Box Score MACOMB, Ill. -- The Omaha baseball team saw its early four-run lead erased Friday afternoon, falling 7-6 to Western Illinois at Alfred D. Boyer Stadium. The Mavericks are now 24-24 (14-11 Summit League) on the year, while the Leathernecks improve to 14-30 (11-14 Summit League).

The win went to WIU reliever Jordan Pannell (2-2), who threw 2.0 innings and allowed one run on three hits with no walks and a strikeout. Junior right-hander Shane Meltz (1-3) took the loss, surrendering three runs on five hits and a walk with one strikeout. The save went to Nate Westfahl (5), who allowed a run on three hits in the ninth.

Omaha's offense was a highlight of the afternoon, compiling 14 hits as a team while capitalizing on five Leatherneck errors.

Senior Cole Gruber and freshman Jack Kalina each had three hits for the day, with Gruber going 3-for-5 with three doubles and two runs scored and Kalina finishing 3-for-5 with his second home run of the season, a pair of runs scored and an RBI. Seniors Clayton Taylor (2-for-3, one run, one RBI) and Collin Leif (2-for-4, one run, one RBI) and sophomore Adam Caniglia (2-for-5) also had multi-hit performances.

The Mavericks got off to a strong start, building a two-run lead in the top of the first inning. Gruber led off the game with a double down the right field line and advanced on an errant pickoff attempt, then scored on Taylor's RBI double to right center. After a groundout by senior Alex Schultz pushed Taylor to third, a sacrifice fly to left by sophomore Ryan Cate drove him in for a 2-0 score.

Kalina opened the second inning by launching a solo homer to left. Leif then got on after being hit by a pitch, and two batters later, Taylor reached on a fielding error, which allowed Leif to score for a 4-0 lead.

The Leathernecks were scoreless until the bottom of the fourth, when a Mark Garton solo homer to left put them on the board. Western added another run in the fifth on an RBI double to left by Adam McGinnis, which scored Roman Visintine to make it 4-2.

The Leathernecks then chalked up runs in three straight frames, tallying in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings. In the sixth, a two-run homer to left by Thompson tied the game at 4-4. The seventh saw Garton come through again, sending an RBI single through the left side to drive in Conner Currier for a 5-4 WIU lead.

Omaha then struck back in the eighth, with Gruber doubling to left center and Taylor singling to first to put two runners on for Schultz. He grounded out to score Gruber, stalling the game again at 5-5.

Western Illinois regained the lead in the eighth, however, plating two runs on three hits. Erik Maki started it off with a pinch-hit solo homer to left center, putting the Leathernecks ahead again, 6-5. Visintine later drew a one-out walk and Chris Tschida singled down the right field line to put runners on for McGinnis. After a Maverick pitching change, McGinnis's RBI bunt single drove in Visintine and extended WIU's lead to 7-5.

The Mavericks did not go down without a fight, rallying with a run in the ninth but ultimately came up just short. Kalina got on with a two-out single up the middle, and freshman Grant Suponchick added a pinch-hit single to third, and a throwing error on the play moved Kalina to third. Leif then singled to left to plate Kalina, but a groundout on the next play ended the game at 7-6.

WIU was led by three hits apiece from Visintine (3-for-4, two runs) and Garton (3-for-4, two runs, two RBI). The Leathernecks totaled 15 hits for the day.

Omaha and Western Illinois continue their series on Saturday, May 13. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at Alfred D. Boyer Stadium in Macomb, Ill., and links to live stats, audio and video will be available on OMavs.com.