Box Score PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – The Omaha baseball team saw its early four-run lead erased on Saturday, falling 8-5 to Northwestern at the Snowbird Classic. The Mavericks are now 0-2 (0-0 Summit League), while the Wildcats improve to 1-4 (0-0 Big Ten).
NU starter Matt Portland (1-0) earned the win, throwing 6.0 innings and allowing four runs – two earned – on three hits while striking out three and walking two. The loss went to reliever
Cole Volkers (0-1), who surrendered three runs – two earned – on three hits with three strikeouts and two walks. Nick Friar picked up his first save of the year after tossing the last 3.0 innings, allowing one run on two hits.
Connor Messinger went 2-for-4 with a run scored and two more driven in for Omaha.
Clayton Taylor also scored twice, and
Tyler Splichal and
Tyler Biggs added a run apiece.
Omaha took a 4-0 lead in the third inning after plating four runs on two hits and a pair of Wildcat errors. Taylor led off and was hit by a pitch, and Splichal drew a walk to put two on for Biggs, whose sacrifice bunt resulted in an error and allowed both Taylor and Splichal to cross. Biggs then scored on Messinger's RBI single to right center, and Messinger later scored on
Danny Suiter's sacrifice fly to left, which put the Mavericks up 4-0.
Maverick starter
Zach Williamsen threw three perfect innings before Northwestern scored four runs on four hits in the bottom of the fourth. The Wildcats added two runs in the fifth and another in the sixth, taking a 7-4 lead.
Omaha chalked up one run in the top of the seventh, as Messinger's RBI double to left scored Taylor to make it 7-5. NU added an insurance run in the eighth, going on to the 8-5 win.
Northwestern was led by Matt Hopfner, who finished 2-for-4 with a run scored and three RBI. Jack Livingston also scored once himself and drove in two runs, and Scott Heelan scored twice.
The Mavericks continue their run at the Snowbird Classic on Sunday, Feb. 23, facing Iowa. First pitch is set for 8 a.m. (CT) in Port Charlotte, Fla., and a link to live stats will be available on OMavs.com.
