Omaha, NE, 2/26/2022 – The Blue Jays came into game two of their four game series with the Nebraska Wesleyan University Prairie Wolves looking to bounce back from a rough game one loss. The Blue Jays turned to sophomore right hander Trent Morrow (Russelville, Mo. / Russellville) to help turn the tide. Morrow worked seven strong innings giving up four runs on seven hits. He struck out three and walked one. He left trailing 4-3 but the Jays tied it in the eighth inning 4-4 before suffering their second heartbreaking walk off loss of the young season losing 5-4. The loss dropped the Blue Jays to 0-6 on the young season.
The Blue Jays would jump on top again in the top of the first inning. Parker Schnieders (Jefferson City, Mo. / Helias) walked with one out. Derek Shikles (New Bloomfield, MO / New Bloomfield) would single with two outs sending Schnieders to third base. The Wolves left fielder would make a throwing error trying to get Schnieders at third base allowing him to score and Shikles to take second base. Freshman Zach Wolken (Jefferson City, MO / Helias) would drive an RBI single up the middle to score Shikles. It was Wolken's first college hit and first RBI. The Blue Jays led 2-0 early.
The Wolves would score one in the bottom of the first and two in the bottom of the second to take a 3-2 lead. The Blue Jays would respond in the top of the third. Shikles would double to right with two outs. Wolken would drive him in again with a single, this time to right field, to tie the game 3-3.
The Prairie Wolves would take the lead again with one run in the bottom of the fifth. The Jays would tie the game in the top of the eighth. Schnieders hit his third double of the day with one out. Steven Diaz (Highland, IL / Highland) walked. Wolken strolled to the plate with two on and two out and came through again with an RBI single to drive in Schnieders and tie the game 4-4.
Sophomore Corbin Harrison (Eldon, MO / Eldon) came on in relief in the bottom of the eighth and put up a scoreless frame. The Blue Jays failed to score in the top half of the ninth after putting runners on second and third with two outs. That set the stage for heartbreak in the bottom half of the inning. Harrison was one out away from getting the Jays to extra innings but with two out and runners at second and thid the Wolves came through with a game winning single down the left field line to end the game 5-4.
Wolken made the most of his first career start going 3-4 with three RBI's on the day. Shikles went 2-4 with a run scored and an RBI. The Blue Jays will look to bounce back in games three and four on Sunday. First pitch for game three is set for 12:00 p.m.
