MACOMB, Ill. – The Omaha baseball team fell 12-7 in game one before bouncing back with a 7-1 victory in the second game to split Thursday's doubleheader at Western Illinois in Macomb, Ill.
The split moves the Mavericks to 20-23 (12-12) while the Leathernecks are 11-27 (7-18).
Game One: Western Illinois 12, Omaha 7
How it Happened
- Western Illinois plated the game's first run in the bottom of the second with a bases-loaded walk.
- The Leathernecks added five runs on five hits in the fifth to expand the lead to 6-0.
- A three-run homer gave WIU a 9-0 lead in the sixth.
- Breyden Eckhout began the eighth with a single to left before scoring on a wild pitch to score Omaha's first run of the game.
- Eduardo Rosario blasted a 1-1 pitch over the wall in left center for his third homer of the season, cutting the Western Illinois lead to 9-3 in the top of the eighth.
- WIU responded with three runs on a pair of hits in the bottom of the eighth to make it a 12-3 ball game.
- Parker Smejkal opened the top of the ninth with a solo home run to left while Eckhout ripped a two-RBI double to left center, trimming the deficit to 12-6.
- Eckhout scored on a wild pitch to make it a five-run deficit, but the Leathernecks held on for the 12-7 victory.
Inside the Box Score
- Eckhout went 3-for-4 at the plate with a pair of RBI and runs scored to lead Omaha at the plate.
- Rosario was 2-for-5 with a homer and two RBI while Smejkal went 2-for-5 with a home run.
- Starter Richie Holetz fell to 3-4 on the season after allowing six runs on seven hits in 4.2 innings.
- Easton Smith pitched 2.2 innings in relief while Harrison Kreiling recorded the final two outs for the Mavericks on the mound.
Game Two: Omaha 7, Western Illinois 1 (F/7)
How it Happened
- Eckhout opened the game with a walk before Boeve's RBI double brought him home to give the Mavericks a 1-0 lead.
- A solo home run in the bottom of the first allowed the Leathernecks to tie it back up at one.
- Grant Goldston started the fourth with a solo home to left center, giving Omaha the 2-1 lead.
- Goldston walked to begin the sixth and came around to score on Boeve's RBI single to right field, stretching the lead to 3-1.
- Rosario drew a bases-loaded walk and Boeve sprinted home on a wild pitch to expand the advantage to 5-1 in the sixth.
- Smejkal lifted a sacrifice fly to plate in the sixth, plating Keil Krumwiede and widening the lead to five.
- Brett Bonar opened the seventh with a walk and scored Omaha's final run of the game on a sac fly by Masen Prososki.
Inside the Box Score
- Boeve led the Mavericks at the plate, going 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles and two RBI.
- Eckhout went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored.
- Goldston drew three walks and had a solo home run.
- Starter Jayden Maifeld tossed the complete-game victory, allowing one run on two hits and striking out a trio of Leathernecks in the seven-inning outing.
On Deck
The Mavericks and Leathernecks continue the four-game series with the third game tomorrow at 3 p.m. in Macomb, Ill. Links to live stats and video are available on OMavs.com.