It took UWM Baseball three attempts and 31 road games before they could finally play a game at home, Henry Aaron field, this season. The home opener was a Panther victory versus Edgewood College, 7-5 on Wednesday.
The Panthers (16-16) had an electric first inning scoring four runs, and managed to hold on to the lead in the ninth inning when Edgewood (11-16) put together a late-game rally.
The Eagles had the tying run at the plate when the 27th out was recorded.
A bases-loaded walk, which plated the first run of the game, to Cole Helli is what sparked the big first inning by UWM. Aaron Buban followed that up with a double to left center, putting the Panthers up 4-0.
UWM’s starter, Austin Schulfer got the win on the mound. Schulfer (1-3) gave up one run in both the second and third innings. Schulfer went five innings, giving up four hits, two walks and a season-high six K’s.
The Panthers added three more runs to their lead in the fifth inning on Daulton Varsho’s had a sac fly, followed by a Helli two-run bomb. It was Helli’s second straight game with a homerun. The homerun gives Helli six on the year and also puts him on top of the UWM homerun leader board.
Edgewood threatened in the ninth, scoring three runs before Cal Haley was brought in from the pen for UWM, retiring the final two outs and gaining his second save of the season.
Jay Peters (1.0 IP, 2 K’s) relieved Schulfer, and was followed up by Zach Brenner and Jared Reklaitis for Milwaukee.
Milwaukee now starts a weekend of Horizon League play with two doubleheaders. The first takes place this Saturday at Valparaiso; game one first pitch will be at 12 p.m.