WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Milwaukee baseball team opened the 2020 campaign Friday evening, falling to Illinois by a final score of 3-2 in the season opener at David F. Couch Ballpark.
The Panthers (0-1) had an opportunity to complete the comeback in the eighth and ninth innings against the Fighting Illini (1-0), but stranded the tying run on base in each inning.
"Good ballgame tonight in some cold conditions [44 and windy at first pitch]," head coach
Scott Doffek said. "Their starter had a good mix and kept us off balance. I thought we put some good at bats together, but had a hard time stringing them with each other."
All-American closer Garrett Acton, who set the Big Ten record with 19 saves last season, came on in the ninth to close it out.
A two-run home run put the Illini in front early, but the Panthers really settled in from there. They got one back in the bottom of the third, with
Mitchell Buban adding the first RBI of the season on a single that plated
Adam LaRock.
A leadoff walk hurt the next inning, with Illinois adding a key run in the frame on a double. That would be the final tally the MKE pitching staff would allow.
That statline was helped along by a brilliant outing by newcomer
Jake Armstrong, whose first impression was getting out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the top of the sixth inning.
Armstrong threw the final four innings without allowing a run, retiring the final nine batters of the contest. He fanned a pair and did not walk a batter.
Opening-day starter
Jack Mahoney (0-1) struck out six in his 5.0+ innings, but did allow four walks while giving up the three runs.
"Mahoney was just a little inconsistent with the strike zone and it hurt him at times," Doffek said. "All-in-all though, he gives up only three runs to keep us in the game. Armstrong was fantastic coming out of the pen in a huge jam and really was lights-out for all four of his innings."
The Panthers trimmed the deficit in half in the eighth, starting things with a triple from
Zach Nogalski and a walk to
Ty Olejnik. A double play brought in the run to make it 3-2 and the inning continued with singles by Buban and
Joe Vyskocil. That would be as far as they would get, with a fielder's choice ending the rally.
A two-out walk put the tying run on base in the last of the ninth, but was also unable to find his way home.
Milwaukee ended up out-hitting its opponents, 7-to-6. Buban and Vyskocil each finished 2-for-4, while Nogalski was on base twice (3B/HBP).
Jack Thelen and
Jack Kraus also recorded singles.
Milwaukee takes on host Wake Forest Saturday, set for a twinbill that starts at 1 p.m. CST. The Demon Deacons are ranked in all four major polls, checking in as high as No. 17.
