The Red Wolves came into Sunday’s series finale riding a three game winning streak, all three coming in the weekend series vs. Milwaukee. After blowing out the Panthers in the previous three games, they looked to keep momentum going and complete the series sweep, but could not do so, falling 9-2.

After failing to score in the first inning all series, the Panthers put up two runs thanks to a scoring single and an RBI grounder to shortstop. They loaded the bases again in the second, but Bryan Ayers got two outs and escaped the inning without further damage, keeping the deficit at 2-0.

Frankie Alvarez cut the deficit in half in the second, hitting a groundout that scored Matt Burgess. Jeremy Brown had a chance to tie or take a lead with Garrett Rucker at third, but grounded out to end the inning.

There was nothing doing for either team for the third inning, with only Austin Baker getting on base on a walk. Milwaukee threatened in the fourth, and had runners on the corners following a wild pitch, but, A-State came out unscathed after a groundout to shortstop.

J.D. Miller came in the fifth to relieve Ayers, who threw six strikeouts and allowed two runs in his four innings. Miller started a double play with a snag right off the bat to get out of a jam in the fifth.

The Panthers jumped ahead in the seventh, scoring a run on an RBI single. Coulton Lee came in midway to relieve Miller, but Lee threw only three pitches before giving up two more runs on a two-run single to center field. Bradey Welsh came in relief, and closed out the inning without allowing another run.

The Red Wolves had their chances in the seventh, but only managed one run. A Ty White single gave the team their first run since the second inning, and put runners on second and third with one out for Joe Schrimpf. Schrimpf struck out swinging, and Austin Baker flied out to centerfield to end the inning.

The Panthers put it away in the eighth, scoring three runs on six consecutive base hits. The inning put Milwaukee up 8-2. They held the Red Wolves to a hitless inning, with only Rucker getting on base from a bad pitch.

Milwaukee hit their only home run of the weekend in the top of the ninth, increasing their lead to seven. Batting in their first ninth inning of the series, the Red Wolves had a major hill to climb.

J.D. Rainwater and Joe Schrimpf took a pitch to the side to get on base, and Austin Baker walked to load the bases for slugger Tanner Ring. Ring would flew out to center, and the Red Wolves lost the finale.

Milwaukee’s Adam Reuss earned the win, and Bryan Ayers took the loss for the Red Wolves. Arkansas State drops to 7-5 on the season, with two home games on Tuesday and Wednesday vs. Austin Peay before opening up Sun Belt play this weekend vs. UT Arlington.