MILWAUKEE – After trailing early, the Milwaukee baseball team came from behind and scored the last three runs including the go-ahead score in the sixth to earn a 5-4 victory over the visiting Youngstown State Penguins on Friday afternoon.
 
Teige Lethert plated in the game-tying run in the bottom of the fourth before driving in Sean Tillmon with the go-ahead run in the sixth to put the Panthers ahead for good. Lethert and Tillmon combined for four of Milwaukee's hits, as the Panthers outhit the Penguins, 9-7.
 
Milwaukee trailed 3-0 after the top of the first but answered with a two spot in the bottom of the inning. After YSU took a 4-2 lead, the Panthers fought back with two in the fourth before scoring the go-ahead run in the sixth.
 
"Our guys responded," said head coach Shaun Wegner. "We've talked about when the other team scores that we need to find a way to at least get one on the board and to capitalize in the bottom of the first just made it an easier game to get into."
 
In relief, Gavin Theis allowed just one baserunner over four hitless innings of work as he struck out a pair of batters to earn his third win of the season. Cole Spitzer continued Milwaukee's stretch of relief success as he retired all four batters he faced.
 
Keagon Kaufmann got the Panthers out of the eighth inning as he retired two batters, while Johnny Kelliher pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his fifth save of the season.
 
"Our bullpen once again came in and dominated," added Wegner. "They just let our defense play and our defense made a ton of plays that impact that game."
 
Milwaukee fell behind early as Youngstown State scored three runs in the first inning off Panther starter Adrian Montilva. Brett Stanley, Matt Thompson, and Teddy Ruffner all had RBIs for YSU.
 
The Panthers got two runs back in the bottom of the inning as Justin Hausser walked and Carson Hansen recorded his 24th double of the season to put a pair in scoring position. Zach Lane then hit a ground ball that resulted in an errant throw, allowing both baserunners to score.
 
In the top of the second, the Penguins scored another run with their fourth double of the game as Joe Suarez increased Youngstown's lead to 4-2.
 
Theis came on in the third and faced one over the minimum as he got the Panthers through the sixth inning, allowing Milwaukee's offense to claw their way back in.
 
Lane led off the fourth with a single and came all the way around to score on a double into the left field corner by Tillmon. A bunt by Dallan Quigley moved Tillmon to third, before Lethert evened the score with a sacrifice fly to make it 4-4.
 
Tillmon got the sixth inning started with a one-out single before Quigley walked. Lethert was up again and came up with a clutch single to left field as Tillmon got under the tag at the plate to put Milwaukee ahead.
 
"We've been looking for guys that will chip in when their name is called upon and Teige had opportunities there and he came through," said Wegner on Lethert. "Those were two of the biggest RBIs we had all day, which ended up dictating this outcome."
 
In the top of the eighth, Youngstown threatened with a runner on second with two down. Ian Francis singled to left field and Quigley was able to throw out the would-be tying run at the plate to keep the Panthers ahead.
 
Kelliher finished off the game with a pair of strikeouts and a ground ball to notch his fifth save of the season.
 
Milwaukee will look for the series sweep of the Penguins on Saturday afternoon for game three, which is slated to begin at 12:05 p.m. at Franklin Field.