CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Northern Iowa pitcher Chelsea Ross threw a one-hitter with five strikeouts, as Northern Iowa shut out the Omaha softball team, 8-0 (6 inn.).  Omaha dropped to 21-26 overall, while the Panthers improved to 20-24.

Each team put two runners on base due to walks in the opening frame, but neither side could come up with a run.  Ross and Omaha hurler Jaylee Hinrichs (12-12) engaged in a pitcher's duel through the first three and a half innings, allowing no hits or runs.

Northern Iowa used five hits in the bottom of the fourth inning to take the lead, 3-0.

Nicole Warren hit a one-out single in the top of the fifth to give Omaha its first hit of the evening.  Tara Trede moved Warren to second with a sacrifice bunt.  Warren moved to third base with two outs on a wild pitch.  Allie Mathewson walked to give the Mavericks two base runners with two outs.  Ross got out of trouble by inducing Kelly Pattison to line out to stop the UNO rally.

UNI increased its lead in the bottom of the fifth on three hits and two Omaha errors to make the score 6-0.  The Panthers took the win on the run-rule in the sixth inning, as two runs on four hits ended the game, 8-0.

Warren went 1-for-2 at the plate.  Tonya Peterson reached base twice on a pair of walks.

Hinrichs pitched 4.1 innings allowing six runs (five earned) on seven hits with three walks and a strike out.  Carly Nielsen pitched an inning allowing two earned runs on five hits.

Omaha returns home for the final series of the year on Saturday and Sunday May 2-3.  Game times for Saturday's game are set for noon and 2:00 p.m.  Between games, the Mavericks will honor seniors Kat Barrow, Allie Mathewson, Carly Nielsen, and Tonya Peterson.  Sunday's single game is set to start at 11:00 a.m.