MILWAUKEE, Wis. – The Edgewood College baseball team nearly made UW-Milwaukee's home opener uncomfortable. The Eagles rallied for three runs in the ninth inning against the Division I Panthers, but fell short 7-5 on Wednesday afternoon. Jeff Tucker homered and had two runs batted in.
The Panthers jumped on Edgewood College (11-16) early with four runs in the first inning. UW-Milwaukee (16-16) already had one run in when Aaron Buban stroked a bases clearing double to left center field for a 4-0 Panther lead. However, the Eagles got a run back in both the second and third innings. Jeff Tucker smashed a home run to left field, his second of the season, for the Eagles in the second. In the third, Bryan Sternig walked, moved to second on an Alex Fowler bunt single and then scored on an RBI single by Tim Nunn, cutting UWM's lead to 4-2.
UW-Milwaukee pushed their advantage to 7-2 in the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly by Daulton Varsho and two-run home run by Cole Heili.
The Panthers seemed to have things in control until the Eagles made the home team sweat in the top of the ninth inning. Nunn walked to open the inning, and one batter later Jacob Yellovich roped a double down the left field line to put runner at second and third. Tucker came through again with a single to score one, and he then moved up to second on a wild pitch. From that point things got really interesting when Jonathan Roehler beat out an infield roller, and Tucker and pinch runner Ryan Cassady both scored to make it 7-5. UWM went to the bullpen for the second time in the inning, and were able to retire the final two Eagle batters.
Tucker had a big day against the Panthers going 2-for-4 with a home run and two runs batted in. Roehler also had two hits and two RBIs. Starting pitcher Steve Gavin settled down after a rough first inning, but ultimately took the loss to fall to 1-1 on the season. Five relief pitchers, Mitch Egan, Bridger Berrett, Bryce Lashley, Erick Wendt and Nate Averill, combined to hold the Panthers scoreless on two hits over the final three innings of the game.
Edgewood College has just one NACC doubleheader this weekend. The Eagles will host Marian University at Stampfl Field on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
