HAMMOND, Louisiana – Omaha softball blasted four homeruns on Sunday as the Mavericks topped Alcorn State, 9-1, in five innings.  Omaha improves to 2-3 on the season, while Alcorn State falls to 0-5.

Kat Barrow and Abbie Clanton combined on a four hitter, as the Mavs got off to a much better start on the final day of the Tangi Tourism Lion Classic.  Allie Mathewson led off the bottom of the first inning with her first homerun of the season to give the Mavs an early lead, 1-0.

In the bottom of the second, Campbell Ditto walked and stole second.  Carly Nielsen reached base on an infield single.  Freshman Kelly Pattison cleared the bases with her first career homerun to put Omaha up 4-0.  Mathewson singled, stole second and later came home on a Lia Mancuso single up the middle for a 5-0 lead.

Mathewson hit her second solo homerun of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning to make the lead 6-0.  Mancuso singled and then scored on a Nicole Warren double to left field.  Tonya Peterson smashed her second homerun of the season to drive in Warren to make the score 9-0.

Alcorn State scored its lone run of the game in the top of the fifth.

Barrow (2-1) pitched four scoreless innings allowing only three hits, while striking out one.  Clanton pitched one inning allowing one earned run, while striking out one and walking one.

Mathewson went 2-for-3 on the day with three runs scored, two RBIs, and a stolen base.  Mancuso added two hits and an RBI.  Peterson was 1-for-3 at the plate with a double and two RBIs.  Pattison drove in three runs, while going 1-for-2.

Omaha returns to the diamond next weekend at the North Carolina Central Eagle Challenge.  UNO plays the University of Virginia on Friday, Feb. 13 at 1:00 p.m.   The following day, the Mavs play Canisius at 10:00 a.m. and LaSalle at 1:00 p.m.  Omaha wraps up the tournament on Sunday, Feb. 15 against North Carolina Central at 8:00 a.m. and Canisius at 11:00 a.m.