OMAHA, Neb. - Behind strong defensive play and a pitching gem by
Dana Elsasser, the Omaha softball team took game three of its series against North Dakota State with a 1-0 win on Sunday at Westside Field at Westbrook.
The Mavs avoided the series sweep and improved to 20-13 overall and 3-3 in the Summit League. North Dakota State fell to 21-13 and dropped its first league game to fall to 4-1.
Elsasser (17-6) was in control, throwing a seven-hit shutout with one walk and eight strikeouts.
Amber Lutmer provided the game's only run with a solo homer on a moonshot in the top of the third that just cleared the wall in left center for her league-leading 14th home run of the season.
The Bison never really threatened until the bottom of the fifth, when Amanda Grable led off with a double down the right field line and advanced to third on a groundout by Maritza Lopez-Portillo. Elsasser struck out Jenna Isbel for the second out, and
Sydney Hames made an athletic dive to her left and threw from her knees to get Brandi Enriquez out at first to get out of the jam.
Alex Sobrero hit a one-out double for NDSU in the bottom of the sixth, but Elsasser struck out the next two batters to escape the inning. In the bottom of the seventh, Jenina Ortega tried to stretch a double down the right field line into a triple, but
Lia Mancuso relayed to Trede, who threw to Hames at third to beat the sliding Ortega.
However, Grable and Lopez-Portillo connected on back-to-back singles to put runners on first and third with one out. The Bison attempted a double steal, but UNO catcher
Campbell Ditto wasn't fooled, tossing to
Tonya Peterson covering at third to catch pinch-runner Presley Glaser in a rundown. Peterson threw back to Ditto for the second out, while Lopez-Portillo took second uncontested. Isbel then lined to left field, where
Mara Eeman reached over her head to record the game's final out.
Lutmer had the only two Maverick hits in the game, finishing 2-for-3 with a double and home run.
The Mavericks step out of conference action on Tuesday when they visit Nebraska for a 5 p.m. game at Bowlin Stadium in Lincoln.
