ROCHESTER, Mich. – In a true definition of a pitchers' duel, it was the host Oakland Golden Grizzlies to come out on top in a 1-0 final in Friday's series opener against the Milwaukee Panthers.
Milwaukee starter
Luke Hansel allowed just one run and tossed a career-high 7 2/3 innings, but it was Oakland's Hunter Pidek to earn the win as he held Milwaukee to just three hits and three walks without allowing a run over 7 1/3 innings.
"We lost a college baseball game today, where the pitching on both sides was the story," noted head coach
Shaun Wegner after the game. "Our defense played well behind Luke, who really turned in a great outing. It came down to one sacrifice fly that beat us."
Hansel finished the game with seven strikeouts as he only allowed three hits and three walks, which was just enough as the Golden Grizzlies scored on a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning to break-up the scoreless game.
Milwaukee had two hits, including a double off the bat of
Tyler Bickers, while
Zach Lane,
Q Phillips, and
Dallan Quigley each had singles.
"Offensively, we didn't execute in a big situation which could have put a run on the board," Wegner added. "I thought we found plenty of barrels and line outs which is where you want to be."
The Panthers had a chance to score in the opening inning with two on and two down but were unable to capitalize on the early opportunity.
Quigley singled with two down in the fifth before
Gabe Roessler was hit by a pitch and a balk moved the pair into scoring position, but Pidek got a fly ball to end the inning.
Hansel faced two over the minimum through the sixth before a leadoff double and back-to-back walks loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh. After getting a strikeout for the first out, the Grizzlies had a fly ball that was deep enough to score the only run of the game before Hansel got out of the frame.
Milwaukee had another chance in the top of the eighth as Bickers singled with one down before Lane got a knock with two down, but the Panthers left the pair stranded on base.
Hansel got the first two outs in the bottom half before
Johnny Kelliher came on and got a ground ball to get out of the eighth.
The Panthers were unable to get a runner into scoring position despite
Ben Buehring getting hit by a pitch with two down in the ninth as Brandon Decker pitched the final 1 1/3 innings for the Grizzlies to secure the series-opening victory.
Milwaukee and Oakland will meet in game two of the series on Saturday afternoon with first pitch set for 1:00 p.m. (CT) on the Oakland Baseball Field.
