EDINBURG, Texas – Luke Hansel struck out nine Vaqueros over six innings in his second start of the season, but Texas Rio Grande Valley was able to emerge with a 2-0 win with a pair of late-inning scores on Friday evening.
 
Hansel threw five scoreless innings to open the game and was locked in a pitcher's duel until the bottom of the sixth when UTRGV scratched across a run. Two straight Vaqueros walked in the seventh inning ahead of an RBI single to give the home team a 2-0 advantage that held until the end.
 
"We lost another 2-0 college ballgame, but ultimately we have to find ways to put runs on the board," commented head coach Shaun Wegner postgame. "Our pitching did well enough to give us a shot, but we didn't flood the bases or push any runs across."
 
Hansel finished the game tossing six innings on 99 pitches, tying his Milwaukee career-high with nine strikeouts, as he allowed one run. James Severson threw 1 2/3 innings and struck out two as he yielded the second Vaquero run. Keagon Kaufmann finished the game and retired the only man he faced on three pitches.
 
"Luke found himself in some high-leverage, stressful situations throughout today's game but really showed a lot of toughness and resolve," Wegner said. "He needed to make some big pitches and he really stepped up."
 
Milwaukee's offense was held to just four hits on the night and drew one walk. The Panthers' best threat on offense came as Teige Lethert led off the third with a single. Two batters later he reached second on a wild pitch, but MKE's offense was unable to bring him home.
 
Sean Tillmon, Justin Hausser, and Tyler Bickers all singled in the game, while Carson Hansen won an 11-pitch at bat with two down in the sixth to draw a walk.
 
"We need to get our intent and tenacity back in the box," Wegner added on his offense. "We have to be ready to hit early and do damage when we get those pitches."
 
CJ Valdez drove in the first Vaquero run in the sixth, before of Isaac Lopez added the insurance run in the seventh with a single up the middle.
 
Three pitchers accounted for three innings apiece for UTRGV to combine for the shutout, Isiah Campa struck out two, followed by Francisco Hernandez striking out one as he earned the win, before Nico Hernandez picked up the save with three strikeouts over the final three frames.
 
Milwaukee and Texas Rio Grande Valley will lock horns again on Saturday for another 6:30 p.m. start at UTRGV Baseball Stadium in Edinburg.