ROCHESTER, Mich. - Brian Keller recorded another win and Cole Heili gave the Milwaukee baseball team a fast start with a three-run double in the first inning in a 7-3 victory over Oakland University Thursday at Oakland Baseball Field.
 
The Panthers (30-23, 16-10 Horizon League) led the Golden Grizzlies (22-25, 10-13 Horizon League) by a score of 3-1 after the first inning before tacking on a pair of insurance runs in the fourth. Keller came through again, winning his fourth start in a row while setting a new school record with his ninth consecutive victory on the season.
 
"We did not swing the bats great today, but what hits we did get were timely," Milwaukee head coach Scott Doffek said. "I thought the bases-clearing double by Heili was huge. And Brian did what he does, and gave us another quality start. Now we need to come out tomorrow and execute all phases."
 
Keller (9-3), who has not lost since March 5 against Arkansas State, broke the former program mark of eight wins in a row set by Quintin Oldenburg back in 2000. He also claimed his ninth win of the campaign to equal the school mark, set twice by Oldenburg (2002 and 2001) and most recently tied by Aaron Sorenson (2005).
 
He just missed his fifth complete game of the season as well, working 8.2 innings after OU scored a third run following back-to-back doubles and a walk in the ninth. Keller ended the day allowing three runs, walking two and striking out seven batters.
 
The seven K's are also significant, as it gives him 99 on the year to break the school record of 95 sent by Ben Stanczyk back in 2004.
 
Eric Solberg paced the offense with a 3-for-4 day, scoring once and driving in another in addition to adding his 16^th stolen base. Ian Ross went 2-for-4 with a double, RBI and run scored as the only other player with a multi-hit effort. Heili finished 1-for-2 with two runs scored, a steal and the trio of runs batted in.
 
Milwaukee wasted no time getting ahead. With one out in the game, Ross was hit by a pitch, Varsho doubled and Luke Meeteer walked. An out later, Heili came through in the clutch, lacing the first pitch he saw to right center to clear the bases.
 
The Grizzlies got one back in the first on a wild pitch, but UWM extended the lead to 5-1 in the fourth inning on a single by Solberg and Ross' two-bagger.
 
Keller was finally chased in the ninth, when a pair of doubles plated a run. Once the next batter walked on four pitches, Cal Haley was called on for the final out, getting a fly ball to left to earn his fifth save of the season.
 
The result moves the squad 30-23 in 2016, giving Milwaukee 30-plus wins in back-to-back years for the first time since 2001-02 (following a school-record 39 wins last season).
 
Game two of the series gets underway tomorrow at 12 p.m. CST.