COLLEGE BASEBALL: Oakland sweeps double-header from Nebraska-Omaha
ROCHESTER HILLS — Jeff Gorecki pitched a complete-game win in the opener and a late rally in game two to help Oakland University earn a double-header sweep of visiting Nebraska-Omaha.
Oakland won the opener 4-1 and came back to earn a 4-3 win in the nightcap at the OU Baseball Field..
The Golden Grizzlies’ pitching staff allowed just two earned runs all day and did not surrender a walk over 18 innings.
“It’s very tough to win both games of a doubleheader and we’re fortunate to come away with two wins today against a talented team,” said Oakland head coach John Musachio. “Jeff Gorecki really pitched well for us in the opener and our guys showed a will to win and never gave up in game two.”
In the opener, Gorecki (3-5) recorded eight strikeouts and did not walk a batter over nine innings to win in the opener. He managed to scatter seven hits and allowed just one run in his only complete game of the season.
Oakland (13-25) struck early, by scoring two runs on three hits in the first inning. Mike Carson’s single up the middle scored Tim Ryan for the first run of the game. Later with the bases loaded, John Estes scored the game-winning run on a play where UNO turned a double play.
After some first-inning struggles, Nebraska-Omaha starter Andrew Reck (1-5) settled down to hold Oakland batters hitless over the next five innings. Kyle Bobolts broke through in the seventh with a leadoff single and came around to score on Ryan’s RBI-single.
Brady Hohl drove in the Mavs’ only run with a sacrifice fly in the eighth. OU responded in the bottom of the frame with a single from Ian Yetsko that drove in Aaron Cieslak for a key insurance run.
Both teams finished with seven hits each. Ryan was 2-for-4 to lead OU and extended his eight-game hitting streak. Jeff McNichols was 2-for-3 to lead UNO.
In Game 2, Robby Enslen hit a sacrifice fly to drive in the game-winning run, as the Golden Grizzlies rallied for three runs in the seventh inning to complete the come-from-behind win, 4-3 in the nightcap.
Trent Drumheller started the OU rally with a leadoff walk. He came around to score when Estes drove a ball through a drawn in UNO infield. Cieslak singled up the middle to bring in another run, which tied the game. That set up Enslen, who put OU ahead with a sacrifice fly that plated Estes.
Cieslak scored Oakland’s first run in the sixth inning. After being hit by a pitch, he eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by pinch hitter Spencer Marentette. Oakland was outhit 12-4, but took advantage of six walks, a hit batter and two errors.
The Mavericks did not have a hit in the first three innings, but erupted for three runs on four hits in the fourth. UNO also benefited from of a pair of Oakland miscues in the inning. The damage could have been worse if Yetsko had not reacted quickly to an errant throw and managed to throw out a runner that was trying to score on the play.
Reliever Kevin Korkate (1-1) pitched a scoreless seventh inning and earned the win, while Russell Luxton (six innings) came on to earn his team-leading sixth save of the season. Starter Jason Hager allowed just one earned run and struck out seven batters over six innings of work.
For UNO, reliever Derek Landis (1-3) took the loss. Starter Matt Tew threw six innings and allowed just one earned run while posting nine strikeouts. McNichols went 2-for-3 in game two and was one of three Omaha players with two hits.
“We were a bit fortunate to win the second game,” said Musachio. “I think it’s a credit to the way this team doesn’t give up and never stops believing in each other. I expect our team to come out and play with focus and enthusiasm tomorrow.”
The Golden Grizzlies and Mavericks will wrap up the three-game series on Sunday with a game starting at 1 p.m.
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