FRANKLIN, Wis.  – Starting pitching was strong for the Milwaukee baseball team on Sunday, but the Panthers could not get the bats going and fell 9-4 and 4-2 to Northern Kentucky.
 
"I give a lot of credit to their guys on the mound," head coach Scott Doffek said. "They really executed, and we never adjusted in the box. I tip my cap - their ability to repeat and pound the zone was very impressive."
 
The Panthers were held to just six runs in the two games, totaling 14 hits and leaving 11 runners aboard.
 
In game one, AJ Blubaugh put the Panthers in the driver's seat as he went seven strong innings allowing just one earned run while striking out five.
 
Nate DeYoung cleared the bases with a double in the third for a 4-0 lead before NKU got on the board with a solo home run.
 
Once Blubaugh exited, the Norse got to the Panthers' bullpen and put up eight runs in the eighth to hand MKE a 9-4 loss.
 
Nick Gilhaus was strong in the nightcap, striking out a career-high eight batters across 6.1 innings.
 
NKU broke a 2-2 tie in the seventh as Ryan Glass lifted a two-run homer to left field and the Norse's bullpen took care of the rest, holding MKE to just one hit across the final three frames.
 
Luke Seidel finished with five hits on the day for MKE, going 5-for-7 with a double. Aaron Chapman totaled three hits for the Panthers.
 
Milwaukee will return to Franklin Field on Tuesday as the Panthers host Valapraiso for a 3:00 pm doubleheader. Live coverage links available on MKEPanthers.com.
 
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