COLUMBIA, Mo. - Sophomore Justin Langley struck out 10 batters and senior Sam Koenig drove in three runs to lead the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team to a 7-4 victory over the University of Missouri Friday evening at Taylor Stadium.
 
The Panthers (6-3) set the pace with a quick start in the first inning against the Tigers (10-2) and Koenig provided insurance later, blasting a two-run home run to make it 6-3 at the time.
 
Koenig finished 3-for-5 and also scored twice. Junior Luke Meeteer had two hits and sophomore Eric Solberg was 2-for-3, scored twice and stole a base. Freshman Daulton Varsho hit his first collegiate home run in the fourth. No player from Missouri had more than one hit, which had its six-game winning streak snapped in the process.
 
"This was a really good team win," UWM head coach Scott Doffek said. "Langley was very good today and we bounced back every time we needed to as the game went on. The offense did a very good job of putting runs back on the scoreboard after Missouri would score."
 
Mizzou, receiving votes in the national polls and off to its best start since 1985 when it won its first 14 games, added a run in the seventh and had the bases loaded with just one out. But, senior Cal Haley put out the fire, inducing an inning-ending double play to give the momentum back to Milwaukee, which extended its program-best start to a season.
 
"A lot of credit for the result has to go to Cal Haley," Doffek said. "He came into a huge spot in the seventh inning and executed pitches inducing that double play. That was crucial."
 
The six runs and 13 hits are the most Missouri has allowed in a game all season. The Tigers came into the contest with a sparkling 1.22 team ERA, having allowed more than two runs in just one game all season prior to today.
 
Langley (3-0), the reigning Horizon League Pitcher of the Week, was absolutely dominant through the first four innings, retiring 11 of 12 at one point while walking zero and fanning seven in the first four frames before running into trouble in the fifth.
 
Three singles in a row to lead off the fifth loaded the bases and Langley walked in a run, but got a pop out and a strikeout to leave the bases loaded and strand the tying run at the time at third base. He ended up working 5.1 innings, giving up three earned runs – his first of the 2015 campaign – in striking out the 10 batters.
 
Jumpstarted by Langley's effort, the UWM pitching staff struck out 14 to come close to the school record of 15. Haley pitched 1.2 scoreless frames and senior Cody Peterson worked a 1-2-3 ninth to record his second save on the young season.
 
The Panthers wasted little time in putting up a crooked number on the scoreboard. The team got to Mizzou starter Reggie McClain (1-2) – who came in with a 0.38 ERA and just 10 hits allowed through his first 24 innings – for a pair of runs on three hits.
 
Meeteer led off with a walk and was still at first with two outs. He stole his ninth base of the season to get into scoring position and then scooted home on a double by Koenig. UWM wasn't done there, as Koenig scored on a seeing-eye single off the bat of senior Mike Porcaro. Junior Nick Unes added the third hit of the frame before Milwaukee was retired.
 
Varsho's deep bomb to right field made it 3-0 and junior Mitch Ghelfi drove in another to make it 4-0 in the third before the Tigers found the scoreboard.
 
Up next, it's right back at it tomorrow for these two teams, starting game two of the series at 2 p.m.