Archived: Apr 02, 2007

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Panthers stay strong in Horizon

Baseball splits in double-header but take the third

By Mike Kennedy

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A weather forecast set up a different schedule for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Panthers (4-16, 3-2 Horizon) as they won two against Wright State (11-10, 5-3 Horizon) in a three-game series.

The schedule shifted from a single game on Friday and a double-header on Saturday to a double-header Friday and single game early Saturday to avoid predicted storms.

The Panthers started Friday on a good note, winning 13-6 after scoring in their last five innings to break the 4-4 tie. Shawn Wozniak doubled to drive in three runs after three walks loaded the bases, giving the Panthers a 7-4 lead. The seventh inning gave UWM six total runs with three hits and one error.

The table was turned for the second game when Wright State scored five early runs in the second inning to take a huge lead over the Panthers.

The Panthers used five pitchers in the game trying to get the Raiders bats to slow down but it was unsuccessful. The Raiders only failed to score in two of the nine innings, leaving the Panthers with a whole to climb out of that seemed to have no bottom.

The ninth inning gave the Panthers an 11-run deficit to overcome. Led by Andy Hetebruegs double to drive in two runs the Panthers looked to have on their rally caps but with two outs, Josh Groves grounded out to seal the Raider victory, 12-3.

In the final game of the series both teams stepped up their pitching, allowing only three runs in the 2-1 Panther victory. Dan Luczak threw his first complete game of the season allowing no earned runs and just six hits.

The first run would not come until the third inning when a Rob Brockel double to drive in Kyle Silver to take a 1-0 lead. It was all pitching from there, as a total of three hits were recorded from the third inning until the eighth.

UWM scored the second run of the game Hetebrueg singled to score Nick Wischer. The Raiders put on a fight in the bottom of the eighth, scoring an un-earned run after a pickoff attempt went wide to advance the runner to third.

UWM came up empty in the top of the ninth with three up, three down. Luczak showed that he still had it in him throwing a perfect bottom of the ninth with no hits, no runs and a strikeout.

The Panthers face the University of Iowa in a double-header on April 4 in Iowa City. UWM returns home with a game on April 6 against Butler at Henry Aaron Field, followed by a double-header against Butler on April 7 following the Brewers game at Miller Park at 4 and 7 p.m.

> Comments

GAME 1: W, 13-6 GAME 2: L, 12-3 GAME 3: W, 2-1

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