ROCHESTER, Mich. – The Milwaukee baseball team dropped a Horizon League matchup to the Oakland Golden Grizzlies on Friday afternoon, falling by a score of 5-3.
 
Justin Hausser had a solo home run, and Camden Kuhnke had a two-run double for Milwaukee's only offense. Tyler Deleskiewicz pitched three scoreless innings late in the game to keep the Panthers within reach, but they were unable to add to their run total.
 
"Today felt a lot like a repeat of yesterday … we can't find ways to scratch the runs across when we have opportunities," said head coach Shaun Wegner. "Our execution is not happening, and we need to reverse course as we finish the regular season tomorrow and head into the tournament."
 
Milwaukee fell behind 2-0 as Oakland scored runs in the first and third innings off starter Aric Ehmke.
 
Hausser homered with one down in the third, followed by walks to Caden Headlee and Q Phillips. After the second out of the frame, Kuhnke drove a ball into the left field corner to give the Panthers a 3-2 lead.
 
Staked to the advantage, Ehmke was unable to hold it, as Oakland tied the game with a solo home run in the bottom half of the third and added two more runs in the fifth to take a 5-3 lead.
 
"Oakland pressured us with bunts and steals and executed very well against Ehmke in pushing runs across," added Wegner.
 
Milwaukee had a prime opportunity in the top of the seventh, loading the bases with no outs, but Ryan Uhlenhake came on and escaped the jam with back-to-back strikeouts and a flyout.
 
A leadoff walk in the eighth was erased on a double play, and the Panthers were unable to restart their offense.
 
Deleskiewicz faced one over the minimum over the final three innings in relief of Ehmke, who took the loss after allowing all five Oakland runs while striking out four.
 
"Deleskiewicz was very good for us out of the bullpen," Wegner concluded. "It's too bad we couldn't find the run support and flip the scoreboard for him."
 
Oakland used seven pitchers in total, with Ryan Donley earning the win with two scoreless innings in the fifth and sixth.
 
Trent Rice and Jack Lux homered for the Golden Grizzlies, with Rice leading the offense with three hits. Taylor Tomlin also drove in a pair of runs.
 
Milwaukee and Oakland will conclude the series on Saturday afternoon, with first pitch set for 1:00 p.m. (CT).