LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Omaha softball team opened day one of the Jayhawk Invitational with a loss to Idaho State 7-3 on Friday evening in Lawrence, Kan.  The Mavericks drop to 9-11, while the Bengals improve to 12-11.

Omaha got itself in a hole early by giving up seven runs in the first three innings.  Idaho State put two runs on the board in the first inning and tacked on one more run in the second.  The Bengals hit three doubles and a home run in the bottom of the third to put four additional runs on the board.

The Mavericks offense woke up in the top of the fourth inning.  Allie Mathewson led off the inning with a single to right field.  Lia Mancuso reached base on throwing error.  Tonya Peterson laced a double to right center to drive in Mathewson and Mancuso.  Following a walk to Campbell Ditto, UNO had runners on first and second with no outs.  Idaho State's Ashlyn Ames settled down and retired the next three Omaha batters to keep the score 7-2 in favor of the Bengals.

Kelly Pattison smashed a home run to left field in the bottom of the fifth to inch the Mavs closer, 7-3.

Adams again found her form and allowed only one hit over the final two innings to preserve the win for Idaho State, 7-3.

Jaylee Hinrichs (4-3) took the loss, throwing two innings with four earned runs and five hits given up.  Carly Nielsen pitched 1.0 inning allowing two earned runs on three hits.  Kat Barrow pitched the final three innings allowing only three hits with two strikeouts.

Pattison went 1-for-3 with a home run and a RBI.  She has now hit in six straight games.  Peterson finished the day 1-for-2 with a double and two RBI.  Mathewson and Ditto each had a hit.

The Mavs resume action on Saturday with a double header.  Omaha faces Saint Louis at 4:30 p.m., then takes on Kansas City at 7:00 p.m.  Live stats will be available for both games at OMavs.com.