OMAHA, NE –
Travis Stevens pitched a season-best seven innings and reached base four times over two games in the University of Mary conference season opener. In a pair of games moved to Omaha, NE, from Wayne, NE, due to weather field conditions, the Wayne State College Wildcats swept the Marauders 8-0 and 6-5.
UPDATE: Sunday's games will also be played in Omaha at Milliard North High School (1010 S 144th St., Omaha NE 68154). First pitch of the twin bill is set for 1 pm. The decision to remain at the Omaha site was made following the conclusion of Saturday's games.
A junior, Stevens 2-for-5 with a run scored and reached base once on a walk and once when he was hit by a pitch. The starting pitcher in the second game, the righthanded went seven innings for the Marauders, a season-high for the team. He allowed five earned runs on nine hits and two walks. Stevens also fanned two as he limited the Wildcats to one run in his final four innings of the game.
In the opener,
Jake Johnson started strong for the Marauders, allowing two runs in the first four innings. A two-run home run by Andrew Hanson keyed a four-run fifth inning for the Wildcats to put the game out of reach at 6-0. WSC added a pair of unearned runs in the sixth to close out the scoring.
Darius Barlas was 2-for-3 in the game to pace the UMary offense in the opening game.
Four Wildcats had two hits each for Wayne State, including Hanson. The second baseman finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBIs.
Aiden Breedlove earned the win, allowing five hits and a walk while striking out five in the 7-inning complete game.
A pair of early multi-run innings by the Wildcats forced the Marauders to fight from behind in game two. Travis Miller had a two-run double in the first and Rob Ramsey double home a pair of runs in the third as Wayne State grabbed a 5-0 advantage.
The Marauders fought back with three runs in the fourth to pull within 5-3 behind a two-run single by
Chris Scott and a run-scoring single by
Daulton Sauce. A
Jesus Payan single scored
Nick McCann in the fifth to close the gap to 5-4.
After Wayne State scored a single run in the home half of the fifth, UMary scored a run in a third straight inning. Darlas, who doubled to lead off the inning, scored on a McCann fly ball to closed within 6-5.
Relievers Isaac Rubendall and Lawson Zenner then took control of the game. Over the last three innings, the Marauders managed just one baserunner. Stevens, who singled in the seventh, was eliminated on a double play.
Jaxon Ford, Payan and Scott all had two hits for the Marauders, who outhit the Wildcats 11-9.
Working one inning of relief,
Charles Bielejeski pitched a perfect eighth inning, striking out two.
Davis Janes posted three hits and two runs for WSC. Miller drove in three runs.
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