Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Game 1 Box Score (PDF/HTML)
Game 2 Box Score (PDF/HTML)

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The UNO baseball team opened the 2012 season on Saturday, splitting a doubleheader against Texas A&M Corpus Christi at newly-renovated Chapman Field. After Friday's game against the Islanders was rained out, the Mavericks began their Division I era on Saturday instead, falling 3-0 in Saturday's first game before taking a 2-1 win in game two. Nebraska Omaha is now 1-1 on the year, while TAMUCC is also 1-1 to open the year.

GAME 1 – TEXAS A&M CORPUS CHRISTI 3, NEBRASKA OMAHA 0
Junior outfielder Connor McCrite finished 2-for-2 in the first game to lead UNO. Texas A&M Corpus Christi's Jeramie Marek, Stafford Brantley and Kyle Danford all crossed the plate, and Bobby Buckner went 1-for-3 with a pair of RBI.

Adam Hoelscher (1-0) tossed a complete game shutout to earn his first win, striking out seven while giving up five hits and walking two. Senior Andrew Reck (0-1) took the loss, giving up one run on four hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Maverick reliever Josh Bullock finished the game, going four innings with two runs allowed on a pair of hits while walking one and fanning five.

The Islanders put up one run in the second inning to take an early lead. Danford singled to right center, then stole second and advanced to third on an error. He later scored when Santiago Ruiz reached on a throwing error, spotting TAMUCC a 1-0 advantage.

In the eighth, Marek started the innings with a double down the left field line. Brantley and Brad Porras were both earned their way on after being hit by pitches, loading the bases. Buckner's two-RBI single scored Marek and Brantley, bringing the tally to 3-0. With the bases full and no outs, the Mavericks cut off further scoring but were unable to come up with any runs of their own in the top of the next frame, giving Texas A&M Corpus Christi the series opener, 3-0.

GAME 2 -- NEBRASKA OMAHA 2, TEXAS A&M CORPUS CHRISTI 1
In the nightcap, junior infielder Tyler Splichal finished 3-for-5 with an RBI and one run scored. The Islanders' Marek went 1-for-2 with a run scored, and Brantley accounted for TAMUCC's only RBI of the game.

Redshirt freshman pitcher Zach Williamsen (1-0) earned the win in relief, giving up just two hits over three innings of work. Junior starting pitcher Matt Tew threw five innings, striking out five and surrendering one run on three hits. Senior Derek Landis earned the save in the final hitless inning, striking out one batter.

TAMUCC reliever Jacob Dorris (0-1) took the loss, giving up two runs on three hits. Starter Tim Keller went five shutout innings, allowing four hits with two walks and seven strikeouts.

Texas A&M Corpus Christi got on the board first, going up 1-0 in the bottom of the first. Marek led off with a single to center, and Brantley followed with an RBI double to left center that plated Marek. The Islanders closed the inning with a 1-0 lead, which it held for another seven innings.

UNO finally got on the board in the top of the eighth and tied the game at 1-1. McCord tripled down the left field line to start the inning, and Splichal's RBI single through the left side scored him for the Mavs' first run of the year.
Palensky then reached on an error, and McCrite singled to center, loading the bases with no outs. Garcia, TAMUCC's all-time saves leader, fanned two batters, but the Mavericks brought in true freshman Alex Mortensen to pinch hit for senior infielder Scotty Donner. Mortensen drove in the game-winning run, drawing a bases-loaded walk that pushed Splichal across and gave UNO the 2-1 lead, all it needed to capture the win.

Nebraska Omaha finished the second game with two runs on eight hits, while TAMUCC managed one run on five hits.

UNO caps the four-game series at Texas A&M Corpus Christi with a doubleheader on Sunday, Feb. 19. First pitch is set for 10 a.m., with a second game to follow immediately after at Chapman Field in Corpus Christi, Texas.