OMAHA, Neb. - The Omaha softball team visits Southern University for a single midweek game this Wednesday, Feb. 14, with first pitch set for 4 p.m. at Zachary Youth Park in Baton Rouge, La.
Leading Off
• Omaha played four games at the Bulldog Kickoff Classic last weekend, finishing with a 2-2 mark.
• Sixteen players have seen playing time in the Mavericks' first four games, with seniors
Jessica Nelson and
Crystal Pablo; juniors
Taylor Conkling,
Demi Dobbs,
Savannah Fisher,
Sarrah Mains and
Faith Romero; and freshmen
Aubrey Hacke,
Sydney Hampton and
Halley Jones all making their first career starts.
• Hampton and
Natalie Mostek are hitting a team-leading .500 entering Wednesday's game at Southern.
•
Jessica Nelson leads the team with three hits, while Mostek and
Faith Romero each have two.
• The 2018 Omaha softball campaign marks the 49th season overall and second under head coach
DJ Sanchez. The Mavericks have racked up 1,492 wins since UNO's inaugural season in 1969 (records are incomplete from 1969 through 1973).
• UNO's will have a balanced roster in 2018, featuring 10 upperclassmen along with nine underclassmen.
• In the 2018 Summit League Preseason Coaches' Poll, the Mavericks were picked to finish fifth by the league's head coaches.
• Omaha returns six letterwinners in 2018, including four position players with starting experience and one starting pitcher.
• UNO's roster features 13 newcomers, including two seniors, five juniors and six freshmen.
• Omaha plays 28-straight road games before its home-opener against Nebraska on March 13.
• UNO hosts eight home games at Westside Field at Westbrook this season.
• During the fall 2017 semester, Omaha reported a 3.30 team grade point average (GPA); five Mavericks earned a spot on the Dean's List, including three student-athletes on the Chancellor's List.
• The Mavericks finished the 2017 season with a record of 15-30 (6-8 Summit League) and finished fifth in the league standings.
Scouting the Southern Jaguars
The Jaguars opened the season by sweeping a two-game set from Howard, 10-1 and 9-5, on Feb. 8. In the opener, Sydney Andrews went 3-for-3 with two runs scored, two stolen bases and an RBI. Tiara Scott also went 3-for-3 with a home run, three runs scored and three RBI. Aubrion James pitched a complete game to pick up the win. In the second game, James, Jamani Greer, and Alison Walton each homered. Greer and Kiara Suttles each drove in three runs. Elizabeth Donaldson pitched 3.2 innings to pick up the win. Tiara Scott pitched the final 3.1 innings for the Jaguars.
Last season, Southern finished with a 17-22 overall mark and a 7-10 record in the SWAC.
Head coach John Garris is in his fourth season at Southern with a mark of 47-56 and 284-329-1 career record in 15 years.
History against Southern
Wednesday marks the first all-time meeting between the Mavericks and Jaguars.
On Deck
Omaha heads to Hammond, La., to take part in the Lion Classic II Feb. 16-18.
