MILWAUKEE, Wis. – The Milwaukee baseball team won the first two game of the series against Northern Kentucky this weekend, but couldn't close out the series falling by a final score of 7-1 in the final game Sunday afternoon at Henry Aaron Field.
Milwaukee (19-24, 11-10) was held to just five hits by the Norse (13-32, 8-16) pitching staff with Sam William's going seven solid innings while allowing one run on three hits and ended the day with nine strikeouts.
Panthers'
Jared Reklaitis (3-4) had seven strikeouts in six innings, but surrendered four runs for the loss. Reklaitis scattered five hits, but all four runs were off a solo and three-run home run.
"We had opportunities early on in the game, and our first two inning we swung the bat really well when five of our first six outs were caught up against the wall," said head coach
Scott Doffek. "After the third though, (Sam) Williams got rolling and threw well and we didn't adjust.
Mike Moffatt got the Norse on the scoreboard first with a solo homerun over the left field fence for an early 1-0 lead, but the Panthers answered back in the bottom of the third. With one out,
Trevor Schwecke hit an infield single to tie the game at one, but not before
Mitch Buban reached base after a triple to right center.
The back and forth continued as the Norse once again showed their power the next inning as Andrew Bacon cleared the left field fence easily to take the lead, 4-1.
The Panther bullpen kept the team within striking distance putting up zeros for the next four innings, but Northern Kentucky added insurance runs in the top of the ninth who took advantage of two Panther miscues and increase their lead 7-1.
MKE rallied late in the ninth with an opportunity to score with bases loaded after a hit by pitch, walk and single. The rally came up short, however, after a strikeout and a game ending lineout double play.
Colin Kreiter led all Panther hitters with two hits and a walk.
The Panthers will resume action on Wed., May 9 against Chicago State. The last time the two teams met, Milwaukee won 12-4 back on April 10.
