up tomorrow at 2 p.m. CST.