MINNEAPOLIS – The Milwaukee baseball team won its third-straight game on Wednesday evening, shutting out the Minnesota Gophers by a 3-0 score at US Bank Stadium.
 
The Panthers (5-2) scored single runs in the first and third innings before adding a late insurance run in the eighth to seal the win. Marcus Cline drove in a pair on an RBI groundout and a sacrifice fly, while Mark Connelly opened the game with an RBI groundout in the first.
 
Nick Gilhaus tossed 105 pitches as he picked up his first win of the season, as he threw 6 2/3 innings of scoreless relief with seven strikeouts. Owen Rice got the start and threw two scoreless innings, while Nick DeYoung closed out the game for his third save of the season.
 
"Pitching and defense win games and that was the story tonight", said head coach Scott Doffek. "We did just enough situationally on offense. The plan was to use the bullpen heavy today, and [Nick] Gilhaus just kept making quality pitches, it was an incredible job by him."
 
Luke Seidel opened the game win an infield single and stole second, Cline grounded out to push Seidel to third. Connelly followed with a groundout as well to chase Seidel home and put the Panther up 1-0.
 
After the initial batter walked against Rice, the lefty got a ground ball back to the originator and started a 1-6-3 double play before retiring the side.
 
As the game advanced to the third inning Ty Olejnik had a one-out single before Seidel singled to put runners on the corners. Cline grounded out to chase Olejnik home to put Milwaukee up by a pair.
 
Gilhaus took over for Rice in the bottom of the third and got in and out of trouble while stranding a pair on base. He continued through the fourth and fifth, allowing one over the minimum before another 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the sixth.
 
In the top of the eighth inning Tommy Benson reached on an error followed by an infield single by Olejnik. A fielder's choice placed runners on the corners as Seidel was on first and then promptly stole second. Cline followed with a sacrifice fly to left field as Benson scored the third run of the game for Milwaukee.
 
Gilhaus continued to roll and worked around a one-out single in the bottom of the eighth to send the game to the ninth.
 
Minnesota got two runners on with two down before Gilhaus was lifted for Johnny Kelliher who walked one to load the bases before DeYoung came on to close the game on a groundout.
 
Milwaukee is back on the road this weekend when the Panthers play three games against Southeast Missouri beginning with a 3 p.m. start on Friday, March 3.