MWSU 5, UNO 3
MWSU 4, UNO 0
OMAHA, Neb. - The 7th-ranked UNO Maverick softball team was swept by the Missouri Western Griffons, 5-3, 4-0, on Senior Day at Claussen-Westgate Field on Saturday.
The losses dropped UNO to 39-9 overall and 16-4 in the MIAA. Missouri Western finished the regular season with a 38-11 overall record and 18-4 conference record. The Mavs must now sweep Truman on Monday to earn a share of the regular-season title. Emporia State could also finish 18-4 with a sweep of Northwest Missouri State on Saturday to create a three-way tie at the top of the standings.
The Mavs and Griffons battled to a scoreless tie through the first five innings of game one, but the offenses erupted in the final two innings. Missouri Western got on the board first in the top of the sixth, but
Lauren Larson connected on a two-run home to left field to give the Mavs a 2-1 lead heading into the seventh.
But the Griffons responded with four runs in the top of the seventh, including a three-run homer by Brittany Douglas to make it 5-2.
UNO battled back for one run in the seventh on an RBI single by
Emma Wright to score
Ashley Lynch, but Griffons' ace Jackie Bishop shut the door on the Mavs to hand UNO its second straight loss.
Beth Haley took the loss to fall to 18-3 on the year.
In game two, an RBI triple by Douglas gave the Griffons a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Jonnelle Berger pitched a no-hitter through four innings, then Bishop took over at the start of the fifth inning. Lynch hit Bishop's first pitch to left center for a single, then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by
Lindsay Redding. But Bishop got the last two UNO batters to pop up.
The Mavs again threatened in the sixth inning, loading the bases with two outs, but Lynch's line drive up the middle was caught by second baseman Blair Stalder to end the threat.
The Griffons tacked on three more runs in the top of the seventh to take a 4-0 lead and break the game open. All three runs were unearned off of
Lindsey Slocum, who fell to 11-5 on the year.
UNO closes the regular season with a make-up doubleheader at Truman on Monday. The MIAA Conference Tournament begins on Thursday at Blue Valley Sports Complex in Overland Park, Kan.
