UNO Wins Central Regional; Advances to DII World Series
Nebraska-Omaha became the first NCC team since North Dakota in 1993 to win their baseball region and advance to the NCAA Division II World Series. UNO downed Central Missouri 9-4 on Sunday to win the region crown.
The University of Nebraska at Omaha got two long balls from Evan
Porter and a clutch pitching performance from Brandon Dahl,
defeating Central Missouri, 9-4, to win the NCAA Division II
Central Regional Championship Sunday afternoon at Crane
Stadium.
UNO (36-22) swept through regional play, going a perfect 4-0,
defeating the three highest-seeded teams in the tournament. The
Mavericks advance to the NCAA Division II World Series in
Montgomery, Ala. for the first time in school history.
Porter got the Mavericks off to a quick start, blasting the first
pitch he saw from UCM starter Seth Gilleland (11-2) over the left
field fence for a two-run homer. He followed that with a grand slam
in the second to give the Mavs an early 7-1 advantage.
The Mules (51-13) rallied for three runs in the bottom of the
fourth off UNO starter Ryan Lafountain. Dahl entered the game,
going four and two-thirds innings, giving up just four hits and
striking out three to earn the win, improving to 4-0.
Dahl found himself in a jam in the eighth, as three Mules hit
consecutive two-out singles to load the bases. Shawn Smith came on
and induced a pop-up to end the inning, then struck out the side in
the ninth to earn his eighth save of the year.
Porter earned Tournament MVP honors, going 8-for-17 with two home
runs and seven RBIs. Other Mavericks making the All-Tournament team
were catcher Brian Goliber (8-for-16, four RBIs), second baseman
Alex Kotera (11-for-17, four runs, two RBIs), outfielders Chris
Weimer (7-for-17, HR, seven RBIs) and Matt Eikmeier (5-for-16), and
pitcher Tim Huber who threw seven and one-third shutout innings in
the opening game.
The Division II World Series begins Friday at Riverwalk Stadium.
-- Courtesy gomavs.unomaha.edu