May 10, 2014

Box Score: Game 1 | Box Score: Game 2

ROCHESTER, Mich. - Oakland University used a solid starting pitching performance in the opener and broke open an eighth-inning tie in the second game to sweep the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team in a doubleheader Saturday at the OU Baseball Field.

The Panthers (17-25, 8-12 Horizon League) let a 4-4 tie in the eighth inning get away in the nightcap in an eventual 9-6 victory for the Grizzlies (10-29, 5-15 Horizon League). Oakland got a complete-game effort from its starter in posting an 8-1 win in game one.

UWM continues to struggle with injuries up-and-down the lineup and has now uncharacteristically dropped four straight.

"I thought we came up with a positive approach today, but just did not pitch or hit well enough," Milwaukee head coach Scott Doffek said. "Their starting pitchers did a very good job of pitching off of secondary stuff. We are running on fumes here with healthy bodies, but no one is going to feel sorry for us. We can't either - we need some guys to step up and will look for that to start tomorrow."

Down, 4-1, in the sixth inning of game two, the Panthers clawed back into the contest, starting with a run in the sixth after two were out. Senior Ryan Solberg walked, stole second and came home on senior Pat Wilson's single to right field.

The stolen base was his 23rd of the season, helping Solberg inch closer to the school record of 24 held by Darin Haugom (2000 and 1999).

UWM made it a new game on junior Derek Peake's two-run double in the seventh, but stranded Peake at second with just one out.

That proved costly in the Oakland eighth. With two outs, the Grizzlies went home run-walk-home run as part of a four-run rally. The Panthers plated a couple of unearned runs in the ninth but could get no closer in the 9-6 decision. The offense had just five hits, led by a 3-for-4 outing by Wilson.

Junior Eric King started, but lasted just 2.2 innings due to an injury situation. Junior Justin Jaquish allowed just one run in 4.1 innings. Junior Tell Taylor (1-2) suffered the loss.

Jason Hager went the distance for Oakland in the opener, throwing 131 pitches in allowing just one run on four hits. He walked one and struck out six.

Of the four hits he allowed, one was to Solberg, who extended his hitting streak to a career-best 14 games in the opener before being held hitless in the nightcap.

It's Senior Day for Oakland in tomorrow's finale, set to start at 11 a.m. CST.