UNO Sweeps Past Missouri Southern, 9-0 and 4-2

Sunday, April 17

Omaha, Neb.

12:00 PM

Omaha

Missouri Southern

UNO Sweeps Past Missouri Southern, 9-0 and 4-2

Apr 17, 2011 | Baseball, General

By: Omaha Athletics

Game 1 Boxscore (PDF)
Game 2 Boxscore (PDF)

OMAHA, Neb. – The UNO baseball team earned its third sweep of a conference opponent Sunday afternoon, defeating Missouri Southern 9-0 and 4-2 at the Ballpark at Boys Town. With the wins, the Mavericks are now 24-11 (20-10 MIAA), while MSSU drops to 16-22 (12-20 MIAA).

Freshman Caleb Palensky went 4-for-8 on the day, while junior Trevor Gappa hit his fourth home run of the season in game two.

GAME 1 – UNO 9, MISSOURI SOUTHERN 0
In the first contest, sophomore Zach Croonquist (3-0) made his first start of the year, earning the win after allowing just one hit over four shutout innings with a strikeout. MSSU's Cody Griebling (5-3) took the loss, giving up seven runs on seven hits in 4.2 innings, during which he also struck out four and walked three. UNO senior Andrew Reck captured his first save of the season, tossing the final three innings and giving up three hits with a strikeout.

Palensky finished 3-for-4 at the plate with an RBI and a run scored, while junior Colby McCord was 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI. Junior Brady Hohl and freshman Beau Suponchick both registered a run and a pair of RBI apiece.

UNO took the lead in the bottom of the second, started off with junior Martin Sartin's single to left center. McCord added a single through the right side, and sophomore Tyler Splichal walked to load the bases for freshman Beau Suponchick, whose RBI groundout brought in Sartin and put the Mavs ahead at 1-0.

The fifth inning was crucial for the Nebraska Omaha offense, as the Mavericks exploded for eight runs on eight hits. Palensky sparked the effort with an infield single, followed by walk by senior Jed Hanson and junior Mark Waldron's RBI single to right that scored Palensky. Sartin then sacrificed to bring in Hanson, and Waldron was pated on McCord's single to right, making it 4-0. Sophomore Tyler Splichal was then hit by a pitch and Suponchick sent an RBI single to center to score McCord and prompt the Lions to replace their starting pitcher.

Senior Tyler Davies immediately delivered an RBI single that plated Splichal, and Hohl chipped in a two-RBI single to center that brought in Suponchick and Davies and extended the score to 8-0. Palensky hammered in the final nail with his second hit of the inning, an RBI shot to right center that brought Hohl across and left the final tally at 9-0.

GAME 2 – UNO 4, MISSOURI SOUTHERN 2
In the series finale, UNO grabbed an early 4-0 lead on four hits in the bottom of the first. Hohl led off with a single through the left side, and Waldron drew a walk. Gappa then sent a two-out, three-run shot over the left field wall. Splichal added a single to left center and later came in on Sartin's knock to center, pushing the score to 4-0.

Missouri Southern came back for one run in the sixth, with Tee Helsel earning an infield single and eventually scoring on a fielding error. The Lions added one more in the seventh when Jesse Kinzey had a leadoff double to left center and later came in on a fielding error. It marked the end of the MSSU scoring effort, however, as UNO held on for the 4-2 victory.

Cory Buckley (3-2) earned the win with a six-inning, five-hit performance, allowing two unearned runs. Buckley had no walks and struck out five Lion hitters. MSSU's Brett Abell (5-5) took the loss, giving up four runs on eight hits over seven innings while walking two and grabbing two strikeouts. Derek Landis also garnered his first career save with three scoreless innings of work and three Ks.

Splichal finished the series finale 2-for-4 at the plate with a run scored, while Gappa accounted for three RBI.

UNO returns to action on Tuesday, April 19, hosting Northwest Missouri State. The doubleheader is slated for a 1 p.m. first pitch at the Ballpark at Boys Town.