MANHATTAN, Kan. – Despite coming out strong with an early lead, the Mavericks could not hang on as they began their road trip with a 6-4 loss tonight to K-State.
Omaha drops to 12-24 on the season as the Wildcats improve to 25-15.
Innings 1-3
On the third pitch of the game, Matt Goetzmann sent one to deep right field for a leadoff solo home run to immediately put Omaha on top. Later in the inning, an error by K-State’s shortstop put Drew Lechnir on third and allowed Jackson Trout to drive him home with a sharp grounder. The lead did not last long, though, as the Wildcats quickly tied the game in the bottom of the inning after the first three batters all walked and two were brought home on a sac fly and a passed ball.
The next innings, the Mavericks would go back up by one as Drew Lechnir hit one to shallow right but deep enough to bring home his brother Zach Lechnir. Coming out of the bullpen, Ethan Louthan would hold the lead in the bottom of the inning by stranding three K-State baserunners. In the bottom of the third, however, the Wildcats took a 6-3 lead after a bases loaded HBP, two singles, and another sac fly scored four consecutive runs.
Innings 4-6
After coming in and preventing further damage in the third, Brayden Curtis followed up with back-to-back scoreless innings in the fourth and fifth, striking out two and allowed only one hit.
Omaha would inch closer in the sixth as Goetzmann dropped one into no man’s land in deep right center for a stand-up RBI triple.
Innings 7-9
With Cooper Prososki and Joe Hackmann keeping K-State off the board in the seventh and eighth innings, the Mavericks were in prime position to tie the game in the eighth after getting the leadoff men on and over to second and third with one out, only to come away empty handed before ultimately coming up short in the ninth too.
Inside the Box Score
With his double in the second, Zach Lechnir has now doubled in four straight games.
Likewise, Goetzmann increased his hitting streak to eight games, batting 14-for-35 (.400) in that span.
Up Next
Omaha continues the road trip up north when they head to Fargo for a three-game series at North Dakota State staring Friday at 6:30 p.m.
