UNO 12, Alabama State 4 (5 inn.)
UNO 3, Savannah State 1

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The UNO softball team picked up its first two wins as a Division I school over Division I opponents Friday night, knocking off Alabama State 12-4 (5 innings) and Savannah State 3-1 at the Lady Hornet Invitational, hosted by Alabama State.

The Mavs improved to 2-4 with the wins, while Alabama State dropped to 0-6 and Savannah State fell to 2-4. UNO will play the same teams on Saturday in reverse order, facing Savannah State at 2 p.m. and Alabama State at 4 p.m.

In the first game of the day, Amber Lutmer hit a grand slam - her first home run of the season and the first of the year for the Mavs - and UNO held an 11-0 lead after two innings. UNO scored three runs in the top of the first to jump in front, then tacked on an eight-run second inning to pull away.

Freshman Tonya Peterson went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI single. Eight different Mavs scored runs in the game. Senior Ashley Lynch made her first appearance at the plate since returning from an offseason arm injury and went 2-for-3. The Mavs totaled 13 hits and drew seven walks in the onslaught.

Dana Elsasser (1-2) picked up the win, going all five innings and allowing four hits and two earned runs.

In the nightcap, the Mavs had another good performance at the plate with 12 hits. UNO scored a run in the second, fifth and sixth innings to take a 3-0 lead. Kat Barrow (1-1) picked up the complete-game win despite losing her shutout with two outs in the top of the seventh. Barrow allowed seven hits.

Mara Eeman had two hits, including an RBI single in the second to open the scoring. Lutmer added an RBI triple off the top of the wall in the fifth, and Molly Negrete scored on a wild pitch in the sixth. Negrete went 3-for-3 in the game, and Lauren Larson went 2-for-3 with a double. Peterson and Katelyn Hinton each had one hit and a run scored for the Mavs.