FRANKLIN, Wis. – Behind a career-high 10-strikeout performance from left-hander Riley Frey, the Milwaukee Panthers opened a three-game series with a 6-3 win over the Wright State Raiders on Thursday at Franklin Field.
 
"It starts on the mound and Riley was pretty dynamic throughout the game," said Scott Doffek post game. "I thought [Ty] Olejnik really changed the game in centerfield with a couple of extra-effort plays."
 
The Panther offense was led by Ty Olejnik who hit a two-run home run, while Mark Connelly had a key two-run double in the seventh to extend the Panther lead.
 
"Olejnik and Connelly brought in four runs and got some momentum going and the dugout fed off of it," added Doffek.
 
Frey faced early trouble in the first inning as the bases were loaded with two down, but Frey registered the strikeout to leave the bases full of Raiders. Wright State ended the game with 16 runners left on base.
 
In the bottom of the first, Aaron Chapman reached on a throwing error as he was first pitch swinging to reach base. Two batters later Chapman stole second base before Jake Novak picked up the first Milwaukee hit to score the first run of the game.
 
The Raiders tied the game with a leadoff home run in the top of the third before Frey was able to record three more strikeouts in the inning.
 
In the bottom of the fourth Connelly reached on an error to lead off the inning and moved up to second on the play. After a groundout moved Connelly to third, a wild pitch allowed Connelly to score to put Milwaukee back up by a 2-1 score.
 
Frey got through the fifth after two of the first three reached before getting the strikeout to end the inning.
 
The bottom of the fifth saw Milwaukee score as Jack Thelen singled on a nine-pitch at-bat before Olejnik sent a ball over the right field fence to extend Milwaukee's lead to 4-1.
 
Two batters reached for the Panthers in the bottom of the sixth but were unable to score. Wright State got the first batter on against Frey in the seventh and after getting one out was lifted for Nick Gilhaus. Three batters later, the inherited runner scored on a hit by pitch for Wright State's second run of the game.
 
Milwaukee answered right back in the bottom of the seventh as Thelen walked before an errant throw by the pitcher on a bunt attempt put the first two batters on. Three batters later Connelly doubled to right centerfield to extend the Panther lead to four at 6-2.
 
Gilhaus got through the eighth capped off by a diving catch by Olejnik in right centerfield to strand a pair of Raiders on base.
 
Things got dicey in the top of the ninth for the Panthers after the leadoff batter reached and moved up to second on defensive indifference with two outs. The Raiders had a double to plate their third run. After a pair of walks, Sam Mathews came on and got the final out via strikeout to clinch the victory for the Panthers.
 
Milwaukee and Wright State will meet again tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. in game two of the series from Franklin Field in Franklin, Wisconsin.