March 26, 2008

Box Score

WATERLOO, Iowa -

            The University of Northern Iowa baseball team fell 9-4 to UW-Platteville in its home opener Wednesday afternoon at Riverfront Stadium. The Pioneers used four hits, two walks, two errors and a hit batsman to score seven runs in the fourth inning, and UNI was never able to make up the difference. The Panthers scattered 11 hits throughout the game, but could never score more than one run in an inning, leaving 11 runners on base.

            Shuhei Fujiya was charged with the loss, giving up three runs in one inning of work. Corey Connolly took the win for UWP.

            Deric Manrique was 3-of-4 with two RBIs, a run scored and three stolen bases. Levi Ferguson was 3-of-4 from the plate with a double and a run scored.

            Senior Tim Flattery gave the Panthers a solid start (10-9), retiring the side in order in both the first and second innings and striking out two in the process. UNI took advantage of the shutout innings to build an early lead. Deric Manrique was hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom of the first. He stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch, and then Brandon Douglas singled to send Manrique home and put UNI on the board first. In the bottom of the second, Levi Ferguson hit a one-out double and moved to third on a fly out by Cory Ege. Manrique hit an infield single to score Ferguson and put UNI in front, 2-0.

            In the top of the third, UW-Platteville (6-6) used two walks and a hit batsman to load the bases. Ross Bennett singled to score two, tying the game at 2-2.

            The Pioneers sent 10 batters to the plate in the top of the fourth, scoring seven and building a 9-2 lead.

            Dane Embury led off the bottom of the fifth with a solo home run, cutting UNI's deficit to 9-3. The Panthers added another run in the bottom of the ninth, after Eddie Almonte scored on a single from Manrique.

            The Panthers saw seven batters reach safely in the final three innings, but UNI was unable to score again on the way to the loss.

            UNI returns to action on Friday when it hosts Evansville at 3 p.m. in the conference opener for the Panthers.