OMAHA, Neb. – With conference play in full swing, the Omaha softball team faced a difficult Friday test against IUPUI. The Mavericks took advantage of timely hitting and pitching to sweep the Jaguars 4-2 and 8-7 in their Summit League opener.
Omaha is now 14-19 overall and 2-0 in Summit League play. IUPUI is now 10-18 on the season and 0-2 in conference play.
In the opener, Nicole Warren went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI on a double and a solo home run to lead the Mavericks.
Lizzie Noble went 2-for-3 at the plate with two RBI and picked up the win by pitching four innings of relief as Omaha completed the doubleheader sweep in game two.
The Mavericks and Jaguars are set to close the three-game series on Saturday at Westside Field at Westbrook. First pitch in the Summit League finale is scheduled for 11 a.m. Links to live stats can be found at OMavs.com.
GAME ONE
Omaha 4 IUPUI 2
Nicole Warren opened the bottom of the first with a home run just inside the left field foul pole to give Omaha the lead.
The Mavericks added two runs in the bottom of the third. Kelly Pattison opened the inning with a single down the right field line. Pattison scored from first on Warren's double down the left field line. Kourtney Pock poked a single to right field with two outs scoring Pattison. Omaha held a 3-0 lead after three innings of play.
IUPUI got a run back in the top of the fourth inning as Ali Mosier homered to right field. The Jaguars made it a one run game in the top of the sixth on a solo shot from Taylor Chitwood.
Omaha added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth. Pock worked a one out walk and moved to second as Lizzie Noble reached on an error. She moved to third as Noble was forced out at second as Bailey Schulenberg hit into a fielder's choice. Alexis Parker singled to left field to bring in Pock.
Roecker retired IUPUI in order in the top of the seventh including striking out the final batter of the game.
Warren led the Mavericks with two extra base hits. Parker, Pattison and Pock each had hits in the opener. Parker and Pock each had an RBI.
Rocker pitched her eighth complete game to improve to 7-9 on the season. She finished the game allowing two runs on four hits while walking two and striking out three.
Game Two
Omaha 8 IUPUI 7
Sydney Hames reached against IUPUI starter Nickole Finch on a fielder's choice in the bottom of the first inning and moved to second on a single from Campbell Ditto. Lizzie Noble hit a two-out single allowing Hames to cross home plate to give Omaha an early 1-0 lead.
IUPUI tied the game in the top of the second. Maggie Good hit a one out double to left field and scored on a Kaitlynn Moody single.
The Jaguars used five hits to score three runs in the top of the third inning to take the lead. Morgan Schlobohm and Taylor Chitwood reached base to open the inning. Ali Mosier launched a home run to left field to put IUPUI ahead. Good and Roni Patterson reached base with no outs forcing Omaha starter Abbie Clanton from the game. Moody greeted Maverick reliever Lizzie Noble with a single to center field to load the bases. Noble was able to retire the next three batters to limit the damage.
Hames and Ditto reached to open the bottom of the inning. The pair moved up a base on a wild pitch. Noble hit a rocket on the ground that was headed to right field, but the IUPUI third baseman was able to knock down the ball. Pinch runner Kylie Schwarting sprinted home and Noble was able to beat the throw to first. Bailey Schulenberg singled allowing Ditto to score. Lia Mancuso cleared the base paths with a double to left and gave Omaha a 5-4 lead.
IUPUI tied the game in the top of the fourth. Scholobohm and Chitwood again reached to start the inning. Patterson loaded the bases with one out. Good hit a grounder to shortstop that allowed Schlobohm to score and tie the game.
The Mavericks didn't allow the game to be tied for long. Kelly Pattison opened the bottom of the fourth with a single to right and then stole second. Hames doubled down the right field line to score Pattison. Pock laced a double to center field to score Hames and give Omaha a 7-5 lead after four innings.
IUPUI used a Good two-run homer in the sixth to tie the game at 7-7.
Noble reached base in the sixth on a fielder's choice. Schulenberg hit a single to right field and both runners advanced a base on an error by the right fielder. Noble was able to come home on a passed ball.
Laura Rocker retired the Jaguars in order in the seventh to earn her first career save.
Ditto, Hames, Mancuso, Noble, and Schulenberg each had two hits for the Mavericks. Pock had a double and an RBI, while Mancuso had a double and two RBI.
Clanton started the game and pitched two innings allowing four runs on seven hits with one strike out. Noble pitched four innings allowing three runs on seven hits with three strikeouts. She picked up her second win of the season. Rocker pitched the final inning allowing no runs or hits.
