Jackrabbit rally falls short

Saturday, March 14

Omaha, Neb. [Ballpark at Boys Town]

1:00 PM

South Dakota State University

7-8, 0

Omaha

9-8, 0

South Dakota State

Omaha

3/14/2015 6:50:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: SDSU Sports Info

OMAHA, Neb. – South Dakota State battled back from a six-run deficit to tie the game, but Omaha pushed across an unearned run in the bottom of the ninth inning to defeat the Jackrabbits, 7-6, in Summit League baseball action Saturday afternoon at The Ballpark at Boys Town.

Omaha improved to 9-8 overall and 2-0 in league play, while SDSU dropped to 7-8 overall, 0-2 in The Summit League. The two squads will conclude their three-game series Sunday afternoon.

Trailing 6-0, the Jackrabbits began their comeback with a four-run seventh inning. Freshman Tony Kjolsing doubled in the first two runs of the inning, scoring Eric Danforth and Paul Jacobson. Matt Johnson followed with a run-scoring single and Reid Clary added a sacrifice fly to make the score 6-4.

SDSU tied the game in the top of the ninth and appeared on the verge of taking the lead as the first five batters of the inning all reached against Omaha reliever Gregg Gausden. Johnson, Clary and Luke Ringhofer hit successive singles to open the inning and load the bases. Al Robbins was hit by a pitch to score one run and pinch-hitter Jesse Munsterman plated Clary with the tying run with a run-scoring single. Danforth stepped to the plate and hit a fly ball to left field, but Ringhofer was thrown out at home in an attempt to give the Jackrabbits their first lead of the game. Jacobson then flew out to end the inning.

Omaha's game-winning rally in the home half of the ninth began with Ryan Cate was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Cate later moved to second and third on two-out walks to Collin Leif and Justin Threlkeld. Cate scored the winning run when Alex Schultz's ground ball to third base resulted in the third Jackrabbit error of the game.

The Mavericks took a 2-0 lead against Jackrabbit starter Chris Anderson in the first inning on an RBI double by Alex Mortensen and run-scoring single by Cate. UNO tallied four runs in the sixth inning, highlighted by a two-run double by Cate.

SDSU lost despite a 15-9 advantage in hits. Jacobson and Ringhofer each tallied three hits, while Johnson and Clary each collected a pair of hits. Eight of the nine Jackrabbit starters notched at least one hit in the game.

Cate, Schultz and Threlkeld each had two hits for Omaha. Both teams stranded 13 runners in the game.

Anderson worked around six walks and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings for the Jackrabbits as he did not factor into the decision. The senior left-hander struck out four. Talon Jumper took the loss despite striking out four batters over the final 2 2/3 innings.

Omaha starter Zach Williamsen did not allow a run over six innings, striking out three and walking two. Gausden was credited with the win in relief.

OMAHA 7, SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 6
SDSU 000 000 402 6-15-3
UNO 200 004 001 7-9-0
SDSU: Chris Anderson, Joe Erickson (6), Talon Jumper (7) and Reid Clary. UNO: Zach Williamsen, Mitch Larson (7), Brett Sasse (7), Gregg Gausden (9) and Adam Caniglia, Collin Leif.
W-Gausden (2-2). L-Jumper (0-1). Save-none.
HR: none.