FRANKLIN, Wis. – Oakland turned what was a tight 2-1 game in the eighth inning into an 8-2 victory, topping the Milwaukee baseball team with six runs over its final two at bats Friday at Franklin Field.
 
The Panthers (15-21, 12-13 Horizon League) trailed the Golden Grizzlies (10-22, 4-17 Horizon League) by a score of 2-0 early before making it a one-run affair in the fifth. The team then had opportunities to draw even in the sixth and seventh innings but made outs at the plate, allowing OU the chance to break it open late.
 
"We had a similar game last week, close late and then it got away from us," head coach Scott Doffek said. "We had opportunities in the game to tie it and broke down fundamentally and gave them an out leaving early. And I thought they made a nice play on a potential tying run in the seventh."
 
Mitchell Buban hit his first home run of the season in the ninth, one of his two hits on the day. Mike Ferri paced MKE with a perfect 3-for-3 day, highlighted by a run-scoring double.
 
The Panthers were limited to just one hit through four innings before Jack Cavanaugh and Ferri traded doubles to make it a 2-1 contest.
 
Milwaukee looked to have tied the game on a sac fly off the bat of Luke Seidel in the sixth. Marcus Cline scored on the play but was then called out on appeal for leaving the base early. The tying run was also thrown out at the plate in the seventh, with Buban trying to go from second to home on an infield hit by Ferri, tagged out on a nice scoop by the OU catcher.
 
Oakland built a 2-0 lead despite a strong showing by Riley Frey, denting the scoreboard for one in the third and another in the fifth inning. Frey (2-5) took the loss despite allowing just two runs in his 7.0 innings, walking one and striking out five.
 
Bryce Konitzer (3-1) was the winner for Oakland, striking out five while allowing one run in 6.2 innings. Jared Miller paced the offense with a 3-for-5 showing, scoring three times.
 
These two teams are back at it tomorrow, set for a doubleheader starting at noon.