Box Score EMERSON, Ga. -- The Omaha baseball team outlasted Arkansas State in an 11-inning battle Sunday afternoon, defeating the Red Wolves 4-3 at the Perfect Game Complex. With the win, the Mavericks improved to 5-3 (0-0 Summit League), and ASU dropped to 4-4 (0-0 Sun Belt).
Sophomore
Ryan Cate (1-0) picked up the victory in relief, allowing one hit over 2.0 scoreless innings with no walks and a strikeout. J.D. Miller (1-2) took the loss for Arkansas State, giving up the Mavericks' go-ahead run in the 11th inning on two hits with two Ks.
Sophomore
David Flattery threw 6.0 innings in his first career start for Omaha, allowing two runs -- none earned -- on seven hits and a walk while issuing two strikeouts.
Sophomore
Adam Caniglia led UNO at the plate, finishing 2-for-4 and scoring twice. Senior
Clayton Taylor was 1-for-3 with his team-leading fourth home run of the season.
Ty White paced Arkansas State with a 4-for-6 showing at the dish, scoring once and driving in another run. Matt Burgess was also 2-for-4 on the day.
The Red Wolves started their scoring in the bottom of the first. White led off and reached on an error, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and went to third on a single by Burgess, then scored when Tanner Ring reached on a fielder's choice. Garrett Rucker followed with an RBI single to drive in Austin Baker, who had initially reached on a walk, which spotted ASU a 2-0 lead.
Omaha trailed until the top of the sixth, when senior
Cole Gruber drew a leadoff walk and Taylor followed with a two-run bomb to right center that knotted it at 2-2. Three batters later, Caniglia worked a two-out walk, then advanced two bases on a pinch-hit single from freshman
Jack Kalina and a throwing error on the play. Caniglia scored on a failed pickoff attempt on Kalina, and Omaha took its first lead of the day at 3-2.
Arkansas State tied the game with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. Pinch runner Tim Seldomridge came in on an RBI single up the middle from White, stalling it again at 3-3 to send the game to extras.
The Mavericks finally broke through with the winning run in the top of the ninth. Caniglia singled through the right side to open the frame, and after ASU retired the next two batters, stole second to move into scoring position. Senior
Collin Leif then singled to center, driving in Caniglia and helping Omaha regain the lead at 4-3. In the bottom half of the inning, the Red Wolves threatened by putting two runners on with two outs, but UNO got out of the jam with a final groundout, taking the win and finishing the weekend with a record of 3-1.
Omaha returns to action on Tuesday, March 1, traveling to Wichita State. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. in Wichita, Kan., and the game will be broadcast live on ESPN3. Links to live video, audio and stats will be available on OMavs.com.