April 27, 2014

Box Score

MILWAUKEE - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team fell into an early hole and could not recover, dropping the weekend series finale to Youngstown State University by a score of 5-2 Sunday afternoon at Henry Aaron Field.

The Panthers (16-18, 8-7 Horizon League) lost for just the second time at home this season, falling behind to the Penguins (9-28, 4-10 Horizon League) by the middle of the fifth inning after YSU was able to build a 4-1 advantage despite recording just four hits at the time.

"We beat ourselves, we got behind and they made some great plays on defense," Milwaukee head coach Scott Doffek said. "Their third baseman made a couple of huge plays and those were critical spots in the game where the momentum could have shifted back to our dugout. I give them a lot of credit."

Following a late scratch of scheduled starting pitcher Justin Langley, the Penguins were able to get to the UWM pitching staff for an unearned run in the first inning before adding another in each of the second and third innings. They scored in the second without the aid of a hit, as a hit batter was forced in later in the frame following three walks.

"We were a little bit short in the bullpen already and then to have that happen, it kind of stung a little bit," Doffek said. "With that being said, it was an opportunity for others to step up and we just didn't pitch well enough early in that game."

Another leadoff walk scored in the third inning and it was 4-1 before UWM dented the scoreboard a second time. A sac fly made it 4-2 after the Panthers had two runners on with nobody out. YSU reliever Alex Frey was up to the task, however, coming on at that point and retiring all nine batters he faced to pull the plug on any rally.

Milwaukee ended with just eight hits, with junior Mike Porcaro (2-for-4, run scored) the only player with more than one. Brent Gillespie led Youngstown with two hits and three runs batted in, including a home run off the scoreboard in the ninth.

Sophomore Jake Tuttle (1-2) ended up starting on short notice, making it into the second inning before being relieved. Freshman Zach Brenner turned in the longest outing of his UWM career, working 4.0 innings in allowing two runs, striking out a pair. Junior Gunnar Eastman pitched the final four frames, striking out four in allowing just a pair of hits.

Up next, the Panthers hit the road to take on Iowa Tuesday, set for a first pitch of 6 p.m.