May 2, 2014

Box Score

CHICAGO, Ill. - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth inning but could get no closer, falling by a score of 4-1 to UIC Friday night at Granderson Stadium.

The Panthers (16-19, 8-8 Horizon League) took a 1-0 lead on a fourth-inning home run by junior Ryan McShane, but could not keep the Flames (20-19, 13-9 Horizon League) from extending their current winning streak to six games in a row.

The contest started out as a pitcher's duel, with the pair of starting hurlers accounting for one run, three hits allowed, just one walk and 10 strikeouts through the first four innings combined.

"I thought both pitchers did a really nice job," UWM head coach Scott Doffek said. "I was really encouraged with the way Brian threw the ball. He just had one inning were he got a little flat and they made him pay. Their guy was really sharp again. He was throwing a heavy fastball and we had a hard time elevating it. Tomorrow is big - we need to come out and compete hard from the first pitch."

Sophomore Brian Keller (1-5) was on cruise control early. He did not allow a base hit until the fourth inning but ran into trouble in the fifth.

He made just two mistakes. One, in the fifth inning, turned into a two-out, two-run single to left center off the bat of Jacob McNamara that gave the Flames the 2-1 lead. The other was a two-run home run in the sixth.

He went the distance, allowing just seven hits. Keller walked just one batter and struck out seven.

Tomas Michelson (6-3) kept the Panthers off balance all night, throwing the complete game as well. Besides the home run to McShane, he allowed just four other hits, while also striking out seven and walking one.

Milwaukee rallied in the ninth. McShane singled and went to third on senior Ryan Solberg's line drive to put runners on the corners with one out. But, Michelson induced a double-play ball to end it.

McShane finished 2-for-4, including his second home run of the season. Senior Pat Wilson had the rest of the base hits with a 2-for-4 performance. Alex Lee led UIC with three hits.

The two teams return for game two of the series Saturday, set for a first pitch of 2 p.m.