VALPARAISO, Ind. - Senior
Joe Pavlovich allowed just one unearned run in six strong innings to lead the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team to an 8-5 victory over Valparaiso University Saturday at Emory Bauer Field.
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The Panthers (27-16, 11-11 Horizon League) raced out to leads of 4-0 and 8-1 before a late rally by the Crusaders (18-23, 13-9 Horizon League) made it interesting at the end.
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Pavlovich (5-1) picked up his third straight victory, giving up four hits while walking one and striking out three after he exited with a 4-1 lead.
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"Pav did a wonderful job today," Milwaukee head coach
Scott Doffek said. "He made some really big pitches when we needed it."
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Junior
Mitch Ghelfi gave UWM a 1-0 lead with a home run to lead off the second and a three-run rally in the fifth inning made it 4-0 at the time.
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Senior
Sam Koenig's 13
th home run of the season made it 8-1 in the ninth but the runs proved valuable when Valpo struck for four in the ninth before senior
Gunnar Eastman was called on for the save. The Crusaders had also loaded the bases with no outs in the eighth. Senior
Cody Peterson came on and got a liner for out No. 1 and a double play to keep it at 5-1 at the time.
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"Peterson came into a tight spot in the eighth and did a phenomenal job when we needed it," Doffek said. "That gave our offense a chance to tack on in the ninth inning, which turned out to be the difference."
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Senior
Ryan McShane paced an 11-hit attack with a 3-for-4 day, scoring a pair of runs and driving in another. Ghelfi finished 2-for-4, while Koenig added a pair of walks to his outing.
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Senior
Derek Peake had two hits, junior
Nick Unes drove in two and junior
Luke Meeteer had a hit, an RBI and stole his league-leading 29
th base to extend his school record for steals in a season.
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Spencer Mahoney paced the home team with three more hits. The Panthers tagged Mario Losi (4-2) with just his second loss of the season, scoring four runs on five hits in his 5.0-inning outing.
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The series finale wraps up Sunday with a noon start.
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