Milwaukee scored seven runs in the first two innings and added nine more in the fifth on its way to a 16-8 victory over the Youngstown State baseball team on Friday afternoon at Henry Aaron Field.

Brent Gillespie had a season-high three hits, and Ryan Cordova hit a grand slam to lead Youngstown State's offense, which had 10 hits to Milwaukee's 14. The Panthers, though, drew 11 walks and had three batters hit by a pitch.

YSU failed to get a run across in the top of the first when it had runners on second and third with one out, and the Panthers went on top quickly when six of the first seven batters reached safely. UWM plated four runs in the first and three more in the second to go up 7-0 after two innings.

Gillespie singled in Frank Califano and Alex Larivee in the third to make the score 7-2, and Milwaukee's nine-run fifth came on just three hits.

Cordova's grand slam in the eighth inning came with Trey Bridis, who walked, and Gillespie and Kevin Hix, who were hit by a pitch, on base. Jason Shirley and Jake Fryman scored on wild pitches in the top of the ninth for YSU's final two runs.

YSU starter Jared Wight was charged with the loss, allowing 10 runs on 10 hits and six walks in 4.1 innings. Ryan Smith surrendered six runs in 0.2 innings, and Brad Smith did not allow a run in the sixth through eighth innings.

Milwaukee's Brian Keller struck out nine batters over six innings and allowed two runs on six hits and two walks to earn his third victory.

Youngstown State and Milwaukee will play game two of the series on Saturday at 2 p.m. Eastern.