DeKALB, Ill. - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team used a six-run third inning to build a big early lead before hanging on for a 13-11 victory over Northern Illinois University Tuesday afternoon at Ralph McKinzie Field.
 
The Panthers (12-8) led 8-0 before the Huskies (13-14) found the scoreboard and eventually led by double-figures at 13-3 before NIU got back in it. The Huskies brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth before senior Cody Peterson closed it out for his fifth save of the year.
 
"It was a tough day to pitch," UWM head coach Scott Doffek said. "The wind was blowing out and the infield was really hard. I knew in the fifth inning, it was not a regular 10-run lead, it was tighter than that with the conditions. It was just good to win a close game like that – we have been on the other end of that too much recently."
 
It was a team effort for Milwaukee, which stole five bases and collected seven extra-base hits on the day. Spots 5-6-7 in the starting lineup came up big, combining to go 8-for-11 in the contest with eight runs scored and eight driven in.
 
"It's been a struggle the past three weeks for our offense besides Sammy (Koenig) and a couple of guys here and there," Doffek said. "To see Hermy get going and Paco swinging the bat pretty good was great. We had good at bats up and down the lineup and I had a chance to empty the bench a little bit and got some of those guys some work so it was a positive day."
 
Senior Mike Porcaro finished 3-for-4, tying his career high with four runs scored while adding a double, triple and a pair of stolen bases.
 
Senior Tell Taylor had a perfect 3-for-3 day, walking twice while also recording a pair of stolen bases and two doubles.
 
Senior Tyler Hermann rounded out the trio, finishing with a home run and a career-best five runs driven in.
 
In addition, senior Sam Koenig went 2-for-5, knocking in a pair and extending his hitting streak to 20 games. Junior Nick Unes also had a multi-hit outing, finishing with two hits.
 
The third-inning uprising started on an RBI-double by Porcaro. Hermann sent a rocket up the middle that plated a pair, Unes collected an RBI with a single off the first-base bag and senior Ryan McShane rounded out the scoring when he dumped a two-run single into right center with two outs.
 
Milwaukee extended its lead to 10 runs with a five-run sixth inning, taking that 13-3 advantage on Hermann's first home run of the season, a long blast down the foul line in left.
 
The Huskies got back in it with the long ball, including a pair of home runs by Joe Jumonville. Brad Wood paced the 15-hit attack with a 4-for-6 day.
 
The Panthers opened the scoring in the top of the second when Porcaro tripled and was knocked in by a double off the bat of Taylor. Milwaukee came in to the game leading the NCAA in triples-per-game and continued the three-bagger pace.
 
Sophomore Justin Langley (4-0) picked up the victory after it was planned for him to work the first three innings. He did not give up any runs, allowing just an infield hit while striking out a pair in a game Milwaukee led from start to finish.
 
The Panthers return to Milwaukee for their official home opener, welcoming Valparaiso University for the first of a three-game set Thursday. First pitch against the Crusaders is set for 3 p.m.