TULSA, Okla. – Fourth-seeded Omaha used a six-run second inning and a strong pitching performance by Summit League Newcomer of the Year Caleb Riedel to beat top-seeded North Dakota State, 10-2, in the opening game of the 2022 #SummitBSB Championship.
Riedel (4-2) went a season-high eight innings, surrendering two earned runs on five hits to NDSU (30-18), while striking out seven to earn his fourth win of the campaign. Offensively, Noah Greise and Eduardo Rosario each had two base knocks to lead a nine-hit attack by the Mavericks (25-29), who also drew 10 walks, which all came in the first four innings of the contest.
Omaha drew half of thosae walks came in the second inning off NDSU starter Max Loven (7-5) to help push six runs across. The Mavericks scored their first two runs of the frame without the benefit of a hit as an RBI-groundout by Grant Goldston plated the first tally and a bases-loaded walk by Harrison Denk made it a 2-0 score.
The first hit came off the bat of Greise, who was the seventh batter of the inning. He laced a two-out, two-run single through the left side to double Omaha's lead. After another walk by Loven reloaded the bases, Rosario chased the Bison lefthander from the contest with another two-out, two-run single through the left side that capped the six-run outburst for Omaha. Loven (7-5) took the loss after allowing six earned runs on five walks and two hits over 1.2 innings.
The Mavericks packed the bases by taking three more walks in the fourth and two of those runners came around to score when Jack Lombardi's flare to right field fell went for a double after Bison outfielder Jack Simonsen lost his footing.
NDSU's Druw Sackett and Charley Hesse combined for the four of the five hits Riedel surrendered. Both players had two a piece with Hesse's seventh-inning solo homer accounting for the Bison's first run of the contest.
Greise provided the run right back for Omaha in the eighth with a solo shot of his own to make it a 9-1 contest and match his season-high with his third RBI of the game.
Bison shortstop Peter Brookshaw made it a 9-2 contest in the eighth with a RBI-double to the rightfield gap, but Omaha got that run back in the top of the ninth compliments of a successful double steal where Devin Hurdle stole home.
Pitcher of Record
Win – Caleb Riedel (4-2): 8.0 IP, 5 hit, 2 earned runs, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts
Loss – Max Loven (7-5): 1.2 IP, 2 hits, 6 earned runs, 5 walks, 2 strikeouts
Notable Notes
• The last time the No. 4 seed beat the No. 1 seed in the opening round was in 2014 when North Dakota State defeated South Dakota State, 4-3, in Sioux Falls.
• The Bison are the top seed in the Summit League Tournament for the first time in program history after winning their first regular season title in 2022.
• Omaha designated hitter Noah Greise went 2-for-4 at the plate, registering his eighth multi-hit game of the season, and matched his season-high in RBI with three. His eighth-inning sole home run was his fourth of the season.
• The Mavericks have now won four of their last five tournament games at J.L. Johnson Stadium after winning the 2019 title the last time the event was played in Tulsa.
• Omaha's Mike Boeve saw his 29-game hitting streak come to a close after going 0-for-4 with a walk.
Up Next
Omaha will play the winner of the contest between No. 2 seed Oral Roberts and No. 3 seed South Dakota State at 6:05 p.m. CT on Friday. NDSU will play the loser of that contest earlier in the day with first pitch of that game slated for 12:05 p.m. CT.
#SummitBSB
