Friday, May 3
Fargo, N.D.
6:30 p.m.
Omaha
at
North Dakota State
Photo by: Mark Kuhlmann
Maverick Baseball Gears Up For Three-Game Stretch at NDSU
May 2, 2019 | Baseball
OMAHA, Neb. – The Maverick baseball program hits the road for its first three of seven-straight road games over the next week. Omaha squares off against North Dakota State in Fargo, N.D. this Friday, May 3, through Sunday, May 5.
Links to live stats, viewing and audio can be accessed on OMavs.com.
LEADING OFF
• Omaha baseball team enters the week with a four-game lead of first place in The Summit League standings.
• As a team, Omaha is tied for the nation's lead in fielding percentage at .983.
• Starting weekend pitcher Payton Kinney recently earned his first loss of the season against South Dakota State.
• The senior is now 8-1 and posts a 1.46 ERA that ranks 10th in the nation.
• Fellow weekend starter Spencer Koelewyn is the nation's leader in fewest hits allowed per nine innings at 4.27.
• The sophomore lefty also ranks 16th nationally and posts a Summit League-best 13.01 strikeouts per nine innings. • In relief, Cal Hehnke has a Summit League-best six saves thus far. He also has a 2-1 record this year.
• Parker Smejkal is the league's leader in batting average at .360 and his .519 on-base percentage is fifth amongst all of Division I.
• Catcher Brett Bonar recently blasted his fourth home run of the season against Creighton. The junior transfer also leads the league with six sacrifice flies this season.
• Omaha and North Dakota State faced off in The Summit League season-opening series back on March 16-17. The game was played at Millard North High School due to weather.
• Omaha swept the series, starting with a 7-6 series-opening win in 13 innings, followed by 3-0 and 4-1 wins in the Saturday doubleheader.
• Omaha's recent loss to Creighton marked the first time this season that the team has lost three games in a row. The Mavericks look to erase that skid this weened.
• The Mavericks are the league's leader with 29 sacrifice bunts so far this season.
• Third baseman Breyden Eckhout has a team-high eight sacrifice bunts in his debut season, which also leads The Summit League and ranks 37th in the nation.
• The junior transfer from Iowa Western Community College is also the only player on the Maverick roster to earn Summit League Player of the Week honors this season.
WEEKEND ROTATION
OMAHA
Friday, May 3 – Payton Kinney – RHP
Saturday, May 4 – TBA
Sunday, May 5 – Spencer Koelewyn – LHP
NDSU
Friday, May 3 – Zach Smith – RHP
Saturday, May 4 – Max Loven - LHP
Sunday, May 5 – Ben Smith – RHP
SCOUTING THE BISON
The Bison enter the weekend tied for fourth place in the league standings following a series win over Western Illinois. Omaha and NDSU squared off earlier this season, with UNO sweeping the three-game series. The Mavericks own a 39-37 advantage in the all-time series history. North Dakota State's 1.24 stolen bases per game lead the conference. Saturday starter Max Loven has a league-best 7.00 strikeout-to-walk ratio this season, and his 1.10 walks allowed per nine innings are the league's best. They are led by head coach Tod Brown who is 285-318 in his 13th season at the helm of the program.
LOOKING AHEAD
Omaha stays on the road against Minnesota May 8, followed by a three-game stint at Western Illinois May 10-12.
Links to live stats, viewing and audio can be accessed on OMavs.com.
LEADING OFF
• Omaha baseball team enters the week with a four-game lead of first place in The Summit League standings.
• As a team, Omaha is tied for the nation's lead in fielding percentage at .983.
• Starting weekend pitcher Payton Kinney recently earned his first loss of the season against South Dakota State.
• The senior is now 8-1 and posts a 1.46 ERA that ranks 10th in the nation.
• Fellow weekend starter Spencer Koelewyn is the nation's leader in fewest hits allowed per nine innings at 4.27.
• The sophomore lefty also ranks 16th nationally and posts a Summit League-best 13.01 strikeouts per nine innings. • In relief, Cal Hehnke has a Summit League-best six saves thus far. He also has a 2-1 record this year.
• Parker Smejkal is the league's leader in batting average at .360 and his .519 on-base percentage is fifth amongst all of Division I.
• Catcher Brett Bonar recently blasted his fourth home run of the season against Creighton. The junior transfer also leads the league with six sacrifice flies this season.
• Omaha and North Dakota State faced off in The Summit League season-opening series back on March 16-17. The game was played at Millard North High School due to weather.
• Omaha swept the series, starting with a 7-6 series-opening win in 13 innings, followed by 3-0 and 4-1 wins in the Saturday doubleheader.
• Omaha's recent loss to Creighton marked the first time this season that the team has lost three games in a row. The Mavericks look to erase that skid this weened.
• The Mavericks are the league's leader with 29 sacrifice bunts so far this season.
• Third baseman Breyden Eckhout has a team-high eight sacrifice bunts in his debut season, which also leads The Summit League and ranks 37th in the nation.
• The junior transfer from Iowa Western Community College is also the only player on the Maverick roster to earn Summit League Player of the Week honors this season.
WEEKEND ROTATION
OMAHA
Friday, May 3 – Payton Kinney – RHP
Saturday, May 4 – TBA
Sunday, May 5 – Spencer Koelewyn – LHP
NDSU
Friday, May 3 – Zach Smith – RHP
Saturday, May 4 – Max Loven - LHP
Sunday, May 5 – Ben Smith – RHP
SCOUTING THE BISON
The Bison enter the weekend tied for fourth place in the league standings following a series win over Western Illinois. Omaha and NDSU squared off earlier this season, with UNO sweeping the three-game series. The Mavericks own a 39-37 advantage in the all-time series history. North Dakota State's 1.24 stolen bases per game lead the conference. Saturday starter Max Loven has a league-best 7.00 strikeout-to-walk ratio this season, and his 1.10 walks allowed per nine innings are the league's best. They are led by head coach Tod Brown who is 285-318 in his 13th season at the helm of the program.
LOOKING AHEAD
Omaha stays on the road against Minnesota May 8, followed by a three-game stint at Western Illinois May 10-12.
Players Mentioned
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