How does the UW-Milwaukee baseball team follow up one of the most memorable victories in program history?
The Panthers look to avoid an emotional letdown when they face Central Florida in the NCAA Tournament on May 30 at 7 p.m. CT at Plainsman Park in Auburn, Alabama.
The game will be televised on ESPN+.
UWM, winners of eight straight games, and the Knights are in the winners bracket of the double-elimination regional.
The Panthers (26-31) got there by shocking top-seeded Auburn, 13-8, on May 29. It was UWM’s first NCAA Tournament victory in 27 years.
The Panthers reached their second-ever NCAA Tournament by winning the Horizon League title on a walk-off homer run from Joey Spence, a former West Bend East standout.
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Dylan O’Connell, Grant Ross push UWM’s lead to 5-0
Grant Ross and Dylan O’Connell each had RBI doubles in the bottom of the second as the Panthers pushed the lead to 5-0.
O’Connell’s two-out double plated two runs, giving him three RBI in the first two innings.
Delay doesn’t bother UWM starter Aric Ehmke
UWM starter Aric Ehmke had to wait for over 20 minutes with a 3-2 pitch count as the home-plate umpire was swapped out after an injury.
Ehmke wasn’t bothered, getting a strikeout as soon as the delay was over. Ehmke then set down the next two batters for another clean inning.
Game delayed as home-plate umpire hit by ball
Both teams went back to the dugout after home-plate umpire Blake Felix was hit in the head by a ball in the top of the second inning.
Another good start for UWM vs. Central Florida
The Panthers stunned Auburn in the NCAA opener by racing out to a 10-0 lead.
UWM got off to another good start against Central Florida by scoring two runs in the bottom of the first. Dylan O’Connell doubled in one run, and then Bradyn Horn drove in another with a sacrifice fly.
UWM starter Aric Ehmke sets down Central Florida in order in first
Right-hander Aric Ehmke set the tone for UWM by getting three straight outs in the first inning, getting one strikeout.
UW-Milwaukee coach Shaun Wegner wants to be “Wisconsin’s baseball team”
UWM’s shocking victory reverberated around the state and beyond, even exciting Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy.
Panthers head coach Shaun Wegner wants to capitalize on that momentum.
“It’s a story that hopefully on the national stage now people are becoming aware of it,” Wegner told ESPN Madison. “We just want to do what’s best for not only our athletic department and our program, but we do want to be known as Wisconsin’s baseball team.”
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: UW-Milwaukee baseball vs UCF score, live updates in NCAA Tournament
Reporting by Ben Steele, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
