April 19, 2001

MILWAUKEE - UWM scored seven times in the first inning en route to a 27-7 pounding of Chicago State in its home opener Thursday afternoon at Henry Aaron Field.

Nine players had at least two hits for the Panthers (16-11), who also scored five times in the fourth inning and six times in the seventh. John VandenBerg led the hit parade by going 3-for-3 with a home run and 5 RBI, while Shane Davis, Eric Goerdt, and Derek Daggett all had three hits apiece.

Tim Meinecke (1-0) picked up the victory, tossing three innings in relief.

Chicago State (6-25) pulled to within 9-4 after scoring a single run in the top of the fourth inning, but UWM put the game away with five in the bottom of the inning. Davis drove in two runs with a double before VandenBerg cracked a three-run home run, his team-high sixth of the season.

The 27 runs are a season-high for the Panthers.

UWM continues its homestand Friday night, welcoming MCC rival Cleveland State to town for a four-game series. The teams will play a single game Friday at 6 p.m., a doubleheader Saturday at 1 p.m., and a single game Sunday at noon.