Leading Off
The Omaha baseball team welcomes Air Force for a midweek game this Tuesday, April 26 at Werner Park, with first pitch at Noon. The Mavericks then kick off a 12-game road stretch with a visit to Iowa on Wednesday, April 27. The game is set for 6:05 p.m. at Duane Banks Field in Iowa City, Iowa. Live stats, audio and video, as available, will be linked on OMavs.com.

Quick Hits
•Senior infielder Clayton Taylor is riding a career-long 30-game reaching base streak, the longest of any Maverick since Dustin Koca (30) in 2008.
•Senior outfielder Alex Schultz keyed his 200th career hit on April 6 vs. Nebraska. He is one of just seven players in school history with 200 or more career hits, joining two fellow seniors who reached the milestone earlier this season -- Taylor (March 27 vs. North Dakota State) and senior outfielder Cole Gruber (March 20 vs. Fort Wayne).
•Gruber became Omaha's all-time career stolen base leader on March 9 at Air Force, while senior right-hander Tyler Fox became UNO's all-time leader for innings pitched on March 18 vs. Fort Wayne and batters faced on March 25 vs. North Dakota State.
•On Feb. 20, head coach Bob Herold earned his 500th career victory in 17 seasons of directing the Omaha program.
•The 2016 season marks Omaha's first with full NCAA Division I postseason eligibility for the Summit League and NCAA Tournaments. The Mavericks completed a required four-year Division I reclassification period from 2012 to 2015.
•The Mavericks return 18 letterwinners, including five position starters: Gruber, Taylor, Schultz, sophomore infielder Ryan Cate and senior catcher Collin Leif.
•Four All-Summit selections highlight the Mavericks' returning corps with Taylor, Gruber, Schultz and Fox.
•UNO was picked fourth in the Summit League Preseason Coaches' Poll.
•Omaha is 231-258 against all opponents on the schedule this year and 136-117 all-time against the five other teams in the Summit League. The Mavericks have compiled a 56-39 record in Summit League play since 2012-13.

Scouting the Air Force Falcons
Air Force enters the week with a record of 20-16 (9-10 Mountain West) after dropping two of three contests at Nevada last weekend. Bradley Haslam leads the Falcons with a .423 batting average, nine doubles and 37 RBI.

Head coach Mike Kazlausky (Air Force, 1991) is in his sixth season at Air Force with a career record of 111-193.

Omaha leads the all-time series against Air Force, 6-5. The two teams split their two meetings earlier this season in Colorado Springs, Colo., March 8-9. The Mavericks won the first game, 12-3, before dropping the second, 18-10.

Scouting the Iowa Hawkeyes
Iowa enters the week with a record of 18-19 (7-8 Big Ten) after surrendering two of three games to Michigan last weekend. Joel Booker paces the Hawkeyes with a .346 batting average and has a team-high 13 doubles, four home runs and 25 RBI.

Head coach Rick Heller (Upper Iowa, 1986) is in his third season at Iowa with a record of 89-60 at the school and a career mark of 779-625-4 over 29 years of coaching.

Omaha leads the all-time series against Iowa, 5-4. The Mavericks defeated the Hawkeyes earlier this season, 3-2 on March 11, at the Perfect Game Spring Swing in Emerson, Ga. Senior Tyler Fox struck out eight in his 7.0-inning outing.


Last Time Out: Omaha Triumphs Over South Dakota State, 10-9
Omaha team capped its series with South Dakota State Sunday afternoon, picking up a 10-9 win at Millard North High School.

Junior right-hander Shane Meltz (1-2) earned his first win of the season, throwing 5.2 innings in his start. The Thornton, Colo., native allowed six runs on nine hits and three walks while striking out six. Greg Casper (0-2) took the loss for SDSU, giving up four runs -- three earned -- on four hits and a walk with one strikeout over 1.2 innings. Sophomore right-hander Corey Binger achieved his first save of the year, keeping the Jacks to one hit and a walk with one strikeout in the final inning.

Senior Cole Gruber led the Mavericks at the plate, finishing 2-for-5 with two runs scored, two RBI and two stolen bases.

Sophomores Ryan Cate (2-for-4, two runs) and Adam Caniglia (2-for-4, two runs, one RBI), senior Clayton Taylor (2-for-3, two RBI) and freshman Riley Herold (2-for-4, one run, one RBI) also had multi-hit efforts. As a team, Omaha finished with 11 hits for its 20th double-digit hit performance of the season.

Fox Earns Summit League Pitcher of the Week Nod
Senior right-hander Tyler Fox was named Summit League Co-Pitcher of the Week for his performances the week of April 18-24, the conference office announced Monday.

Fox collected the fourth pitcher of the week honor of his career and his second of the season after recording a 4-1 win against South Dakota State last Friday. The Thornton, Colo., native went the distance, capturing his league-leading seventh victory of the year to improve to 7-2. He issued a season-high 10 strikeouts with no walks and allowed just one earned run.

Senior infielder Clayton Taylor was previously honored as Summit League Player of the Week on Feb. 22 and March 14, as was senior outfielder Cole Gruber on March 28. Fox was previously named Summit League Pitcher of the Week on Feb. 29, while sophomore lefty Corey Binger earned the same award March 14 and junior lefty Sam Murphy did so on April 4.

Clayton's the Catalyst
Omaha is 12-2 this season when senior Clayton Taylor registers a multi-hit game. The Mount Michael product is a catalyst for the Mavericks' offensive production, hitting .409 with runners on base, and he has success advancing runners 57 percent of the time. In games when Taylor has at least two hits, UNO as a team averages 12.4 hits and 8.8 runs scored per game.

Climbing the Career Charts
Seniors Cole Gruber, Clayton Taylor and Alex Schultz have been four-year starters at Omaha and have steadily climbed their way up the UNO career charts. Gruber is first in school history for stolen bases (94), second for sacrifice hits (32), third for walks (95), fourth for hits (225), fifth for runs scored (146), sixth for games started (175), seventh for at-bats (648) and 10th for games played (181) and total bases (274).

Taylor is second for RBI (161), fourth for home runs (26), fifth for walks (89), total bases (346), sacrifice flies (13) and games started (177), sixth for hits (217) and at-bats (653) and eighth for doubles (40) and games played (183).

Schultz is third for walks (95), fourth for at-bats (699), games started (183) and runs scored (148) and seventh for hits (206), doubles (41) and games played (181).

Stealing the Spotlight
Senior Cole Gruber has made a name for himself in the Summit League for his sneaky work on the basepaths, as he led the league with 34 stolen bases in 2014 and was second with 22 swiped bags in 2015. Gruber has steadily worked his way up Omaha's career stolen bases chart, and on March 9 at Air Force became the Mavericks' all-time career stolen base leader. He registered two in the game, passing previous record holder Bryan Frew, who had 72 from 2005-08.

Gruber's career mark is now up to 94, which ranks fifth in Summit League history.

Stacking Up Nationally
In the latest NCAA statistical release, senior outfielder Cole Gruber is second for stolen bases (32) and stolen bases per game (0.82). Senior infielder Clayton Taylor is sixth in the nation for RBI per game (1.36) and seventh for RBI (53), and senior right-hander Tyler Fox is 16th for wins (seven).

League Leaders
Senior outfielder Cole Gruber paces the Summit League for hits (56), runs scored (38) and stolen bases (32), while senior infielder Clayton Taylor leads the league in RBI (53) and sacrifice flies (five). Junior infielder Sam Palensky is first in assists (127). On the mound, senior Tyler Fox has the league lead for wins (seven), games started (10) and complete games (one), and sophomore Corey Binger is also first for complete games (one).

As a team, Omaha leads the league in stolen bases (58).

New Leif
After being sidelined with an injury on April 1, senior catcher Collin Leif returned to the lineup for the first time in three weeks last weekend. The Bemidji, Minn., native helped the Mavericks go 2-1 against South Dakota State, and offensively, he tallied a hit in each of the last two games of the weekend. Leif capped the series with a 1-for-3 performance, scoring once and driving in another run.

Maverick Mound Notes
•Three pitchers on Omaha's staff have earned Summit League Pitcher of the Week awards, with senior righty Tyler Fox on Feb. 29 and April 25, sophomore righty Corey Binger on March 14 and junior southpaw Sam Murphy on April 4.
•The trio is in the top 10 in the Summit League for ERA, with Murphy second (3.20), Fox third (3.29) and Binger 10th (5.12). Fox (51) also ranks in the top 10 for strikeouts, coming in third.
•Senior right-hander Robert Calvano has not allowed a walk since Feb. 21 vs. Eastern Michigan, and he has not allowed a run since March 25 at South Dakota State.
•Junior right-hander Skyler Sylvester has not allowed a run since March 12 vs. Presbyterian.
•Sophomore left-hander Brad Olsen has not allowed a walk since April 6 vs. Nebraska. He threw 1.1 shutout innings at Kansas on April 13, striking out one and holding the Jayhawks hitless.
•Junior right-hander Eric Moreno has not allowed an earned run nor a walk since April 13 at Kansas.

Scoring Summary
Omaha has been the most productive this year in the fourth inning, posting 35 total runs in the frame. The Mavericks have plated 85 runs between the first and third innings, 92 between the fourth and sixth innings and 55 between the seventh and ninth innings.

All in the Family
 “Like father, like son” holds true for three current Mavericks who have followed in their fathers' footsteps by playing baseball at UNO. Senior infielder Clayton Taylor's father, John Taylor, lettered from 1981-82 and was an All-NCC selection. Freshman infielder Riley Herold will now play for his father, head coach Bob Herold, who was an NAIA All-American at UNO in 1971. And junior infielder Sam Palensky's father, Jim Palensky, played from 1984-85 and also previously served as an assistant coach with the Mavericks.

On the sibling side, Sam Palensky's brother, Caleb, was an All-Summit infielder and lettered from 2011-14. Freshman infielder Jack Kalina's grandfather, Phil Gradoville, played at UNO, and freshman right-handed pitcher/infielder Grant Suponchick's brother, Beau Suponchick, lettered two seasons for Omaha (2011-12).

Going the Extra Mile
When registering three or more extra-base hits in a game, Omaha is 10-2 this season. On the flip side, the Mavericks are 12-4 when limiting their opponents to less than three extra-base hits in a contest.

On April 9 in the first game of a doubleheader at South Dakota State, UNO totaled eight extra-base hits with four doubles and four home runs. It was the most extra-base hits in a game since the Mavericks had nine at Northern Colorado on March 10, 2012 with five doubles, a triple and three homers.

Production Up Top
Omaha's 1-3 batters in the lineup -- seniors Alex Schultz, Cole Gruber and Clayton Taylor -- have produced a significant portion of the Mavericks' offense this year, combining to hit .314. The 1-3 hitters have accounted for 37 percent of UNO's hits, including 44 percent of its extra-base hits, as well as 45 percent of its runs scored, 44 percent of its RBI, 49 percent of its walks and 84 percent of its stolen bases.

Double Digits
As a team, Omaha produced double-digit hits in 23 games last season, going 15-8 in those games. This season, UNO is 15-5 with double-digit hits, and the Mavericks posted a season-high 22 hits at South Dakota State on April 9.

Over the last five years of Division I play, UNO is a combined 83-34 when keying at least 10 hits.

Offense Keying Wins
In the last four seasons (2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016), Omaha has gone a combined 67-11 when outhitting its opponent. Last year alone, UNO was 15-4 in such games, and this season the Mavericks are off to an 11-0 showing.

Over 16 seasons in the Bob Herold era, UNO is 418-72-1 when outhitting the other team.

Turning to the Bullpen
Omaha's bullpen has traditionally held its own late in the game, as the Mavericks are 443-41-1 in the Bob Herold era when leading after the sixth. Last season, UNO was 17-5 when leading after the sixth, and this year it is 17-4.

Herold at the Helm
Head Coach Bob Herold is in his 17th year as the skipper of the Omaha baseball program in 2016, having compiled a career record of 518-373-2. Herold earned his 500th career win on Feb. 20, 2016 against Eastern Michigan, becoming the first coach in school history to reach the milestone. He previously became the winningest coach in UNO history with Omaha's 7-0 shutout at Bradley on April 22, 2014, which gave him his 465th victory.

Over his Maverick career, Herold has guided Omaha to seven NCAA Division II postseason appearances and four conference championships. In 2013 and 2014, he was honored as Summit League Coach of the Year.

Herold's most recent draft pick was right-handed pitcher Joe Holtmeyer, who was taken in the 22nd round (No. 682 overall) of the 2011 Major League Baseball amateur draft by the Boston Red Sox. Holtmeyer was the fifth Maverick drafted under Herold and the second-highest pick of any player during the Herold era.

Herold is assisted by assistant coaches Chris Gadsden, in his 17th year, and Evan Porter, in his fourth year, as well as volunteer assistant coach Dan McGinn, who is in his 15th year.

2016 Slate Takes Mavericks Around the Nation
Omaha's 2016 schedule includes 55 games, and the team will play in 12 states against schools from 12 other Division I conferences. Three opponents – Iowa, Morehead State and defending Summit League champion Oral Roberts – played in the 2015 NCAA Tournament.

Entering the season, the Mavericks had never faced five of their opponents: NJIT, Morehead State, Presbyterian, Bowling Green and Seton Hall. Omaha holds a combined all-time record of 229-257 over all teams on the regular-season slate.

Next Up
Omaha returns to action on Friday, April 29, visiting Fort Wayne for a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 11 a.m. (CT) in Fort Wayne, Ind., and links to live stats, audio and video will be available on OMavs.com.