FAIRBORN, Ohio - Valparaiso University broke open a tie game with five runs in the eighth inning to knock off the Milwaukee baseball team by the final score of 12-7 Friday afternoon at Nischwitz Stadium in an elimination game in the Horizon League Tournament.
 
The Panthers (32-26) jumped out to an early lead but could never put away the Crusaders (30-27), who overcome a big hole to start the contest and staged a late rally to reach the championship match-up with Wright State tomorrow.
 
"We just did not play the way we have played over the last month and a half – not in any of the past three games," Milwaukee head coach Scott Doffek said. "Just fundamentally not good enough. And Valpo gets a lot of credit … they really hit mistakes, but we didn't execute enough pitches when it counted."
 
Daulton Varsho led a 10-hit attack for UWM, finishing 3-for-5 with two RBI, a run scored and his 16th stolen base of the year. Luke Meeteer (2-for-4, 2 RBI, run), Nick Unes (2-for-4, RBI) and Chris Kelly (2-for-4, 2 runs) all added multi-hit efforts.
 
Shea Molitor went 3-for-4 with two RBI for the Crusaders and Nolan Lodden added a pair of hits and drove in three.
 
Milwaukee was seemingly in control and still led 7-4 in the seventh inning. But, the Crusaders kept chipping away and made it a new game with three runs in the frame.
 
Coming off a letdown loss to Wright State in the first game of the day, the Panthers wasted little time getting that bad taste out of their mouths. They scored three times in the first inning, plating runs on Unes' RBI-single, a bases-loaded walk to Cole Heili and a sac fly off the bat of Eric Solberg.
 
It took just one more inning to get the merry-go-round going again, doubling the advantage in the bottom of the second. A pair of walks led off the frame and a single by Kelly loaded the bases for Varsho. The reigning Horizon League Player of the Year came through yet again, drilling a 1-1 pitch off the wall in right center field to drive in two more runs. Meeteer followed with a sacrifice fly and the Panthers led 6-0 early.
 
"Certainly when you get up 6-0 like that, I felt that there were opportunities to be up by more than that and we didn't take advantage in those situations," Doffek said. "To Valpo's credit, they really strung at bats together and we really had a hard time regaining that momentum once they got it."
 
The Crusaders kept after it, getting on the board in the third with a single run and making it a 6-3 game on a long two-run home run off the bat of Daniel Delaney in the fourth. Starter Adam Reuss helped get himself out of trouble in the fifth by picking a runner off base when it was first and third with nobody out. That helped limit the damage to just one run, but made it 6-4 on the scoreboard.
 
The eighth inning was decisive and the Panthers couldn't find a way to stop it. In all, the frame consisted of five runs, four hits and three different UWM pitching changes.
 
"I told the guys at the end that I think nerves was what did us in," Doffek said. "We had a hard time relaxing in situations that call for you to relax and execute a pitch or a play or a swing and those are things that Valpo did a better job. Nerves seemed to play a part in all three games. So many guys had never been in that situation before [22 of the 35 players on UWM's roster were newcomers this season]. It's one thing to be playing in an important conference weekend, but when the end of the season is staring you in the face there is more pressure in it."
 
After putting up six runs in the first two innings, the Panther offense was limited to just one the rest of the way. Bryce Yoder (2-3) was terrific for Valpo in relief, pitching the final 3.2 innings, allowing no runs and just one hit. He walked one and struck out three.
 
The loss brings an end to the 2016 season and the conclusion to the career of eight seniors: Dan Barwick, Aaron Buban, Cal Haley, Brian Keller, Luke Meeteer, Mason Pingel, Jake Tuttle and Nick Unes.
 
"It starts with Meeteer," Doffek said. "The guy essentially holds every record there is. Just a great player and great leadership from that guy. And Keller was great from start to finish, just a fantastic senior season. Unes may have struggled a bit in the batter's box, but he still had a good year. He played a great third base and still knocked in over 40 runs. Tuttle had a great bounce-back season from where he was last year. Danny Barwick was a kid that pulled himself off the mat – he wasn't even on the roster last season and turned himself into an everyday player for us. Pingel was fighting injury all season, but was just an outstanding clubhouse guy. Everyone loved him – outstanding kid and I'd take 1,000 of him. Buban had been swinging well and pulled an oblique muscle. That was a bat that we certainly could have used down here. Just a great teammate for his three years. Haley had a great senior year as well and was really steady. We will really miss those guys."

UPDATE:
Daulton Varsho was named to the Horizon League All-Tournament Team following the conclusion of the event Saturday.
He batted .500 (6-for-12) with 7 RBI and three runs scored.
P – Robby Sexton, Wright State
P – Caleb Sampen, Wright State
C – Daulton Varsho, Milwaukee
1B – Gabe Snyder, Wright State
2B – Chase Dawson, Valparaiso
SS – Cody Bohanek, UIC
3B – John Brodner, Wright State
OF – Nolan Lodden, Valparaiso
OF – JD Orr, Wright State
OF – James Stea, Valparaiso
DH – Daniel Delaney, Valparaiso
Tournament MVP: John Brodner, Wright State