MILWAUKEE - Mike Ferri delivered the pinch-hit, game-winning single to give the Milwaukee baseball team a 5-4 walkoff victory over Oakland University on a chilly, windy Saturday afternoon at Henry Aaron Field.
 
The Panthers (15-25, 5-13 Horizon League) made it two in a row in their final at bat against the Golden Grizzlies (10-30, 7-11 Horizon League), overcoming a deficit in the sixth today before Ferri came through with the winner in extra innings.
 
"We found a way to win," Milwaukee head coach Scott Doffek said. "It's good to bat last and be at home and hopefully we can use the past couple of days as a springboard. It was not an easy day to play baseball. It gets tough standing out there the whole time in weather like this."
 
John Boidanis again played a pivotal role, with his two-run home run in the sixth inning flipping the script for the second day in a row against OU.
 
"Another huge home run," Doffek said. "We weren't doing much of anything and he really picked us up. I don't think he got all of that one, but got it on the barrel and got some good spin on it and we will take it."
 
After a 1-2-3 ninth and avoiding trouble in the top of the 10^th, Milwaukee had little trouble starting the winning rally.
 
Dylan Detert dumped a single down the right field line to open the frame before Matt Quartel and Billy Quirke each coaxed walks while showing bunt. Ferri then played the hero role, dumping an 0-2 pitch into left center to start the on-field celebration for the second day in a row.
 
The hit made a winner out of Brandon Parr (2-4), who pitched 3.1 scoreless innings. Included in that was working out of trouble in the 10^th when an error put a runner in scoring position and earlier in the eighth when he stranded a leadoff double.
 
"Parr did a really good job," Doffek said. "They have a couple of the best hitters in the league and he kept putting up zeroes."
 
UWM mustered just five hits in the game but found a way to win. Daulton Varsho walked in the first and was chased home on a two-out double by Ben Chally to give the Panthers an early 1-0 lead.
 
It stayed that way unto the third, when three extra-base hits in a row gave the Grizzlies the 2-1 lead. Drew Demumbrum's home run in the top of the sixth extended the advantage to 3-1.
 
In UWM's half of the frame, Trevor Schwecke doubled with one out and scored on a throwing error. Chally then walked with two outs and came home on Boidanis' towering home run to left center.
 
A run in the Oakland seventh knotted it and eventually sent it to extra innings.
 
Adam Reuss got the start, striking out seven in 6.0 innings of work. Oakland starter Jake Lee tossed an impressive 9.0 innings, allowing just three hits while striking out 10 batters despite leaving with a no-decision.
 
The series concludes tomorrow, with the game being played at Miller Park. The contest will get underway approximately 30 minutes following the conclusion of the Brewers/Braves game that starts at 1 p.m.