2020 Omaha Baseball - Year In Review
3/25/2020
PRESENTED BY
Starting Off Hot
Omaha Baseball rocketed to a 10-4 record for its best start in the Division I era prior to the season coming to an abrupt close. The Mavericks saw three players earn Summit League weekly honors and sat atop the league standings through 14 games. They also closed the season on a six-game winning streak.
Opening Weekend Statement
The Mavericks opened the season with a 2-1 series win over Big Ten opponent Northwestern, Feb. 14-16 at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix, Ariz. Omaha took the first two matchups of the three-game slate and earned its second-straight series win over the Wildcats since 2018.
Koelewyn and Krumwiede Continue Dominance
After the second weekend of play, the Mavericks saw the duo of shortstop Keil Krumwiede and southpaw hurler Spencer Koelewyn sweep Summit League Player and Pitcher of the Week honors after the Mavericks went 3-1 against Northern Illinois and Chicago State in Marion, Ill.
- Koelewyn pitched 6.0 scoreless innings with just two hits allowed against NIU. The junior also fanned a career-high 10 batters and improved to a perfect 2-0 on the bump. He held opponents to just a .105 batting average.
- In the same game, Krumwiede batted .455 with five hits, seven RBI, two doubles and two home runs. The senior had a 1.182 slugging percentage and a .611 on-base percentage. He also was credited with a relief appearance on the mound (0.2 IP).
- Krumwiede also went on to become the 34th ranked hitter in the nation in D1 Baseball's "Top 50 Senior Hitters" list.
After a dominating performance last Saturday against Northern Illinois, Spencer Koelewyn is YOUR Summit League Pitcher of the Week!#EveryoneForOmaha | #OmahaBSB pic.twitter.com/JLlomG9y6V
— Omaha Baseball (@OmahaBSB) March 2, 2020
Make that a sweep for weekly honors!
— Omaha Baseball (@OmahaBSB) March 2, 2020
Keil Krumwiede hit two home runs last weekend as he garnered his first-career Summit League Player of the Week honor! #EveryoneForOmaha | #OmahaBSB pic.twitter.com/dPp5nX1Gr4
Omaha Continues Streak In Sweep Over Portland
Omaha capped its home-opening performance with a doubleheader sweep of Portland March 6 at Seymour Smith Park. The Mavericks improved to 9-4 on the season with the sweep over the Pilots, who entered the weekend at 11-1. In the first game, Omaha edged the Pilots 1-0 behind the pitching performances of Joey Machado, Tanner Howe and Jacob Mohler - who earned his fifth save of the season. In game two, Omaha overcame a four-run deficit in the fifth and rallied to win 7-5.
Holetz Anchors Omaha To Huge Win Over Creighton
Behind the 6.0 scoreless innings and a career-high nine strikeouts from sophomore Richie Holetz, Omaha ran past Creighton for an 8-1 victory on March 7.
• The victory was the first over the Bluejays since April 22, 2014 (also at TD Ameritrade Park).
• Head coach Evan Porter picked up his first career win over Creighton.
• Omaha's seven-run win was the team's largest margin of victory over the Bluejays since April 27, 1993 (won 14-6).
For his performances, Holetz also garnered Summit League Pitcher of the Week honors on March 9.
After a career-high nine strikeouts in the win over Creighton on Saturday, Richie Holetz is YOUR Summit League Pitcher of the Week!
— Omaha Baseball (@OmahaBSB) March 9, 2020
??: https://t.co/3BOiJTILwP#EveryoneForOmaha | #OmahaBSB pic.twitter.com/DQNL3JTq9c
How 'bout those MAVERICKS ??
— Omaha Baseball (@OmahaBSB) March 8, 2020
Omaha continues its hot streak and tops Creighton at TD Ameritrade Park! #EveryoneForOmaha | #OmahaBSB pic.twitter.com/nk1jFhibtM
Bonar Joins Elite Company Behind the Dish
The Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission released the official watch list for the 2020 Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year on March 11, with senior Brett Bonar one of 60 players included. Bonar earned All-Summit Second Team honors as a junior last season and had 10 RBI, six doubles and scored six runs through 14 games in 2020.
"Brett has been a program changer for us. His leadership and work ethic have been an integral part of the successful player he's become. He's a plus defender and handles our staff with an advanced professionalism. He hits for power and average and works all parts of the field."Head Coach Evan Porter
Sure-Handed Mavericks
Defensively, Omaha continued where it left off from last season and saw several new and repeated milestones repeated in the 2020 campaign.
- In 2019, The Summit League Champion Mavericks finished with the nation's highest fielding percentage at .984.
- For 2020, Omaha was able to repeat that feat and finish first in the country with a .990 fielding percentage.
- Omaha's six errors were the fewest in the country.
- The Mavericks' 0.4 errors per game in 2020 tied with five other Division I teams for the best in the nation.
- Jacob Mohler led The Summit League and ranked 12th nationally with five saves.
