After the fourth or fifth inning we just got to a point where we couldnt slow the game down. We brought a lot of the young guys in and they showed their inexperience.

Facing their second-straight ranked opponent, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team knew theyd have their hands full against No. 21 University of Kentucky.

In a weekend series that featured single-game match-ups against the Wildcats (7-0) March 2-4, the Panthers (0-3) hoped to get their first taste of victory this season.

On Friday the Panthers werent able to maintain an early lead and fell to the Wildcats, 16-3. UWM got off to a hot start by scoring two runs in the top of the first inning, thanks to a solo home run from junior Grant Berkovitz. Senior Ross McCoy followed that with a single, and later scored when sophomore Andy Hetebrueg doubled.

The Panthers added another run in the third inning when junior Nick Wichser led off with a single, and later scored on an error and a wild pitch.

Things were looking good defensively as well, as senior pitcher Robert Michalkiewicz held Kentucky without a hit until the fourth inning. However, with one out, the Wildcats rallied back to tie the score at 3-3.

From there the Wildcats would go on to score six more runs in the fifth inning, which blew the game open.

UWM head coach Scott Doffek said the teams lack of experience led to its downfall.

After the fourth or fifth inning we just got to a point where we couldnt slow the game down. We brought a lot of the young guys in and they showed their inexperience, he said.

Saturday was more of the same for the Panthers, losing by a score of 7-3. Once again they jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on an RBI-single from sophomore Dan Buchholz. Junior Nick Wichser made it 2-0 after his home run in the fourth inning.

This time it was the fourth inning that hurt the Panthers. Despite giving up four walks, junior Dan Luczak had held the Wildcats hitless up to that point. But another walk followed by a fielding error gave Kentucky their first run of the day. Then a bases-clearing double enabled the Wildcats to take a 4-3 lead, one they wouldnt relinquish.

The series finale on Sunday showcased two teams moving in opposite directions. The 18-2 defeat moved Kentucky to a perfect 12-0 start, while the Panthers remained winless, falling to 0-6 on the season.

The combined efforts of Mike Brown and Sean Coughlin powered Kentucky to nine hits and eight runs. Kentucky scored in every inning but the third, and finished the game with 19 hits. Junior Jesse Hart went 3-for-4 for the Panthers in the losing effort.

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