HAMMOND, Louisiana – The Omaha softball team split a pair of games to open the season at the Tangi Tourism Lion Classic in Hammond, La. on Friday afternoon. In the opener, UT-Martin defeated the Mavs, 7-3. In the night cap, UNO topped Nicholls State, 5-1.
The Mavs are 1-1 on the season and play two games on Saturday. UNO plays tournament host, Southeastern Louisiana, at 12:30 p.m., before finishing the day against Texas Arlington at 3:00 p.m.
UT-Martin 7, Omaha 3
In the opener, UT-Martin took advantage of an error and scored four runs in the top of the first inning. Omaha cut the lead in half, 4-2, in the bottom of the fourth inning on back-to-back run scoring doubles by Lia Mancuso and Tara Trede.
The Skyhawks loaded the bases in the top of the fifth to chase starting pitcher Jaylee Hinrichs. Carly Nielsen relieved Hinrichs and allowed only one run. The Mavs got the run back in the bottom of the sixth inning when Nicole Warren homered to left center. UT-Martin tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh to make the final score 7-3.
Warren went 2-for-3 at the plate with a run scored and a run batted in to lead the Mavs. Trede and Mancuso each had a double and an RBI.
Hinrichs (0-1) took the loss, pitching 4.0 innings with six hits and four earned runs. She walked only one batter, while striking out five. Nielsen pitched 3.0 innings in relief and allowed two earned runs on two hits and two walks with one strikeout.
Omaha 5, Nicholls State 1
Nicholls State scored a run in the top of the first inning and kept Omaha off the score board until the top of the sixth.
Campbell Ditto opened the top of the sixth with a single. Following a UNO strike out, Tonya Peterson hit her first homerun of the season to put the Mavs up 2-1. In the top of the seventh, Omaha added some insurance. Nicole Warren singled, stole second, and advanced to third on an infield out. Tara Trede forced a two out walk to put to runners on base. Lizzie Noble pinch ran for Trede, before Allie Mathewson came to the plate. Mathewson crushed a Nicholls State offering for a three-run homerun.
Kat Barrow allowed one single to start the bottom of the seventh, but induced three straight ground outs to finish the win. Barrow (1-0) picked up the win by pitching a complete game and allowing one run on a walk and nine hits, while striking out four.
Peterson was 2-for-2 at the plate with a run scored and an RBI. Mathewson was 2-for-4 with three RBIs.
