MILWAUKEE – Tristan Ellis gave Milwaukee its first lead of the game in the bottom of the eighth with a go-ahead single, as the Panthers completed both the weekend and season sweep of Purdue Fort Wayne with a 4-3 victory on Sunday afternoon at Simmons Field.
 
Milwaukee trailed just two batters into the game and kept it close behind a strong effort from starting pitcher Matthew Mueller, who struck out a season-best eight batters over five innings of work.
 
"That was a tightly contested game throughout," said head coach Shaun Wegner. "I thought that we did a few things defensively and on the mound that helped give them some of the early runs, but we were able to stay resilient and find a way to put up enough to win the game."
 
Justin Osterhouse put PFW ahead early with a solo home run in the first, then extended the lead to 2-0 with a sacrifice fly in the second. Mueller responded by striking out the side in the top of the third inning to bring Milwaukee back to the plate.
 
Ellis walked and advanced to second on a bunt before Gabe Roessler was hit by a pitch. Justin Hausser then walked on four pitches to load the bases. Tyler Bickers was hit by a pitch to force in Milwaukee's first run, and Charlie Marion followed with a walk to tie the score at two.
 
The Mastodons regained the lead in the sixth on a sacrifice fly following a leadoff walk, stolen base, and an error. Purdue Fort Wayne threatened again in the seventh, but Riley Peterson entered and retired the final two batters on just three pitches.
 
In the bottom half, Roessler sparked the offense with a two-out single, followed by a Hausser single to put runners at the corners. Milwaukee then executed a well-time double steal, with Roessler swiping home to even the score at three.
 
Peterson continued to keep the Mastodons in check, setting the stage for the eighth. Caden Headlee led off with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Three batters later, Ellis delivered a clutch single to centerfield, scoring Headlee with the go-ahead run.
 
"We just kept trying to chip away at it," Wegner added. "A guy like Tristan, who's opportunities have been a little limited, stayed on course, and he comes up in that big moment and gets the hit. What a great moment for him here at the end of the year that can propel him into some bigger at bats for us moving forward."
 
Logan Snow came on for the save in the ninth, retiring the first two batters before allowing a base hit after a six-pitch battle. The next batter flew out to Headlee in centerfield to seal the win for the Panthers.
 
"That back end that we have right now are so reliable and trustworthy," added Wegner on Peterson and Snow. "You feel good any time you have to put either of them in the game."
 
Roessler led Milwaukee with two of its five hits and scored two runs. Mueller allowed the first two PFW runs over five innings. Logan Schulfer followed with 1 1/3 innings without allowing an earned run. Peterson earned his second win with 1 2/3 hitless frames, while Snow secured his sixth save.
 
Kevin Hall had two hits for Purdue Fort Wayne, while Sage Adams walked twice. Gavin Walters did not factor into the decision, allowing two runs without allowing a hit. Trent Murphy took the loss after surrendering two hits and two walks over 2/3 of an inning.
 
Milwaukee will wrap up the regular season with four road games, beginning with a non-conference matchup against Michigan on Tuesday afternoon at 3:00 p.m.