OMAHA, Neb. – The Omaha softball team split a Summit League doubleheader against Western Illinois, winning 10-5 in game one before losing game two 2-1, on Sunday afternoon in its final games of the season.
The Mavericks end the season with a 22-28 overall record and 6-10 mark in the Summit League, while the Leathernecks improved to 18-22 overall and 8-10 in league play.
The doubleheader was the final two games for UNO's four seniors – Kat Barrow, Allie Mathewson, Carly Nielsen, and Tonya Peterson. The Mavericks are not eligible for the post-season in their last year of reclassification to Division I.
Omaha 10, Western Illinois 5
Omaha scored multiple runs in three different innings to come away with a 10-5 win in the first game of Sunday's double header.
Omaha took the lead in the bottom of the first inning. Kelly Pattison worked a one out walk, before Tonya Peterson launched a home run to left field. UNO put two more runners on in the inning, but could not add to its 2-0 lead.
Kat Barrow pitched around two Omaha errors to keep Western Illinois off the score board in the second inning.
Nicole Warren opened the second inning with a single to left field. Allie Mathewson moved Warren to second with a single up the middle. Both runners moved up one base following a passed ball. Following a strike out, Peterson loaded the bases with a two-out walk. Lizzie Noble roped a double to right center field to clear the bases to increase the Mavericks lead, 5-0.
Western Illinois cut into the Omaha lead in the top of the third. Sammy Marshall reached on a bunt single, before Teagan Walsh was hit by a pitch. Tierney Bottino singled up the middle to score Marshall. Lia Romero hit a three-run home run to left field to cut the lead to 5-4.
Omaha loaded the bases on Leatherneck relief pitcher Brooke Stulga in the third inning. Stugla induced UNO into two ground ball outs to end the threat.
The Mavericks put five runs on the board in the fourth inning on five hits. Megan May opened the inning with a single to right field. May advanced to second on Campbell Ditto's single to center. Warren walked to load the bases with one out. Pinch hitter Sydney Hames singled down the left field line to plate two Maverick base runners. Mathewson doubled to center field to bring home Warren. Pattison hit a single to right field to score Mathewson and Tara Trede. After four innings, Omaha opened up a 10-4 lead.
Western Illinois got a run back in the top of the fifth on two hits and a sacrifice fly. Barrow allowed one hit over the final two innings to keep the Leathernecks off the scoreboard.
Barrow (8-9) pitched 7.0 innings allowing five earned runs on eight hits with four strikeouts to close out her career as a Maverick.
Warren had a perfect day at the plate going 3-for-3 with a double and two runs scored. Mathewson went 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI. Noble drove in three runs with a double. Peterson had a home run and two RBI.
Pattison and Hames each had a single with two RBI.
Western Illinois 2, Omaha 1
Western Illinois scored a pair of runs in the top of the first inning and held off a late Omaha comeback attempt to earn the doubleheader split with Omaha, 2-1.
Sammy Marshall opened the game with a walk and moved to second on a wild pitch. Tierney Bottino brought Marshall home with a sacrifice fly. Lia Romero hit a line drive home run to left field to put Western Illinois up, 2-0.
Omaha loaded the bases in the bottom of the first, but could not put a run on the board. Allie Mathewson got things going with a lead-off single. Kelly Pattison walked. Mathewson moved to third on a sacrifice fly by Tonya Peterson. Lizzie Noble walked to put Mavericks on all three bases, but WIU's Kayla Kirkpatrick tiptoed her way out of trouble to leave UNO scoreless.
Jaylee Hinrichs allowed two hits over the final six innings to give Omaha a chance. Kirkpatrick was up to the challenge as she allowed two hits over the next four innings.
Lizzie Noble opened the sixth inning with a home run to center field. Carly Nielsen and Nicole Warren each hit two-out singles, before pinch hitter Sydney Hames walked to load the bases. Kirkpatrick induced a ground ball to prevent any more damage.
Omaha put a runner on base with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, but could not bring the tying run around to score.
Nielsen went 3-for-3 in her final game for the Mavericks. Mathewson, Noble, and Warren each had singles for Omaha. Noble drove in the lone run of the game.
Hinrichs (12-14) pitched 7.0 innings allowing two earned runs on three hits with two walks and two strikeouts.
