March 18, 2014

Box Score

COLUMBIA, Mo. - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team got the tying run to the plate in the ninth inning but could get no closer, falling to the University of Missouri, 7-5, Tuesday night at Taylor Stadium.

The Panthers (3-9) scored first and tied the contest at 3-3 in the fourth inning, only to see the Tigers (10-9) plate four unanswered runs to take control. Two runs in the eighth got UWM within striking distance, but a leadoff single in the ninth was left stranded.

Senior Pat Wilson paced an 11-hit attack with a career-high four-hit night, scoring a pair of runs. Senior Ryan Solberg (2-for-4, 2 RBI) and junior Ryan McShane (2-for-4) also had multi-hit efforts.

"Today was kind of the same story as it has been with us this whole year," Milwaukee head coach Scott Doffek said. "We beat ourselves. That's the game within the game ... execute pitches and make plays. We are scuffling to find our identity with this group."

The Panthers plated a run in the first and, after falling behind 3-1, made it a new game with a pair of runs in the fourth inning on a sac fly and an RBI-double by sophomore Nick Unes.

From there, the Tigers took control, scoring once in the fifth, twice in the sixth and another in the seventh before UWM would start a late rally.

"No doubt the weather and the schedule have not helped us finding any kind of a groove," Doffek said. "We know this is a process and right now we are going through that. Just being able to get outside is invaluable for us right now. We have some big holes to fill with Sam (Koenig) and Luke (Meeteer) being out [due to injuries]. This is a great opportunity for other players to step up. Tomorrow will be a big day for us heading into conference play this weekend."

Down 7-3, UWM plated a pair of runs in the eighth inning on a two-run double by Solberg but could get no closer. McShane led off the ninth with a single, but a fielder's choice and back-to-back groundouts helped Mizzou improve to 6-1 at home this season.

Sophomore Brian Keller got the start but worked just 1.2 innings. Junior Justin Jaquish worked 2.1 scoreless frames and sophomore Jonathan Nick also had a scoreless inning of work. Freshman Adam Reuss (0-1) suffered the loss.

These two teams are right back at it tomorrow, set for a 6 p.m. start to the final game in the series.