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

ROCHESTER, Mich. – The UNO baseball team opened a weekend series at Oakland on Saturday, dropping both games of a doubleheader, 4-1 and 4-3, at OU Baseball Field. With the losses, the Mavericks are now 11-29 on the year, while the Golden Grizzlies improve to 13-25.

GAME 1 – OAKLAND 4, UNO 1
UNO managed seven hits in the first game, but it was not enough to overcome a strong pitching performance from OU starter Jeff Gorecki (3-5), who threw a complete game with eight strikeouts, no walks and just one run surrendered off the seven singles. Senior Andrew Reck (1-5) threw a career-long 7.0 innings in the loss, allowing three runs on five hits while striking out four and walking five.

Sophomore Jeff McNichols made his first start at third base for the Mavericks, finishing 2-for-3 at the plate. Senior Brady Hohl was also 1-for-3 with the lone run scored.

Oakland took a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning and added another run in the seventh.

Down 3-0, UNO got on the board for the first time in the eighth, leading off with back-to-back singles from freshman Joe Mancuso and sophomore Dylan McGill. With McNichols' fielder's choice, McGill advanced to second and moved to third on a wild pitch, then scored with Hohl's sacrifice fly to center.

Oakland posted one more run in the bottom of the frame, bringing the final score to 4-1.

GAME 2 – OAKLAND 4, UNO 3
In game two, UNO held the lead until the seventh. The Mavericks pounded out 12 hits to Oakland's four, but the Golden Grizzlies still managed to pull off a 4-3 win.

McNichols went 2-for-3 again in the second game, and freshman Alex Mortensen  was 2-for-5 with a run scored and one driven in. Junior Connor McCrite also contributed two hits of his own.

The win was credited to OU reliever Kevin Korkate (1-1), who allowed two hits in one scoreless inning of work. Junior Derek Landis (1-3) took the loss in two innings of relief, surrendering three runs – one earned – on two hits with a pair of strikeouts and three walks. The save went to Russell Luxton (6), who scattered two hits with two Ks in the ninth.

Junior Matt Tew had a career-high nine strikeouts in his six-inning start, giving up one run on two hits with three walks. Oakland starter Jason Hager also went six innings, striking out seven while allowing three runs – one earned – on six hits with no walks.

The game proved a pitcher's duel from the start, as both teams were scoreless through the first three innings, and Oakland managed only one single in the second.

UNO capitalized in the fourth, scoring three runs on four hits with two OU errors. Hohl led off with a single, and Palensky doubled to right to put two on for Mortensen, who drove in Hohl with an infield single. Palensky then scored on a throwing error, and a bunt single coupled with another throwing error allowed Mortensen to come across and pushed the tally to 3-0.

The Golden Grizzlies scored one in the sixth, when Mike Carson came in on Spencer Marentette's sacrifice fly to left center to make it 3-1.
Oakland then plated three runs on two hits and took advantage of an error in the seventh. Trent Drumheller drew a walk and advanced to second on a throwing error, scoring on John Estes' RBI single to third base. Aaron Cieslak singled up the middle to score Tim Ryan, and Estes came in with Robby Enslen's sacrifice fly to right to push ahead at 4-3.

Nebraska Omaha threatened with two hits in both the eighth and ninth innings, but the Mavericks left four runners on base and were unable to regain the lead in the eventual 4-3 loss.

UNO returns to action on Sunday, April 22, facing Oakland in the series finale. First pitch is set for Noon (CT), and links to live stats and live audio will be available on OMavs.com.