Jackrabbits jump on Omaha, 12-2

Sunday, April 19

Erv Huether Field

1:00 PM

South Dakota State University

24-14, 11-7

Omaha

17-19, 10-8

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Omaha	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	2	8	2
South Dakota State	5	4	0	0	0	0	3	12	14	2

4/19/2015 4:59:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: SDSU Sports Info

Matt Johnson provided the offense with a career-high five runs batted in and Ryan Froom pitched a complete game to lead South Dakota State to a 12-2 Summit League baseball series-clinching victory over Omaha Sunday afternoon at Erv Huether Field. The game was called after seven innings due to the 10-run rule.

With their ninth win in 10 games, the Jackrabbits improved to 24-14 overall and regained sole possession of second place in the league standings with a 11-7 mark. Omaha dropped to 17-19 overall, 10-8 in The Summit League.

As they did throughout the series, SDSU jumped on Omaha pitching in the early innings, racing out to a 9-0 lead in the first two frames. The Jackrabbits struck for five runs in the bottom of the first, starting with an RBI single by Reid Clary. Johnson followed with a three-run homer to right off Maverick starter Shane Meltz, with the final run of the inning scoring on a double steal.

The Jackrabbit lead ballooned to 9-0 in the second as Clary doubled down the left-field line and Johnson doubled down the right-field line to score two more. Newt Johnson drove in Matt Johnson with a sharp single off the shortstop to account for the final run of the inning.

Meanwhile, Froom retired the first eight Maverick hitters he faced and carried a shutout in the sixth inning before Clayton Taylor launched a two-run homer to right for the only Omaha runs of the day. Froom struck out four, did not walk a batter and scattered eight hits.

Maverick reliever Tyler Hamer pitched four scoreless innings, but the Jackrabbits ended the game early with a three-run bottom of the seventh. Al Robbins and Eric Danforth singled and each moved up a base before Zach Coppola lined a single to center field. Both runners scored and Coppola came all the way around to score as the ball was misplayed in the outfield for a three-base error.

Johnson and Clary were each 3-for-4 to lead the Jackrabbits' 14-hit attack. Clary also threw three Omaha runners out on the basepaths in Sunday's game. Luke Ringhofer and Cody Sharrow each tallied two hits.

SDSU is back in action Wednesday at Minnesota. Game time is set for 6 p.m. at Siebert Field.

NOTES: The Jackrabbits improved to 12-3 at home this season … Omaha won the season series, 4-2 … Johnson's five RBI were the most in a game by a Jackrabbit player since Aaron Machbitz drove in five against Jackson State (Miss.) on Feb. 15, 2014 … Clary extended his hitting streak to a team-best seven games … Coppola has reached base safely in 32 consecutive games and also stole his 30^th base of the season … Danforth extended his streak of games reaching base safely to 26 … Froom lowered his earned run average to 2.95 … SDSU outscored Omaha 8-0 in the first inning during the three-game series

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 12, OMAHA 2 (7 inn.)
UNO 000 002 0 2-8-2
SDSU 540 000 3 12-14-2
UNO: Shane Meltz, Tyler Hamer (3), Marcus Ethen (7) and Collin Leif. SDSU: Ryan Froom and Reid Clary.
W-Froom (4-2). L-Meltz (2-3). Save-none.
HR: UNO-Clayton Taylor (5); SDSU-Matt Johnson (4).