LINCOLN, Neb. - On another frigid March night, the Mavericks and Huskers got into an offensive showdown, with Omaha eventually coming out on top 10-6 to take the first meeting of the season.
Omaha (6-8) has now gone 6-2 since starting the season 0-6. As for Nebraska (9-5-1), their win streak ends at four games as they lose just their second game in the month of March. This is also their first home loss of the season after starting 4-0 in Lincoln.
Innings 1-3
Charlie Bell came out strong today, holding the Huskers scoreless through the first two innings, racking up four strikeouts. Nebraska got to him in the third, however, notching a couple of one-out singles to plate two.
Eduardo Rosario helped limit the damage with a great heads-up play to catch the runner on third sleeping while the runner on first stole second, getting into a run down and making the tag.
Innings 4-6
After being held scoreless through the first three innings, the Mavericks finally got on the board in the fourth as they quickly loaded the bases and got three runs on three-straight bases-loaded walks from
Zach Lechnir, Rosario and
Devin Hurdle.
Drew Lechnir capped off the inning with an RBI on a fielder's choice to give Omaha a 4-2 lead.
Pitching with the lead for the first time, Bell fired another 1-2-3 inning on just nine pitches in the bottom of the fourth. Meanwhile, already on to their fourth pitcher, the Huskers surrendered another run in the fifth on a liner to right from
Zach Lechnir.
Trailing 5-2 in the bottom of the fifth, Nebraska came right back and retook the lead with four runs on four hits. The Mavericks, though, responded in kind as
Cam Frederick got his third hit of the day with a two-run double down the left field line to make it 7-6 Omaha.
Innings 7-9
Omaha got another run in the top of the seventh as Hurdle showed off his speed and scored from second on an error by Nebraska's first baseman. Rosario then made it 10-6 in the eighth with a towering two-run shot to left for his fourth home run of the season.
Meanwhile,
Wyatt Sellers had another dominant relief outing, going 2.1 scoreless with a pair of strikeouts to get it to the eighth, where
Rans Sanders entered the game in a bases loaded, no outs situation and immediately proceeded to strikeout the next three batters to keep it 10-6. Sanders came back out and threw a scoreless ninth to complete the victory and earn his second career save.
Inside the Box Score
Bell struck out a season-high six batters today, his most since fanning seven vs. ORU on May 15, 2022.
Frederick continues to rake as he went 4-for-5 today, not only recording his first career four-hit game, but the first for a Maverick since
Jack Lombardi did so against Kansas on April 12, 2022.
Rosario drove in three runs today, giving him nine games in his career with at least three RBIs.
Up Next
The Mavericks begin a six-game home stand this Friday at 5:30 p.m. when they play the first of three games vs. Valparaiso at Tal Anderson Field.
