OMAHA, Neb. – The Mavericks made it three series wins in a row today when they took the rubber game from South Dakota State 10-9.
This streak has propelled Omaha to an 8-7 record in the Summit League, tying them with St. Thomas for the most conference wins. The team has also reached the 10-win mark overall at 10-22. As for the Jackrabbits, they slide behind Omaha in the standings with a 15-18 record and a 7-7 conference mark.
Innings 1-3
The Mavericks took an early 4-0 lead in the first inning and never looked back. Drew Lechnir reached on a one-out error to spark the rally, later coming around to score on a sac fly from Jackson Trout for the first run of the day. Then, with two on, Cardel Dick hammered one over the wall in right for his second home run of the season.
Neither team would score over the next two innings, as Harrison Kreiling looked the sharpest he has all season, allowing just one hit and even completing the third inning on just four pitches.
Innings 4-6
The Jackrabbits managed to get an unearned run in the top of the fourth after the leadoff man reached on an error and scored on a double from Luke Luskey. Kreiling worked around a second double in the inning to allow just the one run, before tossing a 1-2-3 fifth with two strikeouts.
In the bottom of the fifth, Omaha erupted with another five runs, starting with a first pitch swinging solo shot from Matt Goetzmann. Trout later ripped a two-run double down the left field line, followed by a two-run homer from Trent Burkhalter to right.
SDSU would get another run back in the top of the sixth, but could not cash in with two runners on as Cooper Prososki was brought in to get the final two outs.
Innings 7-9
Over the next two innings, things got incredibly close as the Jackrabbits scored two in the seventh and five in the eighth, including a Reece Anderson grand slam.
Leading by just one run now, Luke Gainer managed to cut SDSU’s comeback hopes short in the top of the ninth as he retired the side in order to earn his third save of the season.
Inside the Box Score
With Trout driving in three runs today and Dick driving in four, the two of them became the only Mavericks to have two multi-RBI games this series despite the team scoring 33 total runs.
At 5.1 innings pitched, this was by far the longest outing of the season for Kreiling.
This also marked the fifth save of Gainer’s career after he recorded two in 2023.
On Deck
The Mavericks have their final home midweek game next week when they host Kansas on Tuesday at 6 p.m., before wrapping up the homestand over the weekend with three games vs. Northern Colorado starting Friday at 6 p.m.
