OMAHA, Neb. – Omaha softball split a Wednesday nonconference doubleheader with Drake, winning game one in five innings, 8-0, before dropping game two, 10-4.
The Mavericks are 18-20 on the season, while the Bulldogs are 21-12.
Omaha returns to the diamond this weekend for a three-game Summit League series with South Dakota State. Game times for Saturday's doubleheader are 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. The series finale on Sunday will start at 11 a.m.
Game 1: Omaha 8 Drake 0 (5 innings)
In the opener, Omaha hit three home runs and freshman pitcher Laura Roecker threw her first career no hitter as the Mavericks topped Drake 8-0 in five innings.
Nicole Warren led off the bottom of the first with a solo home run to center field. Lizzie Noble reached on a fielder's choice and was brought home on Kourtney Pock's two-out double to left field. Bailey Schulenberg then tripled to score Pock for a 3-0 Maverick lead after an inning.
Omaha added three more runs in the bottom of the third. Campbell Ditto led off with a single to left before Noble hit a two-run home run just inside the left field foul pole. Bulldog starter Nicole Newman retired the next two batters before hitting Kelly Pattison to bring up Tara Trede. Trede hit the first pitch she saw down the left field line for a double that allowed Pattison to score.
Following a Drake pitching change to start the bottom of the fourth, Ditto laced a double to center field. A Bulldog error on the next at bat allowed Ditto to come around and score.
After Roecker retired Drake in order in the top of the fifth, Schulenberg hit a solo homer to lead off the bottom of the inning to end the game due to the run rule, 8-0.
Schulenberg led the Mavericks offense by going 2-for-3 with a triple, a home run and two RBI. Ditto also went 2-for-3 with a double and a pair of runs scored. Lia Mancuso went 1-for-2 with a triple.
Roecker faced just two batters over the minimum as she earned her ninth complete game of the season. She struck out one and walked just two as she evened her record at 9-9. It is the second no hitter of the season for the Maverick pitching staff.
Game Two: Drake 10 Omaha 4
The Bulldogs scored four runs in the top of the fifth to break open a 4-4 tie as they went on to win the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader, 10-4.
Kailee Smith (2-1) pitched four innings in relief of Bulldog starter Mariah McKinnon, limiting Omaha to two runs (one earned) on three hits with two walks and three strikeouts. Abbie Clanton (7-8) took the loss, surrendering seven runs on seven hits with five walks and two strikeouts over her 4.1 inning start.
Campbell Ditto and Nicole Warren led the Mavericks offensively with 2-for-4 efforts at the plate. Ditto had a pair of doubles and an RBI, while Warren had a double, a stolen base and an RBI.
Sydney Hames doubled down the left field line to score Warren in the bottom of the first to even the score, 1-1.
After Drake took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third, Ditto doubled to left center to open the inning. McKinnon was able to retire the next two Omaha batters before Bailey Schulenberg brought Ditto home with a triple down the right field line to tie the game, 2-2.
The Bulldogs took a 4-2 lead in the top of the fourth on a walk and a hit. Lia Mancuso reached on error and came into score on Warren's double down the left field line. Ditto hit her second double of the game allowing Warren to score and even the game at 4-4.
Drake scored four runs in the top of the fifth and two more in the top of the sixth, while Smith did not give up a run in the final three innings and retired seven straight Omaha batters to secure the 10-4 win.
