Green Knights Fall in Extra-Inning Heartbreaker to UW-Milwaukee

From Asst. AD/Athletics Communications, April 16, 2019 | Baseball
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

MILWAUKEE - St. Norbert College put forth perhaps its best effort of the season when it battled NCAA Division I UW-Milwaukee to a 5-4 loss in 12 innings at Henry Aaron Field.

The Green Knights (11-11) and Panthers (20-13) were tied 4-4 through six innings and then played five scoreless innings. Milwaukee broke through with four consecutive singles to open the bottom of the 12th, including one infield hit and another a bunt single, to win on Colin Kreither's single through the right side.

Milwaukee took a 3-0 lead in the second inning, scoring three runs on four hits. The Panthers left the bases loaded in the inning, leaving the door open for St. Norbert, which promptly responded with two runs on three hits in the top of the third. Lucas Reynolds' single up the middle drove in Isaac Gerhardt, while Max Van Boxel's grounder brought around Sean Ferraro. St. Norbert tied the game at 3-3 when Ferraro's two-out single brought home Brett Reinhart, who led off the inning with a walk.

St. Norbert pulled ahead 4-3 in the sixth inning, when Reinhart's single scored Griffin Jack, who singled and advanced to second on a passed ball. Milwaukee would tie the game in the bottom half of the inning on a two-out solo home run by Jack Thelen.

The Green Knights had a golden opportunity to seize momentum, loaded the bases with two outs, but could not score. Milwaukee had the bases loaded with one out in the bottom of the 10th inning, but Tommy Maher coaxed a double-play grounder to escape the jam.

Gerhardt and Ferraro were both 2-for-5 to lead the Green Knights, who had nine hits and left 10 runners on base. Milwaukee finished with 13 hits, with four coming in the 12th inning, and left 12 runners on base.

Seven Green Knights pitchers took the mound, with Brad Symusiak taking the loss in one-plus inning of work. Carson Jacques worked three innings and allowed just one hit, while Nick Klavekoske worked a perfect eighth inning, including a pair of strikeouts.