KANSAS CITY, Mo. - It was an all-out slugfest in Kansas City tonight as the Mavericks came out to an early lead, but were unable to hang on as Missouri State came back multiple times to win it 11-9.
Omaha is now 16-21 on the year, while the Bears improve to 11 games over .500 at 27-16.
Innings 1-3
The Mavericks got off to a blistering start tonight as they plated four runs in the top of the first.
Matt Goetzmann immediately set the tone with a leadoff double down the left field line.
Mike Boeve would bring him home with a single up the middle, followed by a bullet from
Eduardo Rosario right past the third basemen to make it 2-0. With the fifth hit of the inning,
Eddie Satisky launched a nearly 400 foot double to dead center to give Omaha a four run lead.
Omaha got two more runs the next inning, courtesy of the third triple of the year for
Haiden Hunt and the second RBI of the day for Boeve.
On the mound,
Joel Benes made his first start as a Maverick and allowed a run in each of the first two innings. He settled down in the third, though, working around a leadoff single by setting down the next three batters in order.
Innings 4-6
The Bears had a chance to chip away at Omaha's four-run lead in the fourth after getting two on with one out, but Benes shutdown their comeback attempt with his third strikeout. Missouri State did, however, manage to cut the deficit down to one run in the fifth as their first five batters all reached base.
The next inning, the Bears got their first lead of the day as they picked up two more runs to make it 7-6.
Innings 7-9
Fortunately, the Mavericks came right back and retook the lead in the top of the seventh as Hunt ripped his second triple of the game and came around to score on the third RBI of the day for Boeve.
Devin Hurdle continued the barrage by doubling to right and coming around to score on a single from
Drew Lechnir. Hunt then grew Omaha's lead back to two runs in the eighth with another RBI.
In the end, though, the game would see its fourth and final lead change in the bottom of the eighth as the Bears knocked in four runs to go up 11-9 and subsequently shut down the Mavericks in the top of the ninth.
Inside the Box Score
With two triples today, Hunt becomes the first Maverick to do so since Chris Esposito vs. Northern Illinois back on February 29, 2020. He also becomes the active team leader in career triples with four.
Boeve had his third three-RBI game of the season today and the seventh of his career.
Hurdle has recorded at least three hits in three of his last six games played.
Up Next
The Mavericks return home this weekend for their final home series of the year as they host Western Illinois for three, starting Friday at 7 p.m.
