MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Omaha softball team dropped two games on the opening day of the ASU Hornet Tournament hosted by Alabama State. The Mavs dropped a 5-4 decision to Akron in their first game of the tournament. In its second game of the day, Eastern Kentucky topped UNO, 7-2.
Omaha is 4-8 on the season and will play two games on Saturday. The Mavs open the day with a 9 a.m. game against Howard. UNO takes on tournament host Alabama State in the night cap at 5 p.m.
Game 1: Akron 5 Omaha 4
The Omaha offense was firing on all cylinders to open game one of the tournament as its first four batters reached base. Nicole Warren opened the game with a solo home run. Warren's homer was followed by singles from Kelly Pattison and Sydney Hames. Akron quickly made a pitching change. Lizzie Noble walked in her first at bat to load the bases with no outs. The Zips were able work their way out of the inning allowing only the one run.
Noble kept Akron off the scoreboard through the first three innings. The Zips pushed three runs across in the bottom of the fourth on two hits and two Maverick errors. Akron added a run in the top of the fifth with two hits off Omaha reliever Abbie Clanton to make the score 4-1.
Omaha's first two batters in the top of the seventh walked and moved up a base on a passed ball. Warren cleared the bases with a one-out double to left field. Pattison singled to center moving Warren to third. An error in the outfield allowed Warren to score and tie the game at 4-4. The Zips were able to get out of the inning following their second pitching change of the game.
Akron opened the bottom of the seventh with a triple and forcing Clanton from the game. Omaha's Laura Roecker was able to retire the next batter via a ground out. The Mavericks would intentionally walk the next two batters setting up a force out at any base. The Zips' Carley Childress walked to force in the winning run.
Warren went 2-for-4 at the plate with a double and a home run to lead Omaha. Warren also scored two runs and had two RBI. Pattison and Hames each had a pair of singles for the Mavs.
Noble started and pitched the first 3 1/3 innings allowing three unearned runs on four hits. Clanton pitched 2 2/3 innings allowing two earned runs on four hits with three strikeouts. She was credited with the loss and is 2-3 on the season. Roecker pitched the final 1/3 of an inning allowing three walks, two intentional.
Game 2: Eastern Kentucky 7 Omaha 2
Eastern Kentucky took advantage of an Omaha error in the top of the first to score the game's first run. The Mavericks answered the challenge in the bottom half of the inning. Kelly Pattison hit a one out single to center. Pattison moved to third on Sydney Hames double down the right field line. Campbell Ditto reached on an infield single allowing Pattison to score and tie the game 1-1.
The score remained tied until the top of the fifth inning when EKU scored five runs on four hits and a UNO error. The Colonels opened the inning with a base hit by Kayla Joyce. Omaha starter Laura Roecker was able to retire the next batter. Following a wild pitch that moved the runner to second, Hannah Clark reached on a fielding error allowing Joyce to reach third. Clark stole second and Sarah Fobbs walked to load the bases for Eastern Kentucky. Rachel Minogue singled to left giving the Colonels a 2-1 lead. EKU scored another run on a single to left and three more with a triple down the left field line to make the score 7-1.
Alexis Parker hit a one out single for Omaha in the bottom of the fifth. Warren singled to left moving Parker to third. Pattison hit a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Parker, but the Mavs were unable to score any more runs.
Ditto drew a one out walk in the top of the sixth and moved to second on Kourtney Pock's single to left. After a pop out, Tara Trede walked to load the bases, but Omaha was unable to score.
Abbie Clanton retired EKU in order in the top of the seventh to give Omaha a last chance to rally. Nicole Warren opened the inning with a single to left and moved to second on a fielding error. Colonel relief pitcher Alex Sallberg settled down and retired the next three batters to give Eastern Kentucky the victory.
Warren went 2-for-4 at the plate with two singles. Pattison went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Ditto was 1-for-2 with a single and an RBI. Parker was 1-for-3 with a run scored. Hames had a double for the Mavs, while Pock and Lizzie Noble each had singles.
Roecker started in the circle for Omaha and pitched 4 2/3 innings with a strike out and five walks in the loss. She allowed seven runs (two earned) on nine hits. Clanton pitched the final 2 1/3 innings allowing one hit with a strike out.
