EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - After a two-hour delay to first pitch, the Mavericks made it close but stumbled late as they were defeated 7-5 by SIUE in the series opener.

With this loss, Omaha drops to 0-12 this season, while the Cougars pick up their third win to end the night 3-11.

Innings 1-3
Charlie Bell began his day in absolutely dominant fashion, getting all three Cougars batters to go down swinging in a lights out first inning. Then, Omaha's bats repaid him in the top of the second as they plated four, beginning with a three-run bomb from Trent Burkhalter and ending with an RBI double to left from Matt Goetzmann. Unfortunately, these would be the only four runs Omaha would score tonight.

Getting into a bases-loaded jam with no outs in the bottom of the second, Bell dug in and allowed only a single run on a sac fly as he recorded two more strikeouts to get through the inning. The Cougars would get to him again, though, in the bottom of the third, picking up two more runs on another sac fly and a double.

Innings 4-6
After a scoreless fourth, Omaha had a chance to grow its lead in both the fifth and sixth innings, getting two on with two outs in both, but nothing materialized. SIUE would go on to tie the game in the bottom of the inning with another double.

Innings 7-9
The Cougars would ultimately take the lead for good in the bottom of the seventh after rallying with two outs and nobody on. Despite not getting a single hit, three walks and two hit by pitches would bring home two runs for SIUE. Omaha again would get two men on in both the seventh and eighth, but could not bring anyone around to score.

Inside the Box Score
Burkhalter's home run was his second of the year and the third by a Maverick this season.

Bell struck out a season high nine batters tonight, his most in a game since his third career start back on March 4, 2022, vs. Valparaiso.

Up Next
Game two of the series will get underway at 1 p.m. tomorrow. Caleb Riedel (0-1) will take the mound opposite Tyler DeLong (0-1).