Sixth-year senior Joey Machado has witnessed the transition firsthand.

Not long ago, there weren't many people giving Omaha a chance in midweek games like the one it played against Creighton Tuesday at Charles Schwab Field. But my, how those times have changed.

The Mavericks are not only holding their own in midweek contests, but they are also winning their fair share of them. And Tuesday night they accomplished something that seemed farfetched not long ago.

Prior to 2022, Omaha hadn't beaten Creighton and Nebraska in the same season since its transition to the Division I level. The Mavericks not only beat both in-state foes this spring, they beat both of them twice.

Machado recorded three wins and a save in those four games. On Tuesday, he capped Omaha's 5-3 victory over the Bluejays by striking out seven batters, including Jack Grace with a runner on to end it.

The Mavericks (22-24) swept their two-game series with Creighton this season. And their 4-2 mark against in-state competition was the best in head-to-head matchups among Nebraska's three teams.

"Probably, most people are shocked when they're seeing UNO winning these games," Machado said. "Where we're at right now, I hope everyone sees that. We're coming. We're a good team. We're tough."

Omaha broke open a scoreless game in the middle innings when the three former Bluejays in its lineup came up with big hits. Jack Lombardi doubled to lead off the top of the fifth inning and then scored on an RBI single by Cam Frederick. Will Hanafan made it 2-0 in the sixth when he singled in another run.

Eddie Satisky's RBI double in the seventh made it 4-0. From there, the Mavericks just had to hold on.

Harrison Kreiling, dominant in his first collegiate start against Kansas the week before, struck out six batters over three scoreless innings to open the game for Omaha. Jarrett Blunt (1-1), who got the win Tuesday, pitched around a leadoff hit in the fourth. Jackson Gordon got the Mavericks into the seventh.

Machado struck out Jared Wegner with two on to end that inning. Then, after Creighton scored twice in the eighth to pull within one, he fanned four of the final five batters he faced to close out the victory.

"That was a complete team effort," Omaha coach Evan Porter said. "We've been lacking in one of those facets, it seemed, like every game. Our guys did a great job of putting it all together with offense, pitching and defense.

"Our guys have worked their butts off and gotten themselves to a level where we can compete in these midweeks. And they showed it tonight."

On top of the mound at the home of the College World Series, Machado whirled and screamed to the heavens with clenched fists after Grace whiffed at his final pitch. He said later that he blacked out with euphoria, momentarily, until catcher Eduardo Rosario met him at the mound to celebrate the victory.

"It's special," said Machado, an Omaha native. "As an in-state kid, you always want to go play for the in-state teams and maybe stick it to these guys. It's just a great storybook ending for me right now."

Machado has been in the Maverick program in all six seasons that Porter has been the head coach. The latter has thoroughly enjoyed watching his former Friday starter excel in a bullpen role in his final year.

"He's seen some good times and bad times, but he's stuck with it and stuck with us," Porter said. "And now he's really being rewarded for it. I just couldn't be happier for him. You can't say enough great things about Joey Machado. He deserves every bit of success that he gets. He's sure worked for it."

While Omaha's fate this season will be decided over the final two weeks of Summit League play and the upcoming conference tournament, its success in games against its nearby rivals will have a lasting effect.

The Mavericks have forced their way into local talk about college baseball with the other two teams.

"Obviously, you hope that future recruits – kids coming here – see that," Machado said. "I think UNO has got a great brand. Coach Porter's done a great job of creating a good competitive culture with everybody. It's a testament to what he's done throughout these years. We're in these talks. In years before, maybe we might not have been."