OMAHA, Neb. – The Omaha softball team heads west to Fort Collins, Colo. for four games at the Colorado State Classic, March 5-6. Competition for the Mavs begins on Saturday with a game against Idaho State at 11 a.m. (CT), followed by a game against host Colorado State at 1:30 p.m. (CT).
Omaha will have a rematch against Idaho State on Sunday at 10 a.m. (CT), before concluding the trip with another game with Colorado State at 3 p.m. (CT).
The 2016 Mavericks
Omaha is 6-9 on the season after a 2-3 weekend at the ASU Hornet Tournament in Montgomery, Ala. The Mavericks defeated Howard (13-2, 5 inn.) and Alabama State (7-0), but lost to Akron (5-4), Eastern Kentucky (7-2), and Gardner Webb (12-6).
Sydney Hames leads the team at the plate with a .360 batting average, four home runs, and 13 RBI. Bailey Schulenberg is next on the team with a .313 average and three doubles. Nicole Warren is hitting .306 and leads the Summit League in home runs with five and RBI with 18.
Freshman Laura Roecker has nine starts this season to lead the team. Roecker holds a 3-4 mark and a 5.48 ERA with 24 strikeouts and 33 walks. Roecker has gone the distance three times and thrown two shutouts. Abbie Clanton leads the team with 11 appearances (two starts). Clanton is 2-3 on the season with a 7.00 ERA with 13 strikeouts. Lizzie Noble is 1-2 this season in seven appearances.
Scouting the Colorado State Rams
Colorado State is 6-10 on the season after a 2-3 weekend at the Mary Nutter Memorial Collegiate Classic in Cathedral City, Calif and a midweek victory over Northern Colorado. The Rams defeated LIU Brooklyn and Loyola Marymount, but fell to Long Beach State, No. 17 Missouri, and No. 25 California.
Haley Hutton leads the Rams with a .420 batting average and nine stolen bases. Kristina Akiona is hitting .326 and leads the team with three doubles. She also has one homer and seven RBI.
Holly Reinke leads the Colorado State pitching staff with a 2.66 ERA. Reinke has posted a 4-5 record in 11 appearances, while throwing seven complete games and two shutouts.
Jen Fisher enters her sixth season leading the Rams program. Last season, Colorado State finished with a 27-29 overall record and was 8-16 in Mountain West play.
Scouting the Idaho State Bengals
Idaho State is 5-10 on the season after going 2-3 at the UC Davis Tournament in Davis, Calif. The Bengals took down New Mexico and South Dakota, but were defeated by Iowa State, UC Davis, and Cal State Fullerton.
The Bengals feature two hitters who are hitting at least .400 this season. Alex Portesi leads the Bengals with a .405 batting average and has three doubles and seven RBI on the season. Micheala Taylor is hitting .404 this season with two doubles and five RBI.
Leading Idaho State in the circle this season is Sophie Slagle who has posted a 3.64 ERA and a 2-3 record with a team high 23 strikeouts. Ashlyn Ames has a 3.70 ERA for the Bengals having thrown three complete games and one shutout.
Candi Letts is in her first season leading the Bengals. Last season, Idaho State went 34-18 overall with a 17-4 Big Sky record.
Up Next
The Mavericks take on Northern Colorado in a midweek doubleheader on Greeley on Mar. 8 at 2 p.m. (CT) and 4 p.m. (CT).
Next weekend the Mavs travel to the University of Kansas Tournament in Lawrence. UNO will play Northern Iowa on Friday, Mar. 11 at 9 a.m. (CT), before taking on Missouri State at 4:30 p.m. (CT). Omaha's lone game on Saturday, Mar. 12 will be a rematch against Missouri State at 4:30 p.m. (CT). To wrap of tournament play the Mavs will take on host Kansas on Sunday, Mar. 13 at 2 p.m. (CT) before taking on UMKC at 4:30 p.m. (CT).
