JONESBORO, Ark. - The Milwaukee baseball team led in the sixth inning but could not take advantage of a 10-strikeout performance by Brian Keller on the mound in falling by a final score of 7-4 in game one of a doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Tomlinson Stadium.
 
"It was good to see Brian Keller throw the ball the way we know he can," Milwaukee head coach Scott Doffek said. "He gave us a really effort, but we didn't support him on defense."
 
The Panthers (2-9) led the Red Wolves (7-4) by a score of 3-2 in the sixth inning but could not close it out. A-State then completed the doubleheader sweep with an 8-1 victory in the nightcap.
 
"I think the way we came out in the second game was a hangover from the first one," Doffek said. "We are pressing to execute in all phases right now. This is an inexperienced group and you can really see them struggling to find an identity. But, no one is going to feel sorry for us and we know that. We have to look inside and man up and come out a better team tomorrow."
 
Keller (0-3) was tagged with the loss despite a tremendous outing, striking out a career high 10 batters in just 5.1 innings of work. He got into a bit of trouble in the sixth but did leave with the lead. The Red Wolves pounced on the opportunity, scoring the tying and go-ahead runs on a wild pitch and an error.
 
Down 2-0 in the fifth, Luke Meeteer walked and Ian Ross singled, with Nick Unes chasing home Meeteer with an RBI-single of his own. A fielder's choice tied it up and Billy Quirke gave UWM the lead with a single to left center. The Panthers still had the bases loaded and just one out, but the A-State bullpen induced back-to-back pop outs to end the threat.
 
Down 5-3 in the eighth, Meeteer started the inning with a base hit and scored on another sac fly. Milwaukee had what would have been the tying run at third with two outs, but could not find a way to get the run home. The home team then added a pair of insurance runs in its half of the frame to close out the scoring.
 
Ross (2-for-3) and Quirke (2-for-4) had multi-hit outings to lead the offense. Ty White was 3-for-5 with 3 RBI for the Red Wolves, including a two-run home run.
 
In the nightcap, Adam Graham (1-1) limited the UWM offense to just four hits through 6.0 innings, allowing just one run.
 
Austin Schulfer (0-2) suffered the loss, allowing five earned runs in 4.0 innings. Alex Fischer and Eric Solberg closed out the game with a scoreless inning each.
 
Meeteer went a perfect 3-for-3 and was on base all four times with a walk and added the lone RBI in the 8-1 decision. John Boidanis and Matt Quartel each went 2-for-4, with Quartel's output coming in his first start of the season.
 
The series wraps up with a Sunday matinee scheduled for a first pitch of 1 p.m.