UNO 5, Washburn 1
UNO 6, Washburn 1
TOPEKA, Kan. - The No. 7 UNO softball team picked up a key sweep at Washburn on Wednesday, 5-1, 6-1, to remain in sole possession of first place in the MIAA standings.
The Mavs (38-6, 15-1) have won eight in a row and 20 of their last 21 and hold a one-game advantage over Emporia State (36-11, 15-3) in the MIAA standings. UNO has six conference games remaining, including two against Emporia State, which has only four conference games left. UNO hosts Emporia State on Friday and third-place Missouri Western on Saturday at Claussen-Westgate Field.
UNO picked up the 5-1 win in game one with
Beth Haley improving her record to 17-2 on the mound this year. Haley pitched a complete game, allowing six hits and one run while striking out eight and walking none.
Washburn (15-26, 6-11) took a 1-0 lead after the first inning, but a three-run third inning for UNO put the Mavs in front for good.
Alli Hukill started the inning with a lead-off home run to right center, her fourth of the year.
Molly Feichtinger walked and later scored on a double by
Katelyn Hinton, who then scored on a double by
Lindsey Slocum for the 3-1 lead.
The Mavs extended the lead to 4-1 in the fourth inning on an RBI single by Feichtinger to score pinch-runner
Jamie Nash. The Mavs tacked on one more run in the seventh on a double by Hinton that scored
Sarah Elliott, who had walked.
Hinton finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored, while Feichtinger went 2-for-3 with one RBI and a run scored.
In game two, UNO again trailed 1-0 and rallied for the win. In the fourth inning, UNO took the lead on an RBI fielder's choice by
Amber Lutmer and a sacrifice fly by
Ashley Lynch.
The Mavs took the 2-1 lead into the top of the seventh before breaking the game open. Slocum and Lutmer hit a pair of two-run doubles to give the Mavs a comfortable 6-1 lead. Feichtinger, Elliott and
Lauren Larson all reached on singles to load the bases for Slocum, who scored two on the double to right center. Lutmer then stepped in and doubled down the right field line to clear the bases.
Slocum picked up the complete-game win to improve to 11-3 on the year. She struck out eight and allowed just five hits and no walks.
Lutmer finished 1-for-4 with three RBIs. Feichtinger, Elliott and Slocum each had two hits in the second game for UNO. On the day, Slocum also recorded three RBIs, bringing her career total to 150, which is eight shy of tying the school record of 158 and four shy of moving alone into second place.
The UNO-Emporia State doubleheader begins at 3 p.m., on Friday. Saturday's series with Missouri Western at 12 p.m., will be Senior Day and Alumni Day.
