OMAHA, Neb. -- Omaha baseball opens the 2020 campaign with a three-game series in Glendale, Ariz., against Northwestern at Camelback Ranch.
QUICK HITS
• The Mavericks trail the all-time series 2-3 against Northwestern, but won the series 2-1 when both teams last met in the 2018 season opener.
• Omaha's pitching rotation for this weekend includes
Joey Machado,
Spencer Koelewyn and
Richie Holetz.
• Machado and Koelewyn make their returns as regular weekend starters for the Mavericks, while Holetz makes just his third-career start and second weekend start on the mound.
• Omaha returns All-Summit Performers
Parker Smejkal,
Breyden Eckhout,
Brett Bonar and
Keil Krumwiede to the lineup this season.
SCOUTING NORTHWESTERN
The Wildcats are led by head coach Spencer Allen who enters his fifth season at the helm of the program. Last season, Northwestern finished 24-27 and 11-13 in the Big 10, as the team failed to make its conference tournament. The team also lost its two best hitters in Jack Dunn (.340) and Alex Erro (.322), who were the two wildcats that hit over .300 for the season.
This weekend, Northwestern's pitching rotation is Michael Doherty (5-1, 3.72 ERA in 2019), Quinn Lavelle (3-6, 5.04 ERA) and newcomer Tyler Uberstine. Lavelle is the only returning regular weekend starter from the team with 11 starts, while Doherty made 13 mound appearances with nine starts last season.
LAST SERIES WITH NORTHWESTERN
Omaha opened the 2018 season in Glendale, Ariz., at Camelback Ranch against Northwestern Feb. 17-18. The Mavericks won the series with victories in the first two games and a Wildcat win in game three. Omaha and Northwestern scored a combined 24 runs on 28 hits for the day. The Mavericks topped the Wildcats 14-8 in game one and 10-5 in game two, registering double-digit hits in both contests at Camelback Ranch.
The Mavericks swept the doubleheader with a 10-5 win in the second game.
Jake Pennington earned his first-career win on the mound against Northwestern with 5.0 shutout innings and limited the wildcats to one hit, a walk and four strikeouts in game two. In the third game of the series, Northwestern won 3-1 at Camelback Ranch as Omaha was limited to five singles by five different players.
WHAT MAKES UP THE MAVERICKS
In terms of offensive production, Omaha's 2020 returners accounted for 65% of the Mavericks' hits, 67% of their runs scored, 63% of their RBI and 70% of their stolen bases last season. Omaha's returning pitchers are credited with 44% of the team's innings pitched last year, 47% of its strikeouts, 35% of its wins and 23% of its saves. The Mavericks have 10 position players who recorded starts last season and lost seven. Omaha returns eight starting pitchers from a year ago and lose six to graduation.
The Mavericks welcome back four All-Summit honorees from last season in the infield with
Parker Smejkal (First Team),
Breyden Eckhout (First Team),
Keil Krumwiede (Second Team) and
Brett Bonar (Second Team). Omaha's outfield, however, will consist of
Jack Lombardi, who is the only returner who saw 22 starts in the outfield last season. Smejkal also played 36 games in left field for the Mavericks last season prior to his move in the infield.
Omaha's roster includes 10 seniors, 15 juniors, three sophomores and eight freshmen. By position, the Mavericks have 13 right-handed pitchers, four left-handed pitchers, 11 infielders, eight outfielders, three catchers and two utility players.
UP NEXT
Omaha continues action Feb. 20-23 at the Snowbird Classic in Port Charlotte, Fla. For more information on the tournament, visit OMavs.com.
