TULSA, Okla. – In the final start of his career, Harrison Kreiling saved the best for last as he fired a career-high eight shutout innings with a career-high 13 strikeouts. Unfortunately, despite holding a 5-0 lead, the No. 1 Omaha Mavericks were unable to hold off the No. 2 North Dakota State Bison who scored seven in the top of the ninth and went on to win 7-5.
This concludes the 2024 season for the Mavericks.
Innings 1-3
Omaha wasted no time getting started in the first as they quickly got a run on a bases-loaded walk to Grant Sommers. Haiden Hunt followed with the biggest hit of the day as he ripped one down the left field line to clear the bases.
After three hitless innings and six strikeouts from Kreiling, the Mavericks scored another run in the bottom of the third when Tyler Bishop, who led off the inning with a triple, came home on a single to left from Jackson Trout.
Innings 4-6
The Mavericks got at least one hit in each of the next three innings, but were unable to add to their lead. Meanwhile, Kreiling allowed his first hit of the day in the fifth, though, ultimately it did not matter as he got through the next two innings on just 16 total pitches. He would then open the sixth inning with his 10th strikeout of the afternoon.
Innings 7-9
In the top of the seventh, Kreiling began things with his 11th strikeout, tying his career best, before ending the inning with his 12th of the day. Then, despite approaching 100 pitches, he came back out for the eighth and ended his day by working out of a bases-loaded jam with his 13th punch out.
Up 5-0 in the top of the ninth, the first six Bison would all reach base safely as 13 batters wound up coming to the plate and seven of them came around to score. In the bottom of the ninth, a two-out double from Henry Zipay was all Omaha would get as NDSU closed out the game.
Inside the Box Score
Kreiling allowed just two hits and two walks today. His previous career high in innings pitched was six, while his career strikeout mark was 11.
