FARGO, N.D. – The Omaha softball team dropped both games of a doubleheader to Summit League leader North Dakota State Friday afternoon. The Mavericks lost the opener, 4-0, and lost game two in six innings, 9-1.
UNO dropped to 29-26 overall and 12-4 in league play. NDSU improved to 34-13 on the year and 16-0 in conference action.
Omaha and North Dakota State wrap up the regular season with a single game Saturday morning. First pitch is set for 11 a.m. at the Ellig Sports Complex.
Game 1: North Dakota State 4 Omaha 0
North Dakota State pitcher Jacquelyn Sertic allowed only two hits and held Omaha scoreless for the first time in 23 games Friday afternoon.
The game was scoreless until the bottom of the fourth. Logan Moreland hit a two-run home run to right field to put the Bison up, 2-0.
Kelly Pattison hit a two out single in the top of the fifth for Omaha, but the Mavs were unable to capitalize.
North Dakota State used four hits and two Omaha errors to add two runs in the bottom of the fifth to increase its lead, 4-0.
Sertic held Omaha without a hit over the final two innings as NDSU won the opener, 4-0.
Pattison and Kourtney Pock had Omaha's two hits on the afternoon.
Omaha starter Laura Roecker (16-12) allowed four runs (two earned) on seven hits and two walks with two strikeouts in six innings.
Game 2: North Dakota State 9 Omaha 1 (6 innings)
North Dakota State took the lead in the bottom of the second inning. Maritza Lopez-Portillo homered to left field to put the Bison up, 1-0.
This time the Mavericks responded. In the top of the third, Lia Mancuso walked to start the inning and moved to second on a wild pitch. The next two UNO batters were retired before Campbell Ditto singled to left. A throwing error allowed Mancuso to score and Ditto to reach third. NDSU retired the next Maverick batter to limit the damage.
UNO's momentum did not last long as NDSU regained the lead in the bottom of the third. Logan Moreland started things off with a bunt single and scored on Cheyenne Garcia's single down the right field line. Bre Beatty singled down the left field line to score Garcia and move Alyssa Reina third. A NDSU single loaded the bases with two outs. Zoe Stavrou walked to force home the final run of the inning.
The Bison added four runs in the bottom of the fourth to take an 8-1 lead and ended the game with another run in the bottom of the sixth.
Kelly Pattison went 2-for-2 at the plate for Omaha with a double. Sydney Hames finished the game 2-for-3, while Ditto went 1-for-3 with an RBI.
Abbie Clanton (11-11) allowed nine runs on 14 hits and four walks with two strikeouts in 5.1 innings.
