Box Score

WARRENSBURG, Mo. - The Mavericks got all their runs in the seventh inning but it was enough to erase a 3-0 deficit and defeat ninth-ranked Abilene Christian, 5-4 Thursday evening in the first round of the NCAA South Central Region tournament.

Nebraska-Omaha, ranked 27th in the nation and seeded fifth in the region, will now take on No. 2 seed Emporia State Friday at 7 p.m. in the second round.

Down 3-0, Drew Schwab hit a one-out double down the right field line in the top of the seventh inning to represent the Mavericks' first runner to get past first base in the game. They then plated their first run of the game when Travis Jacobi drove him in with a single that bounced off the shortstop's glove and rolled slowly into center field, allowing Schwab to score.

Brian Strawn, Brian Goliber and then Andrew Hansen later each had consecutive RBI singles to wrap up the scoring in the inning.

Chris Kessinger improved to 9-4 for UNO and threw his sixth complete game of the year. He struck out nine with three walks while allowing six hits and two earned runs.

The Wildcats scored single runs in the second, third and fifth innings to build a 3-0 lead. Travis Latz led off the second and reached on an error. Thomas Bumpass later drove him in with a double and then in the third, Steve Camillucci, who also reached on an error, scored on a sacrifice fly. He scored again in the fifth when Davis Page singled him in.

Goliber and Evan Porter each had two hits to lead UNO.

The Mavericks will now face Emporia State for the sixth time this year. ESU took three of four in the regular season and then UNO won over the Hornets, 6-3 in the first round of the MIAA tournament last weekend.

The Hornets won their NCAA first round game, 23-0 over Angelo State Thursday.