Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 OMAHA, Neb. -- The Omaha baseball team split its doubleheader with North Dakota State Sunday afternoon, falling 2-1 in the first game before rebounding for a 12-2 win in eight innings in game two at the Ballpark at Boys Town. The Mavericks are now 14-10 (5-1 Summit League), while the Bison drop to 11-10 (2-4 Summit League).

GAME 1 -- NORTH DAKOTA STATE 2, OMAHA 1
Sophomore Ryan Cate paced the Mavericks at the plate in the first game of the day, finishing 3-for-4 and driving in UNO's only run.

The win went to Reed Pfannenstein (2-0), who allowed one run on five hits and three walks while striking out three in 5.0 innings of work. Junior left-hander Sam Murphy (2-1) went a career-long 6.0 innings in his start, giving up two runs -- one earned -- on five hits and a walk with two strikeouts. Brian VanderWoude earned his first save of the year, keeping Omaha to two hits over 4.0 shutout innings with no walks and four Ks.

North Dakota State jumped out to a 1-0 lead right away in the top of the first inning. Drew Fearing singled to short, advanced on a sacrifice bunt and again on a wild pitch, then scored on Ben Petersen's sacrifice fly to left.

The Bison added another run on two hits and an error in the fourth. Brayden Resch singled to first, then scored on an error when Petersen singled to center.

Down 2-0, Omaha cut NDSU's lead in half in the bottom of the fourth. Sophomore Cole Patterson walked and junior Sam Palensky doubled down the left field line to put two men in scoring position, and Cate singled through the left side to drive in Patterson for a 2-1 score. The Bison, though, limited UNO to two singles over the remaining five innings to take the opening game.

GAME 2 -- OMAHA 12, NORTH DAKOTA STATE 2 (8 INN.)
Omaha's offense exploded in the second game, scoring 12 runs on 18 hits. Senior Clayton Taylor led the charge with a 4-for-5 day at the dish, scoring three times and driving in five runs while blasting his seventh home run of the season. Senior Cole Gruber was also 4-for-4 with a double, five runs scored and two stolen bases.

Sophomore right-hander Corey Binger (4-0) picked up the win on the bump, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks with four strikeouts over 5.1 innings. Blake Stockert (0-2) was dealt the loss, giving up six runs -- four earned -- on seven hits and two walks, plus a strikeout, in 2.1 innings of work.

Omaha started strong in the bottom of the first with three runs on three hits. A walk by senior Alex Schultz and a Gruber bunt single put two runners on for Taylor, who delivered his three-run homer to right center to spot the Mavericks a quick 3-0 lead.

UNO put up another three-spot with three more hits in the third. Gruber led off with a double to center, then came in on Taylor's RBI single to right. After freshman Grant Suponchick singled to right and Palensky walked to load the bases, freshman Jack Kalina worked a walk to score Taylor. Freshman Herold followed with a sacrifice fly to right center that plated Suponchick, making it 6-0.

North Dakota State cut into the Maverick lead in the fourth when Danny Regan doubled down the right field line to drive in Petersen for a 6-1 tally.

The Mavericks came back immediately in the bottom half of the frame, posting two runs on three hits. Gruber drew a one-out walk and stole second, later scoring on sophomore Adam Caniglia's RBI single through the left side. After back-to-back wild pitches put Caniglia on third, Suponchick singled up the middle to drive him in, extending Omaha's lead to 8-1.

The Bison put up another run in the sixth when Busch drew a bases-loaded walk, scoring Mason Pierzchalski to make it 8-2. Omaha, however, scratched out another run on two hits in the bottom half of the inning. Gruber led off with a single to left, then stole second before Taylor put an RBI single up the middle to drive him in for a 9-2 lead.

The Mavericks finished it off in the eighth, using five hits to score three runs to end the game. Gruber and Taylor both singled to start it off, and Caniglia followed with an RBI single through the left side to cross Gruber. Cate then sent a pinch-hit RBI double down the left field line to score Taylor, and Kalina added an RBI single to right to drive in Caniglia for the last run of the day and a final score of 12-2.

Omaha returns to action on Tuesday, March 29, visiting Kansas State for a non-conference matchup. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. in Manhattan, Kan., and the game will be broadcast live on FOX College Sports. Links to live stats, audio and video will be available on OMavs.com.