OMAHA, Neb. - The Mavericks went with a bullpen game today and got exactly the result they were looking for as they nearly shutout K-State 3-1 to open the second week of their homestand.
Omaha improves to 5-10 on the season with three of their wins coming against Power 4 opponents. Meanwhile, the Wildcats are now 9-7 on the year after dropping both of their games in Omaha after also falling to Creighton Tuesday night.
Innings 1-4
Going with a bullpen day today, Omaha's pitch was sharp as it has been all season, with
Ben Weber and
Gavin Brummund retiring the first nine batters in order.
Carter Mick then came in to toss a scoreless top of the fourth, finishing off the inning with his first strikeout.
After a one-out double in the first from
Henry Zipay, the Mavericks would not get another hit until the bottom of the fourth as
Jackson Trout and
Tyler Bishop got two straight singles after Zipay was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Omaha would come away with just one run though on a sac fly from
Blake Stenger.
Innings 5-9
Tanner Hosick continued Omaha's strong pitching on the day with the team's fourth 1-2-3 inning of the day in the fifth capped off by another strikeout. In the bottom of the inning,
Sam Beck led off with a double and advanced to third on a wild pitch before
Cardel Dick drove him in with a single through the left side.
In the sixth, the Wildcats would break up the combined no hitter with two outs with a double from Dee Kennedy, but fortunately
Luke Gainer would come in and get the final out of the inning to keep the shutout intact. Omaha would get a much-needed insurance run in the bottom of the sixth on a bases-loaded walk from
Drew Borner. Gainer would come back out and throw a scoreless seventh, before
Landon Mueller and
Oliver Mabee combined to escape the eighth untouched.
K-State mounted late comeback in the top of the ninth breaking up the shutout after back-to-back doubles brought in their first run.
Matt Dreher was able to cut their attempt short, though, coming in and striking out the final batter of the game on three pitches.
Inside the Box Score
- This is the second time this year Omaha has held the opposition hitless through at least 5.2 innings, last doing so in their 5-4 upset over LSU when they no hit them over 8.2 innings.
- Omaha used a season-high nine pitchers today, with Brummund, Gainer, and Mabee being the only ones to throw more than one inning.
Up Next
The Mavericks open conference play this weekend when they host the reigning Summit League Regular Season Champion St. Thomas for a three-game series beginning Friday at 3 p.m.
