OMAHA, Neb. – Fresh off a midweek game against the University of Nebraska, the Omaha softball team continues its travels with four games in three days at the Jayhawk Invitational in Lawrence, Kan.
The Mavericks play one game on Friday, March 13 against Idaho State at 6 p.m. UNO continues tournament play with two games on Saturday, March 14 against Saint Louis at 4:30 p.m. and Kansas City at 7 p.m. The Mavs square off against tournament hosts and 23rd/24th ranked Kansas on Sunday, March 15 at 2:30 p.m.
Leading off for Omaha
- The Mavericks are currently on a 23-game road stretch to start the season.
- Lia Mancuso is currently on a seven-game hitting streak and has seen her average rise to .333. Mancuso is a perfect 5-for-5 in stolen base attempts.
- Freshman Kelly Pattison has a .333 average this spring with a pair of homeruns and 11 RBI.
- Pattison currently has a five-game hitting streak and has reached base in six straight games.
- Omaha's lead-off hitter Allie Mathewson owns a team-high .339 batting average and leads the team with five home runs and 14 RBIs.
- Mathewson has a team-best .645 slugging percentage with eight stolen bases.
- Senior Tonya Peterson has a .319 average with three homeruns and leads the team with 15 RBIs. She has reached base in six straight games.
- Campbell Ditto her second career grand slam against Georgetown on February 27. Ditto has hit four long balls this season and has 11 RBIs.
- Kat Barrow (3-3) and Jaylee Hinrichs (4-2) are the top two pitchers for the Mavericks. The duo have combined for 52 strikeouts and only 26 walks.
- Senior pitcher Carly Nielsen picked up her first career win and save at the Colorado State Classic.
- Sophomore pitcher Lizzie Noble earned her first win of the season against Valparaiso last weekend.
- Hinrichs was named Summit League Pitcher of the Week on Feb. 16. This was the first award of her career.
Series Information
Venue: Arrocha Ballpark
ALL-TIME RECORD VS. Idaho State: 1-0
ALL-TIME RECORD VS. Saint Louis: 2-0
ALL-TIME RECORD VS. Kansas City: 3-1
ALL-TIME RECORD VS. Kansas: 0-14
Scouting Idaho State
Idaho State has started the season 11-11 and have won three out of its last four games. Over the weekend, the Bengals took two of three games against Nevada in Reno.
Idaho State features the reigning NFCA National Player of the Week, Kacie Burnett. In the series against Nevada, sophomore outfielder was 10-for-12 (.833) with seven runs scored and a perfect 7-for-7 swiping bases. She recorded a hit in her final seven at bats, culminating with a 4-for-4 (2 RBI, 3 R) effort in the series finale versus the Wolfpack.
Burnett is leading ISU with an average of .500 with 14 stolen bases. Vicky Galasso has an average of .411 with a team-high nine homeruns and 34 RBIs.
In the circle, Bailey Foster has a 2.85 ERA with a 5-2 record in 11 appearances. Ashlyn Ames owns a 3.07 ERA and a 2-3 record in 10 appearances. Sophie Slagle has six complete games in 12 appearances with a 4-5 record.
Julie Wright is the head coach for Idaho State and is in her fourth season with the Bengals and has a career mark of 87-90. Wright holds a 103-122 overall record.
Previewing Saint Louis
So far this season, Saint Louis has a 12-6 overall record and are on a six game winning streak. Last weekend, the Billikens competed in the Owl Invitational in Kennesaw, Ga. where they went 3-0 with wins over Austin Peay, Kennesaw State and Indiana. They also played two games in Canton, Ga. against Cleveland State and Northern Kentucky, winning both.
Alex Nickel has posted a .431 average so far this season, which leads Saint Louis. She has also scored 14 runs and has recorded 25 hits. The Billikens are led by a trio of pitchers in the circle. Brianna Lore has a team-low 1.48 ERA in nine appearances and is 5-4 overall this year with 39 strikeouts. Laney Kneib is a perfect 4-0 this season with three saves in 11 appearances. Maddie Baalman owns a 3-2 mark with a 4.55 ERA.
Christy Connoyer is in her sixth year at Saint Louis and has posted a record of 134-113.
Looking at Kansas City
Kansas City carries a 10-10 record into the Jayhawk Invitational this weekend. The Roos dropped a pair of midweek games at Missouri State.
UMKC features three players who are hitting over .400 for the season. Alex Gale leads the way with a .455 batting average. Kaue Kelley owns a .413 average and leads the team in home runs (9) and RBIs (29).
Pitcher Cinda Ramos owns a 5-1 mark on the season in 10 appearances and has a 4.48 ERA. Kelly owns a 4-6 record with a 5.71 ERA and a team high 49 punch outs.
Meredith Smith Neal is in her ninth season leading the Kangaroos. Smith Neal owns a 167-256 career record.
What Makes Up Kansas
Kansas has a 21-2 record going into this weekend's tournament. Last weekend, KU went 4-1 at the Stetson Tournament in Deland, Fla. The Jayhawks went 2-1 against Chattanooga along with wins over Stetson and La Salle.
Briana Evans has a batting average of .430 through 79 at-bats this season which leads the Jayhawks. She also has scored a team-high 24 runs and recorded 34 hits. Chaley Brickey is the leading homerun hitter for Kansas. She has went deep five times this season and currently holds a .635 slugging average and a .378 batting average.
In the circle, Alicia Pille is a perfect 12-0 with three saves in 16 appearances. Pille owns a 1.62 ERA with 88 strikeouts and 21 walks.
Jayhawks head coach Megan Smith is in her sixth year with the program and owns a 213-138 mark.
On Deck
After completing a 23-game road trip to start the season, the Omaha softball team is ready to start the home portion of its 2015 schedule when it plays a non-conference double header against Northern Colorado on Tuesday, March 15 at 1 p.m. at Westside Field at Westbrook.
