EVANSTON, Ill. – The Milwaukee baseball team scored four quick runs at the beginning of the game, but small ball in the ninth earned the Panthers a 6-4 win over Big Ten opponent Northwestern Tuesday evening.
 
After a 4-3 lead three innings into the game, the Panthers (12-18) and Wildcats (9-12) were in a pitching lock down until the eighth and ninth innings of the game. A one out double by the Wildcats in the bottom of the eighth tied the game at four, but Milwaukee capitalized on a wild pitch and added another run in a double steal for a two run advantage.
 
"It was good to come out of here with a win today," said head coach Scott Doffek. "We executed some short game offense in the ninth and got the W."
 
With mother nature not in their favor as of late, the Panthers were eager to get back onto the field and it showed right away in the first. Milwaukee jumped out to four run lead on four hits and two walks. After Devin Rybacki singled to center and Trevor Schwecke walked, senior Ben Chally tallied the Panthers first run with a single through the left side scoring Rybacki. Singles from Tyler Bordner, Joe Vyskocil and Oakland Scanlan later in the inning results in three additional runs for the Panthers.
 
After a one-two-three second inning, Northwestern took advantage of two Panther errors resulting in Wildcat runs. The Wildcats had three hits in the inning, but of the three given up, just one run was earned.
 
"We really didn't play very well," said Doffek. "We put ourselves in some tough situations with defensive miscues, but still pulled it out in the end."
 
A key part of the pitching lockdown came from Panthers Mike Edwards. The freshman pitched 2.2 innings, allowing two hits while striking out two to keep the Wildcats at bay.
 
"I really liked what (Mike) Edwards did in the middle of the game," Doffek said. "He showed some heart and pitched through some tough spots."
 
Northwestern knotted the game up at four in the bottom of the eighth looking to finish off the Panthers in the ninth, but Milwaukee had other plans. Milwaukee led off the top of the ninth inning with a single and a walk with the runners advancing 90 feet after a Scanlan SAC bunt.
 
At third, Tyler Bordner took advantage of a Wildcat wild pitch for the go-ahead run. Another run crossed the plate for the Panthers on a double Rybacki-Scaffidi steal to finish it off.
 
Milwaukee tallied six runs on seven hits with two players with two-hit performances. Ben Chally and Tyler Bordner garnered two hits each with an RBI.
 
Wednesday's (April 18) game against WLC has been canceled with hopes of hosting MSOE on Thursday, April 19 from Henry Aaron Field. Game time between the Panthers and Raiders is set for 3:30 p.m.