By Brian Brashaw
Eight games in four days is a difficult task for someone to ask of any team. But that’s exactly what the UNO baseball team went through from Saturday until Tuesday. The good news is that the Mavericks won seven of those eight games, including two doubleheader sweeps Monday and Tuesday. UNO defeated Washburn University 6-5 and 20-4 and kept up the winning ways with a 14-8, 11-9 North Central Conference sweep of Augustana College.
Game One, Monday
UNO 6, Washburn 5
UNO started out well in the game, scoring five runs in the first two innings. Dan Persons belted a two-run homerun in the bottom of the second to give UNO the 5-0 lead.
Washburn, however, stormed back. Washburn scored one run in the third and three in the fourth to pull within a run. Eric Shoultz led off the fourth inning with a homerun. Washburn tied the game temporarily with a run in the top of the sixth.
Patrick Johnston would spoil Washburn’s comeback attempt with an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth inning, which proved the game-winning run.
Game Two Monday
UNO 20 Washburn 4
Two season-highs were achieved in game two Monday. The Mavericks’ 20 runs tied a season high, and the five homeruns set a new high. Five different Mavericks went yard on the way to a severe pounding of Washburn.
UNO was spurned on by a nine-run second inning.
Johnston went 3 for 4 with two runs and three RBI, including one of the five homers. Washburn never stood a chance. Starting pitcher Dave Shirley and reliever Paul gave up a total of 19 runs in less than four innings of work.
Game One Tuesday
UNO 14, Augustana 8
UNO continued its offensive assault by boasting 14 runs in game one Tuesday. Maverick sluggers torched the Augustana starter for seven runs in the second inning. Justin Cook and Spencer Doyle both homered and Matt Haynes hit a two-RBI triple.
The offensive onslaught continued into the fourth and fifth innings, where UNO crossed their other seven runs. This two-inning tear was highlighted by Cook’s grand slam.
Game Two Tuesday
UNO 11, Augustana 9
For the third straight game, the Maverick offense generated a double-digit run total. The Mavericks’ 11 runs in game two gave them a total of 51 runs in four games. Again, the Mavericks started out hot at the plate, scoring six runs in the first inning.
Jake Wurth had a standout day at the plate, swinging 2 for 3 with two runs and three RBI.
Augustana fought back with three runs in both the fifth and sixth innings, but UNO’s lead was too large by then.
The Mavericks are now 22-11 on the season and will play another doubleheader against Minnesota State on April 20.
