Mavericks Sweep Past Leathernecks

Tuesday, May 14

Omaha, Neb.

TBA

Omaha

24-21, 0

Western Illinois

18-31, 0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Western Illinois	0	1	1	0	2	0	0	0	0	4	11	4
Omaha	1	2	1	1	1	1	0	0	X	7	9	2

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Western Illinois	1	0	0	0	1	4	0	6	11	4
Omaha	1	2	2	2	0	0	X	7	9	1

Mavericks Sweep Past Leathernecks

May 14, 2013 | Baseball, General

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Omaha Athletics

Game 1 Box Score (HTML)
Game 2 Box Score (HTML)

OMAHA, Neb. – The league-leading Omaha baseball team swept a doubleheader from Western Illinois on Tuesday, defeating the Leathernecks, 7-6 and 7-4, at the Ballpark at Boys Town. With the wins, the Mavericks improve to 24-21 (17-5 Summit League), while WIU drops to 18-31 (9-13 Summit League).

GAME 1 – OMAHA 7, WESTERN ILLINOIS 6
Freshman Marcus Ethen (1-1) earned the first win of his career, allowing two runs on six hits over 5.0 innings pitched. John White (3-6) took the loss, surrendering seven runs (four earned) on eight hits in 5.0 innings while striking out one. Senior Derek Landis earned his seventh save of the year, limiting the Leathernecks to one hit over 1.1 scoreless innings with one strikeout.

Senior Ryan Keele extended his hitting streak to 11 games with his effort in the opening contest, finishing 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Freshman Cole Gruber and redshirt freshman Clayton Taylor each registered two hits, a run scored and an RBI, and senior Tyler Splichal added two hits and a run.

WIU was paced by Neil DeCook's three hits, while Zach Burling was 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBI, and Tanner Glore went 2-for-4 with a run and two RBI. Burling and Glore each tallied a home run in the sixth inning, with Burling's a two-run shot to left and Glore's a two-run inside-the-park effort.

Western took a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first before Omaha leveled it at 1-1 in the bottom of the frame. The Mavericks then added two runs in the second, third and fourth innings, pushing the lead to 7-1. In the fifth, the Leathernecks plated one run, then posted four runs in the sixth with roundtrippers from Burling and Glore. In the seventh, DeCook managed a one-run single through the left side, but WIU was quieted with a strikeout from Landis and a final groundout, leaving the score at 7-6.

GAME 2 – OMAHA 7, WESTERN ILLINOIS 4
Gruber finished 2-for-3 with a walk and two RBI in the second game, and Taylor was 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Western Illinois was led by Glore's 3-for-3 effort with a run scored, and Steve Kedroski was 2-for-5 with three RBI and a run. Manny Reyes also had a pair of hits and a run driven in.

The win went to junior Anthony Falcone (3-0) who threw 2.2 innings of scoreless relief with just two hits and three strikeouts. Tom Constand (4-4) was dealt the loss, giving up three runs (two earned) on two hits and two walks in the first 1.2 innings. Senior Matt Tew nabbed his first save of the season, holding the Leathernecks hitless in the final inning and striking out one.

In the second game, Omaha was the team to score first, going up 1-0 in the bottom of the first. WIU tied it at 1-1 in the second, but the Mavericks came back for a pair of runs in the lower half of the inning. Western added another run in the third before Omaha plated one in the third and fourth innings, making it 5-2.

The Leathernecks pulled within one with a two-run inning in the fifth at 5-4, but Omaha scored again in the fifth and sixth innings to leave the final tally at 7-4. Although the Leathernecks totaled 11 hits to UNO's nine, the Mavericks capitalized on four WIU errors in the game.

Omaha's doubleheader sweep also pushed the Mavericks' all-time series record against WIU to 6-0, as UNO took a four-game series earlier this season in Macomb.

In what will be a matchup of the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the league standings, Omaha hosts South Dakota State for a four-game series at the Ballpark at Boys Town this weekend. The series opens on Thursday, May 16 with first pitch at 2 p.m., and links to live stats and audio will be available on OMavs.com. The game will also be broadcast live on KVNO 90.7 HD-2, with student broadcasters Jared Meyer and Paul Dobler on the call.