MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee baseball team continues its season-opening road trip as the Panthers will head to Texas to take on first-time foe Texas Rio Grande Valley, located in Edinburg, Texas. The Panthers will open the series on Friday at 6:30 p.m., followed by a Saturday game at the same time, the weekend will conclude with a 12:00 p.m. first pitch on getaway day. Milwaukee is looking for its first win of the season, while UTRGV went 2-1 in their season-opening set last weekend.

WEEK AT A GLANCE
Friday, February 23 | Milwaukee at Texas Rio Grande Valley | UTRGV Baseball Stadium | Edinburg, Texas | 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, February 24 | Milwaukee at Texas Rio Grande Valley | UTRGV Baseball Stadium | Edinburg, Texas | 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, February 25 | Milwaukee at Texas Rio Grande Valley | UTRGV Baseball Stadium | Edinburg, Texas | 12:00 p.m.

QUICK LINKS
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Live Stats (All Games): mkepanthers.com/coverage
Follow Along (On X): @MKE_Baseball

LEADING OFF
» Milwaukee opened its season in California last weekend, taking on the Fresno State Bulldogs and dropping all three decisions. The Panthers were able to hang with the Bulldogs, throughout the series, but were unable to connect on timely hitting throughout the weekend.
» The Panthers will throw all three starters from a weekend ago beginning with Luke Hansel, who tossed five innings and allowed one run in the opener. Adrian Montilva went five and allowed three runs with four strikeouts, while Gavin Theis rounded out the rotation last week with 5 2/3 innings with two runs allowed and three strikeouts.
» Texas Rio Grande Valley opened the year 2-1 with a home series against Rhode Island last week, the Vaqueros dropped the opener in extra innings, before bouncing back to knock off the Rams in lopsided 13-3 and 15-1 scores.
» The Vaqueros were projected to finish in sixth place in the 11-team Western Athletic Conference. Last season, UTRGV posted 30 wins against 26 losses and went 1-2 in WAC Tournament play.

SCOUTING TEXAS RIO GRANDE VALLEY
Texas Rio Grande Valley got their season started a day later than anticipated due to a rain out of the season opener. The Vaqueros came back the next day and dropped the opener by a 4-3 score in 11 innings, as Rhode Island erased a 3-1 deficit in the ninth to force extra innings before scoring the go-ahead run in the 11th. UTRGV responded with a pair of thumpings, knocking off Rhode Island by 13-3 and 15-1.

Milwaukee will face Isiah Campa in the opener, who is making is Vaquero debut after transferring from Tarleton State. In two seasons at Tarleton, Campa had a 6.89 ERA over 14 appearances and seven starts with 26 strikeouts over 31 innings in 2022 and 2023. Jacob Limas threw three shutout innings in his first outing of the season against Rhode Island and struck out four batters as he did not factor into the decision on Sunday. The Panthers will close out the weekend against Zach Tjelmeland, who put together an impressive seven strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings without allowing an earned run as he helped UTRGV clinch the series win over the Rams last weekend.

The Vaqueros were on a double-fest last weekend, collecting 11 doubles over their first three games which places them in the top-10 of Division I baseball through the first week of the season. Steven Lancia played in just two of the first three games last weekend and collected seven hits including a team-best three doubles while driving in three runs. Leading the team in RBIs is CJ Valdez, who takes advantage of his sixth spot in the lineup and has driven in seven runs including the team's lone home run of the season.

With 37 hits, 18 walks, and getting hit five times, Texas Rio Grande Valley has a combined team on-base percentage of .432, which is second in the WAC and 60th in the nation thus far. Derek Matlock is in his seventh season at the helm of the program and has 165 wins against 137 losses including four 30-win seasons.

WEEKEND OF FIRSTS
Seven Panthers recorded their first hits in Milwaukee uniforms last weekend, while Tyler Bickers, Teige Lethert, and Sean Tillmon also recorded their first Milwaukee RBIs. Collecting hits were Zach Lane, Q Phillips, Tai Walton, and Gabe Roessler, including a double for Lane and a Bickers triple.

Also making their collegiate debuts last week were Riley Peterson, who struck out one batter over 1 2/3 innings, while Tristan Arnold went 1 1/3 scoreless innings at Fresno State on Sunday. Logan Snow also made his Panther debut and tossed 2 2/3 innings on Saturday.

INTO THEIR NEW ROLES
Milwaukee's rotation got off to a solid start at Fresno State last weekend as Luke Hansel was sharp with six strikeouts over his five innings of work, allowing just one run against the Bulldogs in his first Friday start after serving as Milwaukee's Saturday starter a year ago.

Adrian Montilva made just five starts a season ago and made his first of the season on Saturday and picked up four strikeouts over his five innings of work. Gavin Theis made his first career start with the Panthers on Sunday and was locked in a pitcher's duel through most of the game as he held the Bulldogs to just three hits over his team-leading 5 2/3 innings of work.

BICKERS IN THE OPENER
With his two-run triple in the season opener on February 16 at Fresno State, Tyler Bickers became the first Panther to hit a triple in a season opener since the 2021 season, when Marcus Cline hit a three-base hit in the seventh inning of the opener at the University of Kentucky.

He also became the first Panther to record three RBIs in a season opener since the 2022 opener, when Luke Seidel (4), and Mitchell Buban (3) had three or more RBIs in the first game of the season.

NEW SKIPPER
During the summer, Shaun Wegner took over as Milwaukee's newest manager becoming just the third head coach in the last 30 years. Scott Doffek retired as the program's all-time leader in wins with 438 over 17 years after 12 years by Jerry Augustine from 1995-2006.

Wegner becomes just the fifth coach in the program's history during its Division I era, which began in the spring of 1991. Doffek and Augustine in their combined 29 years have accounted for 785 of Milwaukee's 1,049 wins as a varsity program going back to the first season of Milwaukee baseball, which began in 1957.

Wegner is no stranger to the program after six years as an assistant with the program before taking over as head coach this offseason. He graduated from Milwaukee in 2010 and had 162 hits with 28 doubles and nine home runs as a catcher with the program. He hit .286 and had a .390 slugging percentage over 180 career games, while also scoring 101 runs and drove in 87 during his career.

RACKING UP THOSE MILEAGE POINTS
This season, Milwaukee will visit California, Kentucky, and Illinois twice, as well as Texas and Ohio during the first six-plus weeks of the season before playing in their first home game against Purdue Fort Wayne on Thursday, March 28. In total, the Panthers will travel a total of 14,548 miles from campus to campus before opening the home portion of their schedule.

NEW ON THE DOCKET
Milwaukee will meet several opponents for the first-time ever in their Division I history beginning with the season-opening series at Fresno State. The Panthers will also meet Texas Rio Grande Valley from February 23-25, Long Beach State from March 1-3, and St. Thomas at home on April 1 as first-time foes in 2024.

SOME BIG OPPONENTS
After going 2-2 against their four Big Ten opponents last year, the Panthers will take on both Iowa and Northwestern for the third consecutive season, while also facing Michigan for just the second-ever occurrence and first time since 2009.

Last year the Panthers split a home-and-home series with Northwestern, as the home team won each time, while the Panthers fell to Iowa on the road. Milwaukee blanked Minnesota early in the season by a 3-0 score on March 1.

SO LONG, ACE
For the 25th time in program history, Milwaukee had a player selected in the Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft as Riley Frey was selected in the 19th round by the Atlanta Braves organization in July.

Frey earned three consecutive Horizon League Second Team All-League nods in each of his three seasons with the Panthers, and was among the league leaders in wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched during his most recent season with the team. Last year he led the MKE staff with 15 starts and a 4.90 ERA while striking out 87 batters over 90 innings of work. He went a season-high seven innings in three starts in 2023, including his final start as a Panther, where he helped Milwaukee eliminate fourth-seeded Youngstown State from postseason play as he allowed just two runs and struck out six Penguins along the way.

Frey became the 11th draft pick by the Panthers in the last decade and 12th player over that span to sign on with a Major League organization. With Frey joining the Braves organization in 2023, it becomes the 15th different Major League organization to draft or sign a Panther.

STRENGTH IN ARMS
Despite the loss of Riley Frey, the Panthers also saw seven pitchers depart from the program that pitched for the team during the 2023 season. However, the Panthers strongest crop of returning talent includes 10 pitchers that took the hill for Milwaukee a year ago.

Luke Hansel will continue as another weekend starter for the Panthers in 2024, following his inaugural year with the team that saw the right-hander lead the team in wins with six while throwing 67 innings and a 6.04 ERA with 66 strikeouts. Adrian Montilva made five starts for the Panthers and is expected to get more innings following his 20 2/3 innings a year ago.

Making the move from the bullpen to the rotation will be Gavin Theis, who made 11 relief appearances including a season-best 2 1/3 hitless innings against Wright State during the team's postseason run. Owen Rice also made five starts in 2023 and posted a sub-five ERA over his 11 2/3 innings of work with the team.

The back end of the bullpen will be anchored by Mike Sullivan, who is expected to replaced Nate DeYoung as the team's closer. Sullivan made 19 appearances for the Panthers a year ago and struck out 28 batters over 19 1/3 innings. Johnny Kelliher was the top lefty out of Milwaukee's pen in 2023 and is expected to do the same again in 2024, Kelliher had a 3.99 ERA over 21 innings as he made 28 appearances, the second most on the team last year.

James Severson made two appearances early in the season and did not allow a run before being hampered by an injury that kept him out the remainder of the year. Keagon Kaufmann tossed 16-plus innings over his dozen outings while picking up a pair of wins. DJ Kojis made one start and five appearances, while Tyler Deleskiewicz made eight relief appearance in their freshman seasons.

NEW LOOK LINEUP
Milwaukee's lineup needed to be completely revamped and retooled following the departure of one of the largest graduating groups in program history, including nine players that started in at least 30 games for the Black & Gold in 2023. Included in those that left the program were Horizon League All-First Team selection Aaron Chapman, as well as second teamer Mark Connelly, while Connelly along with Marcus Cline were both named to the All-Tournament team as the trio made up three-fourths of the Panther starting infield.

Staples Luke Seidel, Ty Olejnik locked down left and centerfield respectively, while Tommy Benson and Jake Novak split time in right field through the duration of the season. Milwaukee's five-plus season backstop Jack Thelen was a Horizon League Second Team honoree last year and was just as dangerous defensively as he was at the plate. Nate DeYoung was a two-way threat for the Panthers as Milwaukee's primary designated hitter, as well as the top closer in the conference with his league-leading nine saves.

Starting first baseman Justin Hausser suffered an injury in early May, short-circuiting his bid for a spot on the All-Conference team. The junior will be the lynchpin in the Panther lineup to bridge the gap from last year's team to this year's team as he plans to be back at full strength heading into his 2024 campaign.

TRANSFER HAVEN
Milwaukee's incoming class of 15 included 11 transfers from varying levels of baseball, as the crop of newcomers will look to make an impact on the Panther lineup and pitching staff immediately.

Making their way to Milwaukee from Division I programs are pitcher Logan Dobberstein from Kansas State, third baseman Zach Lane from Ball State, outfielders Dallan Quigley from North Dakota State and Tai Walton from the University of Hawai'I, as well as pitcher Isaac Wenzel from Indiana State.

NAIA transfer Logan Snow from Menlo College will wrap up his career with the Panthers. Junior college transfers in infielders Tyler Bickers of John Wood College, and Gabe Roessler from Madison College, along with catcher Teige Lethert from Iowa Central are all expected to see playing time for MKE in 2024.

Infielder/outfielder Sean Tillmon, formerly of Concordia Wisconsin, and catcher Ben Buehring, formerly of Marian (Wis.) were conference opponents in the Division III Northern Athletics Collegiate Confernece.

The 11 transfers join Luke Hansel, Caleb Lorbecki, Adrian Montilva, Q Phillips, Owen Rice, and Mike Sullivan who has all transferred to Milwaukee over the last few seasons.

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
Milwaukee welcomes in four true freshmen to the team in 2024, three of which hail from the state of Wisconsin. Tristan Arnold is a pitcher from Mukwonago, while Riley Peterson hails from Verona and is a left-handed slinger. Two-way player Camden Kuhnke will play infield and pitch for the Panthers, with Cole Spitzer rounding out the four-man class as a lefty pitcher from St. Paul, Minnesota.

DOUBLEHEADER WITH THE CREW
Through a marketing agreement between the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee and the Milwaukee Brewers, the Panthers have been able to host 31 games at American Family Field, formerly Miller Park, since the 2002 season. During the team's 31 games, Milwaukee has gone 20-11, including last season's win over Milwaukee School of Engineering.

This year, the Panthers will meet the Raiders on April 17 with first pitch slated for 5:05 pm, earlier in the day the Brewers will host the San Diego Padres in a clash of National League foes beginning at 12:10 pm at American Family Field.

NO CHANGES ON THE HORIZON
This is the second consecutive season that the Horizon League will be comprised of six teams following the departure of UIC in 2022. The membership has fluctuated going back to 2016 with the additions of Northern Kentucky in 2016, and Purdue Fort Wayne in 2021, while Valparaiso departed in 2018 and UIC left following the 2022 season.

PRESEASON POLL
The Horizon League announced its preseason poll prior to the start of the season with Milwaukee projected to finish in fourth place in the six-team league accumulating 16 points.

Wright State was named league favorite with 34 points, followed by Northern Kentucky with 28 and Oakland with 22. The Panthers finished ahead of Youngstown State (15 points), and Purdue Fort Wayne (11) to round out the league projections.

UP NEXT
Milwaukee heads back to California next weekend and will take on Long Beach State beginning the three-game series on Friday, March 1 at 8:00 p.m. (CT). The three-game set in Southern California is followed by a standalone road game at UIC on Tuesday, March 5.

CATCH ALL THE ACTION
Thanks to ESPN+, Milwaukee baseball fans will have the opportunity to watch the Panthers all season long. All of Milwaukee's home games will be carried live online at ESPN+, excluding the April 17 game at American Family Field. The Horizon League and ESPN have an agreement that includes ESPN hosting the league's digital network on the ESPN+ platform.

ESPN+ offers fans thousands of live events, on-demand content, and original programming not available on ESPN's linear TV or digital networks. Fans can subscribe to ESPN+ for just $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year) and can cancel at any time. For road games, visit MKEPanthers.com for live coverage links.