Omaha takes series opener from Jacks

BROOKINGS, S.D. (SDSU) — Omaha scored in each of the first three innings, then put the game out of reach with an eight-run sixth inning in defeating South Dakota State, 16-6, in the opening game of a Summit League baseball series Thursday afternoon at Erv Huether Field.

The Mavericks improved to 17-29-1 overall and 15-12-1 in league play. SDSU dropped to 19-28 overall and 10-16 in The Summit League, but did not lose any more ground to Northern Colorado in the race for the fourth and final spot in next week’s conference tournament after the Bears dropped a 9-3 decision at North Dakota State Thursday night.

Omaha got on the board in the top of the first with a run on three singles. Matt Goetzmann led off the game with a single through the left side, with Tyler Bishop and Jackson Trout each legging out infield singles.

SDSU tied the game on the first pitch of the home half of the first inning as Reece Anderson connected on a leadoff home run to left field.

Maverick starter Caleb Riedel would quickly find his rhythm from there, allowing only two more hits in his five innings of work. The left-hander struck out 10 and walked only one, fanning the side in both the second and fifth innings.

Omaha turned another infield single into a run in the second inning and scored a pair of runs in the third inning on wild pitches after Bishop led off the inning with a walk and Grant Sommers followed with a double.

The Mavericks sent 13 men to the plate against three different SDSU relievers in the sixth inning. The frame began with back-to-back walks and featured two-run singles by Trout and Cardel Dick. Goetzmann, who reached base in all six of his plate appearances — four hits and two walks — tallied the last of seven singles in the inning by the Mavericks to drive in the final run.

Dawson Parry brought the Jackrabbits to within 12-2 in the sixth inning and then helped extend the game with another run-scoring single as part of a four-run seventh. Luke Luskey added a two-run single to begin the scoring in the seventh.

Omaha put the 10-run rule back in effect with two more runs in the top of the eighth on an RBI single by Drew Lechnir and a run-scoring double by Bishop.

The Mavericks rapped out 16 hits — 13 of which were singles. Parry notched three of the Jackrabbits’ seven hits, with Anderson tallying a pair of hits.

SDSU starter Nic McCay suffered his second consecutive loss, allowing four runs over five innings. He struck out seven, walked four and hit a batter in his final home start.

UP NEXT
Game 2 of the series is set for a 1 p.m. first pitch Friday.

NOTES

• Omaha leads the season series, 3-1
• The Mavericks holds a 95-90-1 advantage in the all-time series
• Adam Benes had his six-game hitting streak come to an end
• McCay upped his season strikeout total to 96, which ranks as the third-most in program history
• Parry upped his season RBI total to a team-best 60, which is tied with Billy McMacken (1990) for the seventh-most by a Jackrabbit

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com.