SATURDAY:  

The Milwaukee Beavers came away with a weekend split at home after missing an upset opportunity on Saturday. The Sussex Cardinals visited Joecks Memorial Field on a 7-game winning streak and a 7-1 league record by convincing scores.

The Beavs brought their young #1 SP, Tyler Drezek, to the mound but not the usual deep bench which has been key to winning games this year. Milwaukee jumped out to a 2-1 lead after the 1st, but couldn't capitalize with runners in scoring position most of the game.  

Sussex had a 3-2 lead until two missed double-play opportunities (and overall shaky defense most of the game) in the 5th allowed 5 runs to pass. Andrew Mantz came in relief of Drezek and was super effective, tossing 3 2/3 scoreless and giving the Beavers a chance, but the offense couldn't get going again despite 10 walks and 8-3 was the final. Evan Barbian was 1-2 with 3 walks and a run. Justin Barkhurst was 3-5 with a 2B and a run. 

SUNDAY: 

The Beavs hosted their first game vs new cross-town rivals, the Milwaukee Aztec Jaguars, on Sunday at Joecks Memorial Field. The Beavs started trusty vet Josh Smith who was cruising early until a Jaguar bomb put them up 1-0 in the 2nd.

Rob Tchimperle responded for the Beavs by depositing a ball over the left field fence to tie things up at 1 in the bottom of the 2nd. Things didn't stop there though as Milwaukee rallied for 4 more runs that inning to go up 5-1. The league rookies didn't back down though and both teams kept going back and forth throughout the rest of the game. The Aztecs rallied for 3 in the 5th and the Beavers responded with 3 in the 6th. A 2-run bomb in the 8th brought the score down to 8-6 and reliever Ryan Wood had to dance out of the inning to keep the lead. Barkhurst and Tchimperle added an important insurance run in the bottom of the 8th with back-to-back doubles with 2 outs. The Jags threatened with the tying run at the plate but Wood escaped for the save and a 9-7 Beaver W. 

Tschimperle led the offense with a HR, 2B, and 3 RBI's. Barkhurst had two hits and Jordan Bloch had 2 hits and 2 runs scored. Smith got the W with 6 innings, 4 earned runs, 3 K's and no walks. 

ON DECK:  Home and home matchup with the Brookfield Blue Sox!