Panthers Edge Out Gophers in 5-4 Victory
 
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – A three-run home run from Joe Vyskocil in the first inning helped propel the Milwaukee baseball team to a 5-4 victory over the Minnesota Gophers Wednesday night from Siebert Field.
 
Milwaukee (26-15) scored all of it's runs in the first inning and Panther pitching staff did the rest giving up just four Gopher (18-23) runs on five hits. Both bullpens played a big role throughout the game with UMN shutting out the Panthers after the first inning, and the Milwaukee staff able to hang on for the win.
 
"It was an interesting game coming out swinging the bat like that and then getting shutdown – but give credit to their bullpen," said head coach Scott Doffek. "Our pen was equally as impressive though. We made some big pitches in some tight spots, and it's a good win heading into a big weekend."
 
Once again the Milwaukee bats got off to a hot start scoring all five of their runs on three hits.  With runners on first and second, Vyskocil knocked in the first three runs for his team-leading seventh home run. After a Tyler Bordner walk, senior outfielder Colin Kreiter homered to right field for the five-run advantage.
 
Minnesota rallied back in the next two innings scoring one in the bottom of the first and three in the second to cut the lead to one run.
 
In the sixth, the Gophers reached first and second after two hits batsmen, but Jack Mahoney settled on the mound and was able to get Eli Wilson to fly out to right field and keep the UMN scoreless in the inning.
 
The following inning, UMN  threatened to take the lead with runners in scoring position and one out, but senior George Swedie delivered some big pitches to keep Minnesota scoreless. With one out and two walks to start the inning, Minnesota's Jack Wassel hit a deep fly ball off the left field wall, but runners only advanced one base to load the bases. After the long single by Wassel, Swedie struck out the next batter and got Riley Smith to pop out to end the inning.
 
The Milwaukee bullpen continued to dominate when Matt Vanek entered the game the eighth inning. Vanek sat down the next six Gopher batters in order while striking out four to pick up his first save of the season.
 
Next up, MKE will travel to UIC for a pivotal three-game series against the Flames. The Panthers sit just one-half game out of first place in Horizon League standings, while the Flames sit in third. Game one of the series is slated for Friday, May 3 at Curtis Granderson Stadium at 6:35 p.m.