WHITING, Ind. - Wright State University scored nine of its 10 runs in just two innings to hand the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team a 10-4 loss Thursday afternoon in the Horizon League Tournament at Oil City Stadium.
 
The Panthers (36-19) battled out of an early five-run hole against the Raiders (39-14) to make it a one-run game, only to see Wright State use another rally to open the contest back up.
 
"You hate to give up that five-spot in the second inning, but then you have to love the way the guys responded," UWM head coach Scott Doffek said. "You had a 5-4 game in the fifth and we just didn't pitch well enough – and you can't do that against a good team like that. You have to give them credit. They beat us in all three phases of the game today."
 
Milwaukee collected just six hits on the day, with junior Mitch Ghelfi leading the way with a pair of RBI's on a double. Seniors Mike Porcaro, Tell Taylor and Ryan McShane, sophomore Eric Solberg and freshman Daulton Varsho all added singles.
 
"We can't look back now," Doffek said. "You have to win one pitch at a time, find a way to get to tomorrow and then do the same thing."
 
The Panthers put together the first threat, placing runners on first and third with just one out after back-to-back singles by Porcaro and Varsho in the second. Taylor looked to have, at the least, an RBI-groundout, but Wright State shortstop Mitch Roman made an incredible play deep in the hole and threw off balance to start the inning-ending double play.
 
The carryover of momentum was critical, as the Raiders stunned Milwaukee with a five-run second inning, featuring back-to-back home runs by John Brodner and Sean Murphy.
 
The Panthers response was immediate and turned momentum right back in their favor. Following singles by McShane and Solberg, a hit batter loaded the bases. A walk to senior Derek Peake plated the first run and a wild pitch sent another scurrying home. Ghelfi then made it a new game when he cracked a two-run double to left center to make it 5-4.
 
Scoreless for a bit after that, the Raiders loaded the bases with no outs in fifth inning and added a pair of vital insurance runs on a walk and wild pitch before taking advantage of a huge two-out error to reopen their original five-run cushion at 9-4.

Justin Langley (6-2) took the rare loss, getting roughed up for seven earned runs in 5.0 innings of work, allowing eight hits, walking four and striking out four.
 
There will be no rest for Milwaukee, which will play again immediately, taking on Valparaiso University this evening in an elimination contest. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.