Mavericks Set for Rematch With Nebraska
Apr 29, 2014 | Baseball
Leading Off
The Omaha baseball team hosts a rematch with in-state foe Nebraska on Wednesday, April 30. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m., and it marks the Mavericks' final game at Werner Park this season. Links to live stats and audio will be available on OMavs.com, and Gary Sharp and Damon Benning will have the radio call on KOZN 1620 AM.
Quick Hits
•Omaha last took the field on Saturday, April 26, dropping a league doubleheader to North Dakota State, 5-4 and 9-7.
•Sophomore Tyler Fox earned Omaha's only win on the mound last weekend in Friday's opener against the Bison. He threw 5.0 innings, allowing two runs on seven hits and two walks with four strikeouts.
•Junior Zach Williamsen and senior Caleb Palensky swept the Summit League's weekly awards on Monday, earning the Mavericks' seventh and eighth nods of 2014. Palensky was named Player of the Week, while Williamsen was Co-Pitcher of the Week.
•Sophomore Clayton Taylor is on a 24-game reaching-base streak, the second-longest of any UNO player this year. Sophomore Alex Schultz previously had a team-leading 25-game reaching base streak from Feb. 21 to April 6.
•Head coach Bob Herold became the winningest coach in UNO baseball history on April 18, as he earned his 465th career win with Omaha's 7-0 shutout at Bradley. The victory pushed him past former coach Bob Gates (1976-99), who had 464 wins during his tenure.
•On April 12, the Mavericks swept a league doubleheader at North Dakota State with back-to-back shutouts. Omaha won the first game, 2-0 in 10 innings, before a 10-0 victory in seven innings in game two. It last achieved two shutouts in the same day on May 4, 2013 against Fort Wayne.
•UNO is 106-90 all-time against the four other teams in the Summit League.
Scouting the Nebraska Huskers
Entering the week, Nebraska has compiled a record of 28-17 (10-5 Big Ten) and is tied for second in their conference standings with Illinois. The Huskers saw their three-game win streak snapped on Sunday, falling 7-5 at Michigan. Head coach Darin Erstad (Nebraska, 1995) is in his third year at the helm of the Husker program with a career record of 92-70.
Wednesday's game will be the 61st meeting between UNO and NU, and Nebraska leads the all-time series, 50-10. The Huskers won the last meeting, 17-6, on April 16 at Haymarket Park.
On the Hill: Wednesday Starter Zach Williamsen
Junior right-handed pitcher Zach Williamsen is slated to start Wednesday night's game against Nebraska. He last took the mound on April 22, earning 4-1 a win against Creighton. Williamsen threw 6.1 shutout innings, allowing six hits with a walk and one strikeout. For the year, he has a record of 2-2 with a 3.99 ERA.
Last season, the Omaha native compiled a record of 4-1 with a 3.38 ERA, striking out 42 batters over 56.0 innings of work.
Palensky, Williamsen Sweep Summit League Weekly Honors
Senior Caleb Palensky and junior Zach Williamsen swept the Summit League's weekly awards, it was announced Monday. Palensky earned his second Player of the Week honor this season after leading the Omaha offense during the week. The Papillion-LaVista South graduate had four multi-hit games in the series vs. North Dakota State with three extra-base hits. In game one, Palensky had two hits with a triple and recorded four RBI with two home runs in game two. He added a pair of hits each in games three and four for the Mavericks. For the week, Palensky hit .444 (8-for-18) with seven RBI, four runs scored, three stolen bases, three walks, two homers and a triple. He also slugged .889 and had a .524 on-base percentage.
Williamsen collected his first career Pitcher of the Week award after earning a mid-week victory at Creighton. The Millard West product tossed 6.1 innings, surrendering no runs off six hits. He had one strikeout and a walk in the outing, and he shares the honor with John White of Western Illinois.
UNO has had four other players earn Summit League Player of the Week in sophomore Alex Schultz (March 3), Palensky (March 31), junior Daniel Jewett (April 7) and sophomore Clayton Taylor (April 21), while sophomore Tyler Fox (March 10) and senior Steven Schoonover (April 14) were named Summit League Pitcher of the Week.
League Leaders
Multiple Mavericks lead the Summit League in a variety of categories, with sophomore Cole Gruber first in stolen bases (22) and Clayton Taylor on top with 36 RBI. On the mound, senior Steven Schoonover is first with a 1.42 ERA, while sophomore Tyler Fox has a league-best seven wins for the year. As a team, Omaha's four shutouts also pace its conference peers.
Taylor Among Nation's Slugging Percentage Leaders
Sophomore Clayton Taylor ranks among the top 10 nationally in slugging percentage in the NCAA's most recent statistical release on April 28. The Omaha native was listed at eighth in the country with a .667 slugging clip, which is also first in the conference.
Taylor tops the Mavericks with 36 runs driven in this season, which is first in the Summit League. His 14 doubles, two triples and seven home runs lead the Mavs. He hit two roundtrippers last week, the first against Creighton and the second in Friday's game two against North Dakota State.
In 2013, Taylor was named a Freshman All-American Louisville Slugger/Collegiate Baseball. He finished third in the league with a .352 batting average and added 20 runs scored, eight doubles, 18 RBI and eight stolen bases. His 23 walks drawn were also fifth among conference players.
Double Digits
As a team, Omaha has produced double-digit hits in 18 games this season, including a season high of 23 hits against Chicago State on Feb. 28. UNO is 14-4 when producing 10 or more hits in a game.
On April 12 in a league doubleheader at North Dakota State, the Mavericks posted a combined 24 hits for the day. Ten of those came in a 2-0 win in the first game and 14 were tallied in a 10-0 victory in the second game.
Going the Extra Mile
When registering three or more extra-base hits in a game, UNO has gone 13-6 this season. The Mavericks notched a season-high five doubles as a team in a 12-5 win over Dartmouth on March 18, and it was their highest extra-base hit total since tallying two doubles, two triples and two homers on April 28, 2013 vs. North Dakota State.
Omaha is on pace to surpass last season's team extra-base hit total (103). At 37 games into the 2013 season, the Mavericks had 62 doubles, six triples and seven home runs, while the 2014 squad has come up with 63 doubles, nine triples and 16 homers through April 26.
Home Sweet Home
The 2014 season will see the Omaha baseball team play 20 home contests, including 14 conference tilts. UNO will play at two venues, with 17 games at the Ballpark at Boys Town and a pair of premier games at Werner Park with Kansas State (April 1) and Nebraska (April 30). KSU and NU finished in the top 65 for RPI in 2013, ranking 16th and 64th, respectively.
The Mavericks' home schedule this season has included sweeps of Air Force and South Dakota State and a walkoff win over K-State on April 1. UNO is now 8-6 record at home.
Herold at the Helm
Head Coach Bob Herold is in his 15th year as the skipper of the Omaha baseball program in 2014, having compiled a career record of 468-318-2. Herold earned his 400th career win on April 22, 2011 against Fort Hays State, becoming the third coach in school history to reach the milestone. He joined Bob Gates (464-273) and Virgil Yelkin (439-196) in the prestigious club, and with Omaha's 7-0 shutout at Bradley on April 22, he officially became the winningest coach in UNO history with his 465th victory.
Over his Maverick career, Herold has guided Omaha to seven NCAA Division II postseason appearances and four conference championships. In 2013, he was honored as Summit League Coach of the Year.
Herold's most recent draft pick was right-handed pitcher Joe Holtmeyer, who was taken in the 22nd round (No. 682 overall) of the 2011 Major League Baseball amateur draft by the Boston Red Sox. Holtmeyer was the fifth Maverick drafted under Herold and the second-highest pick of any player during the Herold era.
Herold is assisted by assistant coaches Chris Gadsden, in his 15th year, and Evan Porter, in his second year, as well as volunteer pitching coach Dan McGinn, who is in his 14th year.
Next Up
Omaha returns to action on Friday, May 2, visiting South Dakota State. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. in Brookings, S.D., and links to live stats and audio will be available on OMavs.com.
The Omaha baseball team hosts a rematch with in-state foe Nebraska on Wednesday, April 30. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m., and it marks the Mavericks' final game at Werner Park this season. Links to live stats and audio will be available on OMavs.com, and Gary Sharp and Damon Benning will have the radio call on KOZN 1620 AM.
Quick Hits
•Omaha last took the field on Saturday, April 26, dropping a league doubleheader to North Dakota State, 5-4 and 9-7.
•Sophomore Tyler Fox earned Omaha's only win on the mound last weekend in Friday's opener against the Bison. He threw 5.0 innings, allowing two runs on seven hits and two walks with four strikeouts.
•Junior Zach Williamsen and senior Caleb Palensky swept the Summit League's weekly awards on Monday, earning the Mavericks' seventh and eighth nods of 2014. Palensky was named Player of the Week, while Williamsen was Co-Pitcher of the Week.
•Sophomore Clayton Taylor is on a 24-game reaching-base streak, the second-longest of any UNO player this year. Sophomore Alex Schultz previously had a team-leading 25-game reaching base streak from Feb. 21 to April 6.
•Head coach Bob Herold became the winningest coach in UNO baseball history on April 18, as he earned his 465th career win with Omaha's 7-0 shutout at Bradley. The victory pushed him past former coach Bob Gates (1976-99), who had 464 wins during his tenure.
•On April 12, the Mavericks swept a league doubleheader at North Dakota State with back-to-back shutouts. Omaha won the first game, 2-0 in 10 innings, before a 10-0 victory in seven innings in game two. It last achieved two shutouts in the same day on May 4, 2013 against Fort Wayne.
•UNO is 106-90 all-time against the four other teams in the Summit League.
Scouting the Nebraska Huskers
Entering the week, Nebraska has compiled a record of 28-17 (10-5 Big Ten) and is tied for second in their conference standings with Illinois. The Huskers saw their three-game win streak snapped on Sunday, falling 7-5 at Michigan. Head coach Darin Erstad (Nebraska, 1995) is in his third year at the helm of the Husker program with a career record of 92-70.
Wednesday's game will be the 61st meeting between UNO and NU, and Nebraska leads the all-time series, 50-10. The Huskers won the last meeting, 17-6, on April 16 at Haymarket Park.
On the Hill: Wednesday Starter Zach Williamsen
Junior right-handed pitcher Zach Williamsen is slated to start Wednesday night's game against Nebraska. He last took the mound on April 22, earning 4-1 a win against Creighton. Williamsen threw 6.1 shutout innings, allowing six hits with a walk and one strikeout. For the year, he has a record of 2-2 with a 3.99 ERA.
Last season, the Omaha native compiled a record of 4-1 with a 3.38 ERA, striking out 42 batters over 56.0 innings of work.
Palensky, Williamsen Sweep Summit League Weekly Honors
Senior Caleb Palensky and junior Zach Williamsen swept the Summit League's weekly awards, it was announced Monday. Palensky earned his second Player of the Week honor this season after leading the Omaha offense during the week. The Papillion-LaVista South graduate had four multi-hit games in the series vs. North Dakota State with three extra-base hits. In game one, Palensky had two hits with a triple and recorded four RBI with two home runs in game two. He added a pair of hits each in games three and four for the Mavericks. For the week, Palensky hit .444 (8-for-18) with seven RBI, four runs scored, three stolen bases, three walks, two homers and a triple. He also slugged .889 and had a .524 on-base percentage.
Williamsen collected his first career Pitcher of the Week award after earning a mid-week victory at Creighton. The Millard West product tossed 6.1 innings, surrendering no runs off six hits. He had one strikeout and a walk in the outing, and he shares the honor with John White of Western Illinois.
UNO has had four other players earn Summit League Player of the Week in sophomore Alex Schultz (March 3), Palensky (March 31), junior Daniel Jewett (April 7) and sophomore Clayton Taylor (April 21), while sophomore Tyler Fox (March 10) and senior Steven Schoonover (April 14) were named Summit League Pitcher of the Week.
League Leaders
Multiple Mavericks lead the Summit League in a variety of categories, with sophomore Cole Gruber first in stolen bases (22) and Clayton Taylor on top with 36 RBI. On the mound, senior Steven Schoonover is first with a 1.42 ERA, while sophomore Tyler Fox has a league-best seven wins for the year. As a team, Omaha's four shutouts also pace its conference peers.
Taylor Among Nation's Slugging Percentage Leaders
Sophomore Clayton Taylor ranks among the top 10 nationally in slugging percentage in the NCAA's most recent statistical release on April 28. The Omaha native was listed at eighth in the country with a .667 slugging clip, which is also first in the conference.
Taylor tops the Mavericks with 36 runs driven in this season, which is first in the Summit League. His 14 doubles, two triples and seven home runs lead the Mavs. He hit two roundtrippers last week, the first against Creighton and the second in Friday's game two against North Dakota State.
In 2013, Taylor was named a Freshman All-American Louisville Slugger/Collegiate Baseball. He finished third in the league with a .352 batting average and added 20 runs scored, eight doubles, 18 RBI and eight stolen bases. His 23 walks drawn were also fifth among conference players.
Double Digits
As a team, Omaha has produced double-digit hits in 18 games this season, including a season high of 23 hits against Chicago State on Feb. 28. UNO is 14-4 when producing 10 or more hits in a game.
On April 12 in a league doubleheader at North Dakota State, the Mavericks posted a combined 24 hits for the day. Ten of those came in a 2-0 win in the first game and 14 were tallied in a 10-0 victory in the second game.
Going the Extra Mile
When registering three or more extra-base hits in a game, UNO has gone 13-6 this season. The Mavericks notched a season-high five doubles as a team in a 12-5 win over Dartmouth on March 18, and it was their highest extra-base hit total since tallying two doubles, two triples and two homers on April 28, 2013 vs. North Dakota State.
Omaha is on pace to surpass last season's team extra-base hit total (103). At 37 games into the 2013 season, the Mavericks had 62 doubles, six triples and seven home runs, while the 2014 squad has come up with 63 doubles, nine triples and 16 homers through April 26.
Home Sweet Home
The 2014 season will see the Omaha baseball team play 20 home contests, including 14 conference tilts. UNO will play at two venues, with 17 games at the Ballpark at Boys Town and a pair of premier games at Werner Park with Kansas State (April 1) and Nebraska (April 30). KSU and NU finished in the top 65 for RPI in 2013, ranking 16th and 64th, respectively.
The Mavericks' home schedule this season has included sweeps of Air Force and South Dakota State and a walkoff win over K-State on April 1. UNO is now 8-6 record at home.
Herold at the Helm
Head Coach Bob Herold is in his 15th year as the skipper of the Omaha baseball program in 2014, having compiled a career record of 468-318-2. Herold earned his 400th career win on April 22, 2011 against Fort Hays State, becoming the third coach in school history to reach the milestone. He joined Bob Gates (464-273) and Virgil Yelkin (439-196) in the prestigious club, and with Omaha's 7-0 shutout at Bradley on April 22, he officially became the winningest coach in UNO history with his 465th victory.
Over his Maverick career, Herold has guided Omaha to seven NCAA Division II postseason appearances and four conference championships. In 2013, he was honored as Summit League Coach of the Year.
Herold's most recent draft pick was right-handed pitcher Joe Holtmeyer, who was taken in the 22nd round (No. 682 overall) of the 2011 Major League Baseball amateur draft by the Boston Red Sox. Holtmeyer was the fifth Maverick drafted under Herold and the second-highest pick of any player during the Herold era.
Herold is assisted by assistant coaches Chris Gadsden, in his 15th year, and Evan Porter, in his second year, as well as volunteer pitching coach Dan McGinn, who is in his 14th year.
Next Up
Omaha returns to action on Friday, May 2, visiting South Dakota State. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. in Brookings, S.D., and links to live stats and audio will be available on OMavs.com.
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