MILWAUKEE – Freshman left-handers Cole Spitzer and Riley Peterson combined to hold Parkside to just three runs as the Milwaukee Panthers knocked off the visiting Rangers by an 11-3 score at Franklin Field.
 
Spitzer earned his first career win as he allowed just a first-inning run and struck out four over a season-high five innings of work. Peterson followed and allowed one earned run over four innings as he earned his first career save.
 
"It's always a good opportunity when you can mix in competing, winning, and development all in one," said head coach Shaun Wegner. "We had two freshmen on the mound today, with one getting their first win and another getting their first save, which is good to see to build some confidence for them moving forward."
 
The Panthers doubled the Rangers in hits with a 14-7 advantage, including a combined seven hits from Gabe Roessler and Justin Hausser in the top-two spots in the batting order. Hausser tied the program record for doubles in a game with three as he finished the game with four hits.
 
"There are some guys that are routinely on the barrel," Wegner added on the lineup. "We've said earlier, we're just trying to get length in our lineup as we get deep into the season."
 
Carson Hansen drove in a team-best three runs, while tagging his league-leading 21st double of the season. Zach Lane and Q Phillips each had home runs on the day, as the duo finished the effort with two RBIs apiece.
 
Parkside took the early advantage with a pair of extra-base hits in the first inning to take an early 1-0 lead.
 
The Panthers responded as Hausser doubled before Tyler Bickers walked. Hansen had a double to tie the game before Bickers was brought home on a sacrifice fly by Lane to give Milwaukee a 2-1 advantage.
 
Spotted a lead, Spitzer set the side down in order on a trio of ground balls in the second before Milwaukee added another run in the second as Thomas Otto walked before being chased home by a Hausser single.
 
Spitzer cruised through the fifth inning before the Panthers were back up to bat. Roessler, Hausser and Bickers all reached to load the bases, Hansen drove in a pair with a single up the middle and Bickers scored on a wild pitch. Hansen later scored on an error as Milwaukee increased its lead to 7-1.
 
Phillips was up next and sent an 0-2 pitch over the wall in the left field corner to give the Panthers an eight-run cushion.
 
After Parkside scored a run on a sacrifice fly in the top of the sixth, Milwaukee got the run right back in the seventh as Otto doubled and scored on a Roessler RBI knock.
 
Lane homered on the second pitch he saw in the eighth inning to cap off the 11-run effort by the Panther offense.
 
Manny Andujar led the Rangers with two hits, including the first-inning double to score the opening run. Six pitchers took the mount for Parkside with only Maguire Delagrave pitching a scoreless sixth inning.
 
Milwaukee gets right back to work on Wednesday afternoon, when the Panthers host the Northern Illinois Huskies at Franklin Field for a 3:05 p.m. first pitch.