April 23, 2014

Box Score

DeKALB, Ill. - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team put the go-ahead run on base in the top of the ninth inning, but could get no closer in falling to Northern Illinois University by score of 3-2 Wednesday afternoon at Ralph McKinzie Field.

The Panthers (14-17) and Huskies (11-28-1) traded leads and were deadlocked heading into the bottom of the eighth. Following a pair of walks and a wild pitch, Joe Battaglia's suicide squeeze bunt brought in a run to give NIU the 3-2 advantage.

Milwaukee gave it one final go, putting runners on first and third with two outs in the ninth. Sophomore Nick Unes gave it a ride, but the long fly ball was caught at the warning track in right center to end the game.

UWM had its chances all day, stranding 12 runners on base.

"That was a very unfortunate result," Milwaukee head coach Scott Doffek said. "We had many opportunities early to extend the lead and just did not execute in the box. Our pitchers did a decent job, but that's one that should have never gotten away. But we have to look ahead. This is a big weekend for us. We will come with energy and intensity this weekend and it starts on Friday."

The Panthers took a 1-0 lead in the third inning and then came back to tie the contest up at 2-2 with a run in the seventh. Both times, juniors Mike Porcaro and Ryan McShane were involved.

Scoreless in the third, Porcaro led off with a triple and scored on a McShane sac fly. After the Huskies had taken a 2-1 lead with a pair of unearned runs in the sixth, the duo combined again. Porcaro singled, stole second and then scored on McShane's line drive single to right field.

Four players ended the day 2-for-4. In addition to Porcaro and McShane - who each added a pair of stolen bases - seniors Ryan Solberg and Pat Wilson also had a pair of base hits on the day.

Milwaukee pitchers carried a no-hitter into the bottom of the fourth inning, with NIU reaching on an infield single with two outs. Junior Eric King got the start and threw two hitless frames. Sophomore Jake Tuttle relieved, giving up two hits and no earned runs in 4.0 innings, striking out five.

The Panthers get a day off before starting a three-game series at home against Youngstown State University. Game one on Friday, which will also be televised on a tape-delayed basis by Time Warner Cable SportsChannel, gets underway at 3 p.m. Replays will be Saturday at 2:30 p.m. and again at midnight as well as Sunday at 7 p.m.