MACOMB, Ill. - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team jumped out to a 5-0 lead after the first inning and never looked back, handing Western Illinois University a 7-1 defeat in game two of a doubleheader Tuesday afternoon at Alfred Boyer Stadium.
 
Freshman Alex McIntosh (3-1) came up big for the second straight start, following his seven no-hit innings a week ago by nearly pitching a shutout today, with WIU plating its run in the final inning.
 
"In game two, McIntosh did a great job of pitching ahead in the count with a steady mix," UWM head coach Scott Doffek said. "We put up five in the first inning and he kept getting us in the dugout with a zero. Our hitters had a better approach and barreled up balls most of the game."
 
The Panthers (18-12) jumped on the Leathernecks (10-21) out of the gates in the nightcap after getting upset in game one by a score of 6-4.
 
"Game one we did not do a good job on either side of the ball," Doffek said. "We didn't command the strike zone early and failed to adjust in the batter's box. You have to give their kid credit keeping us off balance."
 
The five runs came quickly while McIntosh had yet to take the mound. Freshman Daulton Varsho came up with the first big hit, a double to right that plated a pair of Panthers.
 
Following a hit batter and a walk to load the bases, senior Ryan McShane emptied them in one swing with another double to make it 5-0.
 
Milwaukee would tack on a pair of runs in the seventh, with McShane adding another RBI on an infield single.
 
McShane led the way with two hits and a career-best four RBI. Senior Derek Peake (2-for-3), junior Nick Unes (2-for-4) and senior Sam Koenig (2-for-4) all added multi-hit efforts.
 
McIntosh pitched the complete game, running his scoreless streak to 13.1 innings before allowing the run in the seventh. He gave up just three hits, walked two and struck out four.
 
The opener was a strange one for the Panthers, who started slowly before taking a lead without the benefit of too much offense.
 
The Leathernecks got to freshman starter Austin Schulfer for three runs in the first couple of innings. Meanwhile, the UWM offense went 9-up, 9-down through the first three frames.
 
They finally got things going in the fifth, plating four runs on just two hits, helped along by three WIU errors. The big hit in the rally came from junior Luke Meeteer, who collected a two-RBI double that made it 4-3 at the time.
 
Milwaukee was unable to hold the momentum and put up a zero in the bottom. Western responded quickly, scoring three runs on four hits to retake the lead at 6-4. The Panthers went 1-2-3 in the sixth and seventh before falling.
 
The team managed just three hits. Koenig and Mike Porcaro also collected singles in addition to Meeteer's double. Senior Cal Haley (1-2) was roughed up for the loss, allowing three runs and five hits in two innings, striking out three.
 
It's a quick turnaround for the Panthers, who will make the five-hour drive home from Macomb tonight and welcome Chicago State to Henry Aaron Field for a 3 p.m. game tomorrow.