CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The Omaha softball team blew past Saint Louis, 8-0 (5 inn.), before fighting to a 5-3 comeback win over Western Michigan on Friday at the Fighting Illini Classic.

The Mavericks are now 16-8 overall. UNO is set to play Illinois on Saturday at 12:45 p.m.  

Omaha 8, Saint Louis 0 (5 inn.)
Dana Elsasser one-hit the Billikens (10-10) while the Mavs pounded out 14 hits in the 8-0 shutout. Elsasser struck out five and walked two and gave up just one hit - a one-out single in the third inning.

By then, the Mavericks already led 4-0 after a four-run top of the third. Tara Trede was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a single by Allie Mathewson. Campbell Ditto singled to load the bases, and Amber Lutmer followed with a two-run single to left field. Lizzie Noble later singled home Ditto, and Lia Mancuso recorded a bases-loaded single through the left side to score Noble for the 4-0 lead.

Mathewson led off the fourth with a solo home run, her seventh of the season, to make it 5-0. UNO tacked on three more in the fifth to secure the eight-run mercy-rule margin. Mancuso (walk) and Trede (single) got on board for Mathewson, who doubled home Mancuso. Ditto then singled home Mathewson, and Sydney Hames capped the inning with a single to score Ditto for the 8-0 final score.

The 1-5 hitters in the Maverick batting order each had at least two hits and an RBI. Mathewson was 3-for-4 with two RBI and three runs. Ditto was 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs. Lutmer was 2-for-3 with two RBI, Hames was 2-for-4 with an RBI, and Noble was 2-for-4 with a run and RBI.

Nicole Warren, Mancuso and Trede each had hits as well. Elsasser improved to 12-3 and has not allowed a run in her last three starts.

Omaha 5, Western Michigan 3
Campbell Ditto's two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth broke a 3-3 tie to lift the Mavs to the 5-3 win in their second game of the day.

Western Michigan (7-17) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first after two unearned runs in an inning without a Bronco hit. A throwing error by Barrow allowed two runs to score after a leadoff walk.

But the Mavs fought back with a three-run third inning to go on top, 3-2. With Ditto and Amber Lutmer aboard via singles, Sydney Hames singled down the left field line to score Ditto for the Mavs' first run. With two outs gone, Nicole Warren laced a double to center field to bring home Hames and Lizzie Noble for the 3-2 lead.

Western Michigan got its leadoff hitter in the top of the sixth on board after another throwing error by Barrow. Dana Elsasser came on in relief and walked two batters surrounding a strikeout to load the bases. The Broncos tied the game on a single to right field, but Lia Mancuso threw out the potential go-ahead run at home to keep the game tied at 3-3 through the top of the sixth.

But Ditto gave the Mavs the lead for good with her two-run shot in the bottom of the sixth to score Tara Trede for a 5-3 lead. It was Ditto's sixth homer of the season.

Elsasser struck out three batters in the top of the seventh to earn the win and move to 13-3 on the season. She allowed one hit, two walks with four strikeouts in 2.0 innings pitched. Barrow threw 5.0 innings and gave up three hits, two walks, two strikeouts and three unearned runs.

Ditto was 3-for-3 with two runs and two RBI. Seven other Mavs had one hit each.