NILES, Ohio - Jay Peters came up one out away from a complete-game shutout in a 1-0 victory in the opener and the Milwaukee baseball team exploded for season highs in runs and hits in the nightcap in sweeping Youngstown State in a doubleheader Saturday at Eastwood Field.
 
"There were a lot of positives on the weekend," Milwaukee head coach Scott Doffek said. "Jay Peters really competed and gave us a chance in the opener. The YSU pitcher was sharp the whole game. We were fortunate to finally scratch one across in the eighth inning and pull out the win."
 
The Panthers (10-11, 3-0 Horizon League) claimed that win in the opener against the Penguins (5-15, 0-6 Horizon League) despite managing just three hits. They took care of business in game two, however, jumping out to a 5-0 lead in the first and piling on from there in finishing with 24 hits in a 22-3 rout.
 
"Lost in the score is that Adam Reuss was just outstanding again," Doffek said. "He gave us exactly what we needed early after that tough first game. Then for us to come out and score five runs in the first inning really set the tone and our offense kept pressure on them early."
 
Reuss (2-2) was nearly untouchable in the nightcap. He allowed a two-out single in the first inning and then retired the next 16 batters he faced in his outing, despite long waits in the dugout while his offense was scoring runs. He walked no one and struck out four.
 
Pitching was the star of the show in the opener, as both starters were brilliant.
Peters (2-2) nearly had the shutout, coming up one batter short of the 9-inning gem when YSU produced a pair of two-out hits in the bottom of the ninth to get the go-ahead run on base. He finished with just five hits allowed, no runs, six strikeouts and three walks. He did not allow a Penguin to reach third base in his outing and just a pair of runners made it as far as second base.
 
Jake Tuttle was called on for the last out, needing three pitches to get a ground ball to third to close it out for his second save of the year.
 
YSU's Jeremy Quinlan was just as good, carrying a no-hitter against the Panthers into the seventh before Luke Meeteer finally came up with a base hit. The lone run came in the top of the eighth. Cole Heili doubled with one out and came home on the game-winning hit by Mike Jordahl, a solid single to center field.
 
In the second game, the Panthers plated five runs in the first for a jumpstart to a contest where no less than five different players had at least three hits and the top three spots in the order combined to go 12-for-20 with eight runs scored and 11 RBI.
 
Eric Solberg set career highs in hits and RBI and tied his collegiate-best in runs scored by finishing 4-for-7 with four runs driven in and three runs scored. Daulton Varsho also had the best day of his young Panther career, setting new highs with four hits and five RBI's while also scoring a pair of runs and stealing two bases.
 
Meeteer finished game two at 3-for-6, tying his Milwaukee-best with four runs scored. Nick Unes tied a collegiate-bests with three hits and scored a career-high four runs in a perfect 3-for-3 day that included three RBI and the only home run in a 22-run outburst.
 
The onslaught did not stop there. Billy Quirke was also 4-for-7, scoring three times and knocking in two. Jeremy Wright had two hits, scored twice and knocked in a pair and the team finished the contest with seven stolen bases – the second-highest total in a game in school history. Heili and Dan Barwick each added a pair of swipes.
 
The pitching staff allowed just one earned run in 18.0 innings on the day. Jared Reklaitis worked the eighth inning and Zach Brenner a perfect ninth to help UWM complete the weekend sweep.
 
The Panthers, weather-permitting, finally get the opportunity to host their 2016 home opener this week at Henry Aaron Field. The schedule currently has Milwaukee hosting Valparaiso for a three-game series, opening Friday at 3 p.m.