Mavericks Take Two from IPFW

Friday, April 5

Omaha, Neb.

2:00 p.m.

Purdue Fort Wayne

11-12, 0

Omaha

7-14, 0

IPFW

Omaha

Photo by: Lucas Carter

4/5/2013 7:53:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Game One Box Score

Game Two Box Score

OMAHA, Neb. – The IPFW baseball team lost 6-3 and 2-0 at Omaha on Friday afternoon taking their overall record to 11-13. The Mastodons played a seven inning game to start the series, followed by a full nine inning contest in the nightcap.

Tyler Shepherd went 3-for-4 with two RBI's in game one and Kevin Wirth made an impact with his first home run of the season. The Mastodons limited Omaha to just four hits in game two, but a two-run fourth inning gave the Mavericks a sweep as IPFW was unable to get on the scoreboard.

The Mavericks scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning to grab an early lead in game one. Mortensen doubled to left center to get things going, but it was a three RBI home run from Messinger that did the most damage.

Jason Kalber got off to a rough start on the mound for IPFW, but he was able to find his groove soon after as he held Omaha scoreless until the sixth. The south paw gave up nine hits which turned into six earned runs. He struck out five and walked one.

The Mastodons scored their first run of the game in the top of the fifth as Kevin Wirth led off the inning with a home run. Tyler Shepherd tried to extend the inning by stealing second base after registering a single at the plate, but Fox shut down the opportunity for Omaha by striking out back-to-back Mastodons to end the inning.

IPFW scored two more runs in the top of the sixth to cut the lead to 4-3, but Omaha answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning to hold off the charge.

Clay Hathaway and Brandon Soat each singled early in the sixth and both runners were moved into scoring position after Caleb Fenimore drew a walk. Shepherd recorded both of his RBI's with one swing of the bat as both runners scored on his single to right field.

The Mastodon comeback fell short as Messinger came up huge once again with his second home run of the game in the bottom of the inning.

Hathaway and Wirth each went 2-for-4 in game two. Wirth's first hit of the game advanced a runner to third base in the bottom of the second inning. Head Coach Bobby Pierce called for a bunt with two outs in the inning, but the strategy didn't pay off as the Maverick third baseman made a clean play to throw Soat out at the plate.

The 'Dons dodged a bullet in the bottom of the third as a ground double play got Weaver out of trouble. The Mavericks went back to work in the fourth to record two runs. Each RBI single went back up the middle of the field.

IPFW threatened in the fifth, sixth and eighth but the Maverick bullpen held on for Omaha to record the 2-0 win. Chuck Weaver was on the hill for the Mastodons in game two. Weaver threw 4.1 innings and recorded three strikeouts. Location was a problem for Weaver on Friday as he exited the game with seven walks. Travis Reboulet came in for the final 3.2 innings. He limited Omaha to just one hit while striking out one.

The Mastodons will return to action on Sunday, April 7 with a doubleheader at Western Illinois.

~ Feel the Rumble ~