MILWAUKEE - Every member of the starting lineup of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team had at least one hit and scored a run in cruising to an 11-2 victory over Northern Illinois University Tuesday at Henry Aaron Field.
 
The Panthers (32-18) plated runs in four of the first five innings after falling behind the Huskies (21-31) by a run in the first inning. They built a 5-1 lead and the defense turned four double plays – including a spectacular one to end it in the ninth – to earn the win.
 
"Everyone contributed," Milwaukee head coach Scott Doffek said. "We pitched well early in the ball game and got some two-out hits. We created some space and you could see us relax a little bit. I really thought the key today was the defense. We made some really nice plays in the infield. We have been struggling with that a little bit and it was good to see everybody make some extra-effort plays."
 
Freshman Austin Schulfer (3-0) continues to pitch well when given the opportunity. He allowed just one earned run over his 7.0 innings of work, striking out six batters.
 
Sophomore Eric Solberg had two hits, tied his career-high with three RBI and provided some spectacular defense, including a bare-handed grab, spin and throw to first to complete the game-ending double play.
 
"That was pretty," Doffek said. "Those aren't things you can practice. That was just athletes on the field making athletic plays and those are critical. We turned a couple of double plays when the game was still in the balance and again, I think the defense was the difference."
 
Junior Luke Meeteer added two hits and senior Derek Peake continued to swing a hot bat, adding two more base knocks to now hit safely in eight straight. He has seven multi-hit outings in that stretch that has seen him bat .471 (16-for-34). Senior Mike Porcaro scored three runs.
 
The Panthers limited NIU to just six hits on the day, with Johnny Zubek the only player with more than one at 2-for-4.
 
Down, 1-0, after an unearned run in the top of the first, the Panthers quickly tied it on senior Sam Koenig's RBI groundout. Peake's two-out single plated Meeteer with the go-ahead run in the third and UWM gave itself a big cushion with a three-run fourth.
 
Up next, the team opens the final series of the season, welcoming Oakland University to town. The teams open up Thursday at Henry Aaron Field, set for a first pitch of 3 p.m.