OMAHA, Neb. - The Omaha softball team (29-16, 8-6 Summit League) posted a split in a doubleheader with IUPUI (20-18, 7-6 Summit League) on Friday at Westside Field at Westbrook, winning 8-0 in five innings before falling 6-0 in game two.
The teams conclude the series on Saturday at Noon on Senior Day. The Mavs' two seniors - Dana Elsasser and Amber Lutmer - will be honored in a ceremony shortly after 11:30 a.m.
Omaha 8, IUPUI 0 (5 inn.)
Dana Elsasser threw a one-hitter and the Mavs blasted three multi-run homers en route to UNO's third straight run-rule shutout win and eighth victory in a row.
With two outs gone in the bottom of the first, the Mavericks put together a four-run rally to take a 4-0 lead after one. Sydney Hames drew a walk and Campbell Ditto tripled to center field to score Hames. Lizzie Noble then lined one off the third baseman's glove, scoring Ditto for a 2-0 lead. Mara Eeman immediately smacked her fifth homer of the season off the scoreboard to make it 4-0.
After Elsasser shut down the Jags in the second, the Mavs got right back at it in the second. Lia Mancuso singled but was caught stealing. However, Tara Trede singled to left field, setting up Allie Mathewson's two-run home run to right field for a 6-0 lead. It was Mathewson's ninth home run of the season and chased IUPUI starter Cassie Vodde (10-7) from the game, as Emili Escamilla came on in relief.
The Mavs continued their offensive onslaught in the third, as Tonya Peterson cranked her first homer of the season to right center with Noble on base to go up 8-0 after three.
Elsasser closed the door, retiring the final 12 batters in order to pick up the win and improve to 23-7. She allowed one hit, one walk and struck out four.
IUPUI 6, Omaha 0
IUPUI hit three home runs and pitcher Jocelyn Oppenhuis took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and finished with the one-hit shutout.
Roni Patterson hit a solo home run with two outs away in the top of the first to put IUPUI in front, 1-0. Maverick pitcher Cheyenne Baxter regrouped and threw three straight shutout innings after that without allowing a hit, but the Mavs still trailed 1-0 as they notched just one base runner - Allie Mathewson via a walk - through four innings.
Lindsey Richards doubled the Jaguar lead in the fifth with a solo home run to left center, and Ali Mosier led off the sixth with a solo homer to make it 3-0.
Lia Mancuso recorded the first hit of the game for the Mavs on a bunt single to lead off the sixth. But Mathewson's bloop to shallow right field caught Mancuso in between first and second, and she was unable to reach second before the throw to the bag. Oppenhuis then got Lutmer to fly out to left to end the inning.
The Jaguars tacked on three more runs in the top of the seventh, as Kat Barrow came on in relief before Baxter came back in to finish out the inning.
Oppenhuis (6-7) finished with one hit and one walk allowed along with six strikeouts. Baxter (4-1) took the first loss of her career, tossing 7.0 innings with five earned runs on seven hits, two walks and one strikeout.
