Leading Off
The Mavericks (6-8) open their conference schedule this Friday at 5:30 p.m. when they host North Dakota State (3-17) at Tal Anderson Field.

Weekend Schedule
Friday: 5:30 p.m.
Saturday: 2 p.m.
Sunday: 1 p.m.

Around the Horn

• The Mavericks are coming off a massive 10-6 win at Nebraska last week, improving to 3-2 against the Huskers over the last two seasons. This was also the 20th career coaching victory against Power 5 opponents for Head Coach Evan Porter (ninth in the last two years).
• Omaha enters this series on a four-game winning streak in which they have scored double-digit runs in all four games.
• Of Omaha's 47 hits over the last four games, the Mavericks have recorded 20 total XBHs, including 15 doubles.
• Mavericks' pitchers have also excelled over this four-game winning streak, striking out 46 batters including a season-high 15 in their first game vs. Stonehill.
• Wyatt Sellers and Rans Sanders continue to impress out of the bullpen this season, as the two combined for 4.2 shutout innings with six strikeouts against Nebraska. Sellers earned his second win of the season, while Sanders got his second save. 
• Sanders in particular had one of the most dominant innings by any Mavericks pitcher this year as he came into the game with bases loaded and no outs and proceeded to strike out the next three batters.
• At the plate, the Mavericks showed incredible discipline, working every count and ultimately walking eight times, including three-straight bases-loaded walks in the fourth inning. The result was the Huskers needing to use seven pitchers in the game.
•  Eduardo Rosario remains Omaha's number one power threat at the plate, launching his fourth home run of the season with a two-run shot in the eighth that practically disappeared into the night sky.
• Cam Frederick also continues to exceed expectations filling in for Mike Boeve at third, going 4-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs at Nebraska and nearly going a perfect 5-for-5 were it not for a possible infield hit being ruled an error. Regardless, this was not only his first career four-hit game, but the first for a Maverick since Jack Lombardi did so against Kansas on April 12, 2022.
• The Mavericks remain undefeated at home this season at 3-0, picking up their first win at Tal Anderson on February 28th with a 7-6 comeback over K-State.
• Due to inclement weather, last weekend's series vs. Valparaiso was canceled.

Scouting North Dakota State
The Bison come to Omaha at 3-17 after a tough non-conference slate. They began the season at 0-3 at Sacramento State, but avoided the sweep with a 13-4 win in the series finale. Following this win, however, NDSU proceeded to lose 13 in a row, including three-game sweeps to Arizona and Texas State. The Bison finally got back into the win column last week when they took two of three from Houston Christian.

Cadyn Schwabe leads NDSU with a .350 AVG, as well as 18 runs, 12 walks, 11 stolen bases, and two triples. Meanwhile, Terrell Huggins and Peter Brookshaw pace the Bison with OPSs of 1.063 and 1.025, respectively, while also being tied for the team lead with six home runs each. Likewise, Druw Sackett is tied with Brookshaw for the team lead in doubles with eight and is also tops in RBIs with 19.

NDSU's starters have struggled early on, with all four possessing ERAs north of 4.50. Their bullpen has been somewhat more effective as Zak Endres, Hayden Sylte, Shea Zetterman, and Parker Puetz combining for 7 innings and just one earned run in relief.

Head Coach Tyler Oakes is in his second season at the helm of the Bison and is the reigning Summit League Coach of the Year after guiding NDSU to a Regular Season title last year at 30-17. Formerly the team's pitching coach, he helped lead the program to a pair of NCAA Tournament berths in 2014 and 2021.