Joplin, Mo. -- Joe Holtmeyer pitched a gem in
the opener and Jen Hanson homered in each game to lead the
Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks to a sweep of the Missouri Southern Lions
Saturday afternoon (Mar. 6) at Joe Becker Stadium.
Holtmeyer entered the game with a 1.86 earned-run-average and
certainly showed why against the Lions.
The Lions got to Holtmeyer in the first inning by stringing
together three hits that led to an early 1-0 lead.
Zach Caldwell singled to lead off the inning, stole second and
crossed the plate following singles by CJ Matthews and Jacob
Taylor.
But that would be it for the Lions as Holtmeyer settled in and
retired the next 16 batters he faced.
The Mavericks took the lead with two runs in the second and then
pulled away on a pair of two-run homers by Hanson and Tyler Lundy
in the fifth that put UNO up by five runs.
Holtmeyer allowed four hits but only one after the first
inning in a seven-inning complete game. He struck out 13 with
no walks.
Carter Lance pitched well early but ran into trouble in the
Mavericks' four-run fifth. Lance surrendered six earned runs
in six innings of work.
Bo Bergen worked a scoreless seventh for the Lions and struck
out one.
The Lions (3-12, 1-7 MIAA) trailed 3-2 in the nightcap but
grabbed the lead with two runs in the bottom of the fifth.
Vince Pironti led off the inning with a walk and Caldwell
doubled him home to tie the score. Caldwell then stole third
and scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch.
The Mavericks (7-1, 5-1 MIAA) though had a big answer with a
seven spot in the seventh inning to take a commanding 10-4 lead.
Hanson started the inning with a homer and the inning also
featured a two-run single by Travis Jacobi. The Lions were
also hurt by two errors in the inning that led to two unearned
runs.
Colby McCord homered to lead off the ninth and Lundy hit a
two-run single as the Mavericks tacked on three more runs.
Tyler Jinks followed starter Garrett Groom for the
Lions and threw two scoreless frames but was charged with
the go-ahead runs in the seventh to take the loss.
Mark Johnson threw 3 1/3 scoreless innings out of the
bullpen to get the win for the Mavericks.
Caldwell scored three runs and swiped three bases in the
doubleheader for the Lions.
The Lions and Mavericks will wrap up the four-game weekend
series with another doubleheader tomorrow (Mar. 7) beginning at
noon.
