OMAHA, Neb. — Omaha grabbed the lead for good with a four-run bottom of the fifth inning and went on to defeat South Dakota State, 10-7, in Summit League baseball action Thursday night at Tal Anderson Field.
In squaring the four-game series at a game apiece, the Mavericks improved to 19-24 overall and maintained their hold on second place in the league standings with a 14-11 mark. SDSU dropped to 21-28 overall and 12-13 in The Summit League, falling into fourth place in the Summit League race.
Omaha scored in each of the first two innings to grab an early lead before the Jackrabbits reeled off the next five runs. Nolan Grawe gave SDSU a jolt and the lead with a three-run homer to right-center in the top of the third inning and Luke Luskey followed two batters later with a solo shot for a 4-2 advantage.
SDSU pushed the lead to 5-2 an inning later, when Nic Werk doubled to left field to score Keagen Jirschele.
The Mavericks countered with pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth on a solo home run by Sam Beck and bases-loaded walk to Henry Zipay issued by SDSU starter Sam Schlecht, but Dayton Franke gave SDSU a brief shot of momentum with a solo homer of his own for the Jackrabbits’ third round-tripper of the game.
Omaha’s four-run rally in the fifth inning began when Cardel Dick was hit by a pitch and Hayden Lewis drew a four-pitch walk. After a sacrifice bunt moved both runners up a base, Dick scored on a groundout and Lewis came across with the tying run on a single by Edoardo Cornelli. Chase Diggins then put the Mavericks out front for good with a two-run home run to left off Jackrabbit reliever Matthew Werk.
SDSU drew back to within a run at 8-7 in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Franke after a walk to Grawe and Luskey reached on a two-base error, but the Mavericks put the game away with their third long ball of the game as Jackson Trout lined a two-run homer just inside the foul pole and over the fence down the left-field line for what would be the final margin.
Four Maverick pitchers combined to strike out 12 and walk only one in the contest. Starter Maddox Meyer worked the first five innings and fanned five batters despite allowing nine hits and six runs. Brayden Curtis (two strikeouts), Tanner Hosick (four strikeouts) and Nate Moquin (one strikeout) worked out of the bullpen, with Moquin earning his eighth save of the season.
Matthew Werk took the loss for SDSU as he tossed the final four innings with a pair of strikeouts and one walk. Schlecht gave up four runs in only 3 1/3 innings while striking out three and walking three.
Jirschele, Grawe and Franke each tallied two hits as SDSU finished with a 9-8 advantage in hits. Trout led Omaha with three hits in five trips to the plate.
ON DECK
Game 3 of the series is set for 6 p.m. Friday.
NOTES
- Omaha leads the all-time series, 100-96-1
- The Jackrabbits fell to 1-9 in night games this season
- Luskey’s home run was his team-leading 12th of the season and 34th of his career as he took over sole possession of seventh place on the SDSU all-time charts
- Franke’s home run was his fourth of the season and first since March 15 at Oral Roberts