MEQUON, Wis. – Seven players for the Milwaukee baseball team had multi-hit performances in a dominating 18-6 win over Youngstown State Friday evening from Kapco Park.
 
The Panthers (17-13, 6-6) pounded out 20 hits and scored 18 runs against Youngstown State (8-26, 4-9) in the first game of the three-game set.
 
"Up and down the lineup we did a good job putting quality at-bats together," said head coach Scott Doffek. "The weather conditions were brutal with the wind, but we put the ball in play, and took advantage of a few of their miscues and put up some big numbers tonight."
 
Milwaukee scored in all but one inning, but none bigger than the bottom of the fourth when they put up a seven spot to take a commanding 12-4 lead after four innings of play.
 
With the game tight at 5-4, the Panthers strung five-straight hits together, including back-to-back doubles from Mike Ferri and Trevor Schwecke to put the Panthers up 8-4. After a Penguin error, the inning extended and the Panthers added four additional runs on three hits, to put the run total to 12.
 
Starting pitcher, Matt Vanek (5-1) settled down after the third inning allowing four runs in the first three frames. The Plainfield (IL) native exited after 5.1 IP, five runs, and six strikeouts, and picked up his team-high fifth win.
 
"Both pitching staffs had a hard time commanding the bottom half of the zone, but Matt made some big pitches at big times," said Doffek. "He got himself in some trouble at times with walks, but made key pitches to work himself out of some jams."
 
The Panthers continued to add runs to the scoreboard scoring two in the fifth and sixth, and single runs in the next two for a grand total of 18 to end the game.
 
Mike Ferri and Joe Vyskocil led the hot hitting Panthers with four hits each while Ferri went 4-for-5 with three runs, three RBI and a double. Vyskocil knocked in four Panthers on a 4-for-6 performance at the plate.
 
MKE will look to continue in swinging a hot bat Saturday as the two teams wrap up the series with a doubleheader. First game is set for 12 p.m. (CT) at Kapco Park.