Box Score WICHITA, Kan. -- Wichita State rallied late to overcome the Omaha baseball team Tuesday afternoon, as the Mavericks fell 5-4 at Eck Stadium. UNO is now 5-4 (0-0 Summit League) on the season, while the Shockers improve to 3-5 (0-0 MVC).

Senior Cole Gruber finished 2-for-4 with a run scored and two stolen bases to lead the Mavericks offensively.

The win went to Tyler Jones (1-0), who threw 2.2 innings of scoreless relief, keeping UNO to two hits and a walk with one strikeout. Sophomore Ryan Cate (1-1) took the loss, surrendering the go-ahead run and two hits over an inning of work. John Hayes (1) earned the save, issuing three consecutive strikeouts to end the game.

Omaha struck early in the top of the first, with Gruber singling to left, stealing both second and third and scoring on an errant throw to give the Mavericks a fast 1-0 lead that held for four innings.

Wichita State evened it at 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth, when Dayton Dugas lined a double to left to plate Mikel Mucha.

UNO regained the lead in the fifth though, scoring two runs on one hit and an error. Freshman Riley Herold got on with a single down the third base line, senior Collin Leif was hit by a pitch and senior Alex Schultz walked to load the bases with one out. Following a pitching change, Herold scored on a passed ball and Leif came in on a throwing error on the same play to make it 3-1.

The Mavericks stretched their lead further in the sixth with one run on a hit and an error. Junior Sam Palensky led off the inning, reaching and advancing to second on the Shockers' fourth error of the game. Two batters later, sophomore Adam Caniglia sent a one-out RBI triple to the right-center gap, driving in Palensky for a 4-1 advantage.

In the seventh, Gunnar Troutwine homered to left center, trimming Omaha's lead to 4-2. The turning point for Wichita State was the eighth, as the Shockers crossed three runs to take the lead again. Luke Ritter singled and Ryan Tinkham walked before a two-run triple to right center from Chase Rader plated both, tying the game at 4-4. Mucha then put down a sacrifice bunt to score Rader, putting WSU ahead 5-4.

Hayes took the mound against Omaha in the top of the ninth, striking out the side to preserve the win for Wichita State, 5-4.

Omaha returns to action on Friday, March 4, visiting Grand Canyon for the start of a three-game weekend series. First pitch is set for 8 p.m. (CT) in Phoenix, Ariz., and a link to live stats will be available on OMavs.com.