When the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team took on conference foe Cleveland St. just over one week ago, the two teams combined for a whopping 66 runs in the three game series. Saturday’s doubleheader did not prove to be the same type of slugfest, but it still had its share of excitement.

In game one of the afternoon, the Panthers ran into Horizon League strikeout leader Josh Hungerman. The Viking’s ace had an outing to remember, allowing just four runs on seven hits while striking out eight. UWM batters were only able to muster one run and four hits before finally wearing Hungerman down and chasing him from the game.

Despite the impressive performance by the CSU pitcher, the Panthers were able to make a game out of it. After a series of one out singles in the top of the ninth, a two-run double by sophomore Shaun Wegner narrowed the deficit to just three runs and allowed the tying run to step up to the plate. Unfortunately the rally fell short and UWM lost the first game 7-4.

Junior Brad Lusti was tagged with the loss and fell to 2-3 on the season. Also noticeable in the game, Nick Wichser’s hitting streak came to an end at 24 games, as did the Panthers’ three game winning streak.

In the second game, it was Milwaukee’s pitching staff that got to strut their stuff. Led by junior starter Andy Hetebrueg, the Panthers held the Vikings to just nine hits while walking only two.

The Panthers sprang out to a quick 2-0 lead after an RBI double by Wichser in the first, who later scored on an error by the Vikings. They added another run in the third inning to stretch the lead to 3-0.

Cleveland State finally got on the board in the fifth, but once again the UWM pitching staff got out of a jam and allowed only one across.

The Panthers responded the following inning with a run of their own off three consecutive hits, scoring what would eventually be the game-winner.

The Vikings made things interesting down the stretch, but Hetebrueg was able to tie his career-best seven strikeouts through eight innings. Senior Adam Ferrell took care of business in the ninth to record his second save of the season.

The split puts UWM 12-22 overall on the season and 5-6 in conference play and they will travel to Iowa for a game before heading to Wright St. for three games in two days on Friday and Saturday.

> Comments