FRANKLIN, Wis. – The Milwaukee baseball team finished off a three-game sweep of the Wright State Raiders on Saturday afternoon by the score of 9-2 at Franklin Field.
 
The sweep is Milwaukee's first sweep against a conference opponent since the Franklin Field-opening four-game series against Purdue Fort Wayne from March 26-28 of the 2021 season. It was the Panthers' first sweep against Wright State in over a decade, as Milwaukee last accomplished the feat from May 17-19 of the 2012 season at Henry Aaron Field.
 
"Aaron Chapman and Mark Connelly have really been locked in in the 3-4 spots of the lineup and they're just seeing the ball really well," said head coach Scott Doffek. "Wright State made some mistakes that were very uncharacteristic of them, and we capitalized."
 
Chapman had his second consecutive four-hit effort, becoming the first Panther to have at least four hits in two games through a season since 2019 when Tyler Bordner had three four-hit games and Joe Vyskocil had a pair of four-hit efforts that season.
 
Chapman also becomes the first Panther to have back-to-back four-hit performances since February 15-16 of the 2013 season, when Mike Porcaro went 4-for-5 and 4-for-6 against New Mexico State during the team's season-opening series.
 
On the hill, Eliot Turnquist was called into early action out of the bullpen and thrived as he pitched six scoreless innings and allowed just two hits and three walks while striking out four Raiders.
 
"Two hits allowed against a really good lineup is really good, especially with good hitter conditions today," said Doffek on Turnquist. "I thought Eliot was outstanding."
 
Johnny Kelliher and Sam Mathews closed out the game in the ninth. Owen Rice started the game and allowed just one earned run over two innings before being forced to exit the game ahead of Turnquist's appearance.
 
Connelly and Chapman had two RBIs apiece as did Justin Hausser who opened the Panther offensive outburst. Jake Novak also had a two-hit day, while Marcus Cline walked twice and scored two runs.
 
After Wright State plated one run in the top of the first inning, Milwaukee responded with a two-spot in bottom of the inning. Cline walked on nine pitches with one down before Chapman doubled to put a pair in scoring position. Up next was Hausser, who banged a double off the right field wall to put Milwaukee up by a 2-1 score.
 
In the top of the third, the Raiders tied the game with a run-scoring single. Turnquist came on for Rice in the inning and got a double-play and a strikeout to get out of the frame.
 
Milwaukee got another rally going in the bottom of the fourth as Chapman reached on a pop single and was moved up to third on a pair of groundouts. Novak connected on a base knock to right center to plate the third run for the Panthers to go up 3-2.
 
Wright State threatened in the top of the fifth with two on and one down, but Turnquist got the double play to end inning to send the game to the sixth.
 
After Turnquist got through the top of the sixth, Chapman led off the bottom of the inning with a first-pitch double. Nate DeYoung reached on a dropped third strike that was thrown awry to first base to put two runners on.
 
Novak reached on a fielder's choice and as the return throw was made towards first base, the ball was spiked and allowed Chapman to score the fourth Panther run. After Novak stole second, Jack Thelen singled to left center to put Milwaukee ahead 5-2.
 
The Panthers poured on some more runs in the bottom of the seventh as Luke Seidel singled and stole both second and third. Connelly singled to bring Seidel home before Chapman connected on a two-run home run to put the home team up by six.
 
After Turnquist continued to roll through the eighth inning, Cline got yet another rally started for the Panthers as he reached on a two-base error. Connelly singled to score Cline and close out the scoring at 9-2.
 
Kelliher walked the first batter before recording a strikeout ahead of Mathews coming on to get two of the final three batters to seal the sweep for the Panthers.
 
Milwaukee returns home on Monday to take on Carroll at Franklin Field to close out the homestead with first pitch slated for 3:00 p.m. on April 10.