Milwaukee Athletics

LAS VEGAS – Three pitchers combined to hold UNLV to just one run as Milwaukee took game two of its weekend series from the Rebels, 4-1, Saturday evening.
 
Aric Ehmke put together another strong start for Milwaukee, pitching six innings with three strikeouts while allowing an unearned run in the first inning.
 
Tristan Arnold struck out two over the next 1 1/3 innings for the Panthers, while Camden Kuhnke finished off the game with four strikeouts to earn his third save of the season.
 
"Pitching and defense are what high-level baseball is about, and we got that today from Ehmke, Arnold and Kuhnke," said head coach Shaun Wegner. "We did a solid job of limiting freebies and forcing action to allow our defense to make plays."
 
After the Rebels took a 1-0 lead in the first, Milwaukee answered with single runs in both the second and third innings to take the lead. The Panthers added two more runs in the top of the eighth to create separation on the scoreboard to even the series at one game apiece.
 
Connor Bozak highlighted the offensive output with a pair of RBI hits, including his first career Division I home run. Dominic Kibler and Joey Spence also drove in runs as Milwaukee outhit UNLV, 9-6.
 
"I'm really proud of the bounce-back and response today after yesterday's finish," Wegner said. "Last year we came out here and got swept in four games, so to have a chance to win the series on getaway day is something we won't take lightly."
 
Milwaukee stranded a pair of runners on base in the top of the first off UNLV starter Carson Lane, before the Rebels capitalized on a defensive lapse by the Panthers in the bottom half of the inning.
 
Bozak responded in the second with a one-out solo home run to tie the game. Milwaukee then took the lead in the third when Charlie Marion singled and came all the way around to score on a Kibler double into the right centerfield gap.
 
With the lead, Ehmke settled in and mowed down the Rebel lineup, facing just one batter over the minimum through the remainder of his outing.
 
Arnold entered and loaded the bases with two down but got out of the jam with a flyout to left.
 
In the next half inning, Dylan O'Connell led off with a double and moved to third on a flyout. Spence doubled him home and later scored on a Bozak single to extend the lead to 4-1.
 
"Bozak continues to swing the bat well, and his first home run in the Panther uniform was big," added Wegner. "Guys also came through in key moments to extend the lead for good."
 
After Arnold got the first out of the eighth, Kuhnke entered and got two key outs to send the game to the ninth. The right-hander struck out the first two batters in the final frame. A two-out double and wild pitch moved a runner to third, but Kuhnke recorded his third strikeout of the inning to clinch the victory.
 
Ehmke earned his third consecutive win, while Lane took the loss to fall to 1-4.
 
Nin Burns II and Gunnar Myro combined for four of the six Rebels hits on the night.
 
Milwaukee and UNLV will play the rubber match of the weekend set Sunday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. (CT).