LAS VEGAS – UNLV took a pair of games from the Milwaukee baseball team on Saturday afternoon, winning the opener by a 2-0 score and winning game two by an 11-6 margin.
 
The opener took a quick and tidy 1:36 to complete as the scheduled seven-inning affair pitted Logan Schulfer for Milwaukee against LJ Mercurius for the Rebels. Schulfer was touched up for one run in the first and later allowed a solo home run in the sixth to account for all the scoring.
 
Mercurius went the distance for UNLV as he allowed just five hits, including two to Gabe Roessler, while striking out six Panthers.
 
Caden Headlee had a team-best two hits for the Panthers in game two, while Tate Schmidt drove in the first two runs of his career. MKE drew 10 walks against Rebel pitching including two each from Tyler Bickers, Charlie Marion, Schmidt, and Thomas Otto.
 
However, Milwaukee's pitching allowed just as many walks and allowed twice as many hits (10-5) in game two as the Rebels scored eight runs over the first four innings.
 
"We did not do enough to deserve a victory in either game today," Shaun Wegner said postgame. "We just can't seem to put together a complete baseball game."
 
Game 1
In the opener, Milwaukee was only able to muster five hits on offense, while the Panther pitching duo of Schulfer and Logan Snow allowed just as many in a scheduled seven-inning contest.
 
"We got stronger on the mound as the game went on and Snow did a nice job of minimizing late in that game," Wegner added.
 
The Panthers had an early chance as Roessler doubled to open the game but was picked off. UNLV responded in the bottom of the first with a two-out run on an RBI single, while Schulfer was able to strand the bases full.
 
"Putting up a one spot kept us in it and unfortunately we couldn't scratch anything across all game," said Wegner. "The tale of our season so far has been execution with runners in scoring position."
 
MKE got two runners on with one down in the top of the sixth but a fly out and a groundout ended the rally. A leadoff home run in the bottom of the inning gave the Rebels an insurance run heading to the seventh.
 
In the final inning, Headlee singled, and Cade Palkowski walked with one down, but the next two batters struck out to end the ballgame.
 
Game 2
The second game saw UNLV take a five-run lead in the first inning before Milwaukee got four back in the top of the second. The Panthers were patient at the plate and drew four walks in the inning and had a single and fielder's choice, while taking advantage of an error and a passed ball to pull within one at 5-4.
 
"Game two was sloppy on the mound for both teams," added Wegner. "We gave away too many opportunities and allowed them to drive in the freebies … while on offense we had plenty of chances as well, but the ability to push across runs has been elusive for us."
 
Tyler Deleskiewicz, who got the final out in the first in relief of Cole Spitzer, hung up a zero in the bottom of the second.
 
Milwaukee scratched across another run in the top of the third to tie the game as Schmidt drove home Bickers, who reached on an error to open the inning.
 
The Rebels regained the lead with two in the bottom of the third, while outscoring Milwaukee 6-1 the rest of the game.
 
The last Panther run came in the seventh as Justin Hausser singled ahead of a Bickers walk to put a pair of runners on with no outs. Headlee reached on a one-out single to load the bases before Schmidt picked up another RBI on a bases-loaded walk. Milwaukee stranded the bases full without further damage.
 
After Spitzer and Deleskiewicz got through the first three innings, Mason Wicker tossed two innings. Aiden Fishnick closed out the game with a hitless 1 1/3 innings and struck out a pair.
 
Up Next
Milwaukee and UNLV close out the weekend series on Sunday afternoon with first pitch slated for 2:05 p.m. (CT) at Earl E. Wilson Stadium in Las Vegas.