Omaha doubles up Jacks, 14-7

Sunday, March 15

Omaha, Neb. [Ballpark at Boys Town]

1:00 PM

South Dakota State University

7-9, 0

Omaha

10-8, 0

South Dakota State

Omaha

3/15/2015 7:39:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: SDSU Sports Info

OMAHA, Neb. – Clayton Taylor went 3-for-4 with four runs batted in and three runs scored, and Justin Threlkeld added three hits and two RBI to lead Omaha to a 14-7 victory over South Dakota State in their Summit League baseball series finale Sunday afternoon at The Ballpark at Boys Town.

In completing a series sweep, the Mavericks improved to 10-8 overall and 3-0 in league play. SDSU dropped to 7-9 overall, 0-3 in league play.

As they did throughout the series, the Mavericks jumped out to an early lead. Omaha scored four times in the bottom of the first inning, highlighted by a run-scoring single by Alex Mortensen and RBI double by Threlkeld.

SDSU cut into the deficit with a run in the top of the third inning. Freshman shortstop Anthony Schneider tripled to right field to lead off the frame and scored on a groundout by Paul Jacobson.

Taylor doubled in a run in the fourth and later scored on a base hit by Ryan Cate to push the Omaha lead to 6-1.

The Jackrabbits responded with a three-run fifth inning. Schneider opened the frame by being hit by a pitch and scored on Eric Danforth's opposite-field double. Matt Johnson doubled in the final two runs of the inning, scoring Danforth and Zach Coppola.

Omaha ended any hopes of a Jackrabbit comeback by scoring eighth times in the bottom of the fifth. Taylor cleared the bases with a triple down the right-field line to score the first three runs, followed by a Threlkeld RBI single. Cole Patterson completed the rally with a three-run home run off Jackrabbit reliever Andrew Clemen.

Jacobson drove in his second run of the game for SDSU in the sixth inning, and the Jackrabbits added two unearned runs in the ninth for the final margin.

SDSU starter Chad Hodges lasted only 3 2/3 innings in taking the loss. The senior right-hander surrendered 10 hits, walking one and striking out three. Marcus Heemstra pitched two innings of scoreless relief and all three outs J.D. Moore recorded came via the strikeout.

Shane Meltz was credited with the win after taking over for Omaha starter Tyler Hamer in the fifth inning. Meltz struck out one and walked one in 2 1/3 innings.

Omaha finished with a 19-6 advantage in hits. No Jackrabbit player recorded more than out hit, although Schneider scored three runs.

The Jackrabbits return to Omaha on Tuesday for a non-conference game at Creighton. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at TD Ameritrade Park.

OMAHA 14, SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 7
SDSU 001 032 001 7-6-4
UNO 400 280 00x 14-19-3
SDSU: Chad Hodges, Eldon Evans (4), Andrew Clemen (5), Marcus Heemstra (6), J.D. Moore (8) and Reid Clary. UNO: Tyler Hamer, Shane Meltz (5), Pete Macke (8), Robert Calvano (9) and Collin Leif, Jake Cockle.
W-Meltz (1-2). L-Hodges (1-1). Save-none.
HR: UNO-Cole Patterson (1).