OMAHA, Neb. – Omaha softball continues its 28-game season-opening road swing at the Texas A&M – Corpus Christi Tournament in Corpus Christi, Texas, this weekend, Feb. 23-25. During the third week of the regular season action, the Mavericks will face Utah State, Texas Southern and host Texas A&M – Corpus Christi.
The Starting Lineup
• Omaha enters the third weekend of the season with a 5-5 record following a 2-3 weekend at the Lion Classic II tournament.
• UNO has a combined record of 2-2 all-time against teams in the tournament and will play Maine for the first time in program history.
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Jessica Nelson leads Omaha with eight hits and four runs scored.
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Crystal Pablo leads the team with five RBI.
• Omaha ranks in the top three in the Summit League in six different categories. The Mavericks lead the conference in times hit by a pitch (eight) and stolen bases (14). They are second in triples (2) and walks (31).
• Sixteen players have seen playing time in the Mavericks' first 10 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.
• 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 Texas Southern
The Tigers are 1-1 on the season, after splitting a doubleheader with Houston Baptist last weekend.
As a team, Texas Southern is hitting .224 so far this season with three doubles and three stolen bases. In the circle, the Tigers have a 2.05 ERA with 10 strikeouts. Their opponents are batting .250 with three doubles and a home run.
Individually, Jocilynn Ellis leads Texas Southern with a .667 average (4-for-6) with a double and two runs scored. Dominique Tello is hitting .400 (2-for-5) with a double and two RBI. In the circle, Lauren Rodriguez (1-0) has a 0.00 ERA in five innings of work with five strikeouts. Jasmin Fulmore (0-0) has a 1.40 ERA in five innings with two strikeouts.
Head coach Worley Barker is in his 14th season with Texas Southern.
History vs. Omaha
This weekend will be the first meeting between the Mavericks and the Tigers.
Scouting Utah State
The Aggies are 3-6 on the season after going 1-3 at the Marucci Desert Classic in Las Vegas last weekend.
As a team, Utah State is hitting .311 so far this season with nine doubles, a triple, 10 home runs and 20 stolen bases. In the circle, the Aggies have a 5.13 ERA with 26 strikeouts. Their opponents are batting .310 with 14 doubles, two triples and eight homers.
Individually, Leah Molina leads the Aggies with a .516 average (16-for-31) with six runs scored and eight stolen bases. Jazmin Clarke is hitting .371 (13-of-35) with 10 stolen bases. Riley Plogger leads the team with five home runs and 14 RBI. In the circle, Delaney Hull (1-1) with a 2.92 ERA with eight strikeouts. Kellie White (1-2) has a 3.78 ERA with 10 strikeouts.
Head coach
Steve Johnson is in his fifth year with Utah State.
History vs. Omaha
This weekend will be the second all-time meeting between the Aggies and the Mavericks. Utah State topped Omaha 3-0 last season in St. George, Utah.
Scouting Texas A&M – Corpus Christi
The Islanders are 3-5 on the season, including a 2-1 win over Omaha at the Lion Classic II Tournament last weekend.
As a team, Texas A&M – Corpus Christi is hitting .225 so far this season with eight doubles, a triple and three home runs. In the circle, the Islanders have a 3.99 ERA with 26 strikeouts. Their opponents are batting .319 with nine doubles, a triple and four homers.
Individually, Kayla Sheridan paces the Islanders with a .500 average (10-for-20) and four stolen bases. Keagan Helson leads the team with two homers and four RBI. In the circle, Ashley Smith (0-3) has pitched in six games with a 3.41 ERA with 11 strikeouts. Kandace Johnson (1-1) has a 3.75 ERA in three-relief appearance with four strikeouts.
Head coach Blake Miller is in his second season with Texas A&M – Corpus Christi.
History vs. Omaha
The Mavericks and the Islanders have met three times. Omaha leads the all-time series 2-1 with Texas A&M – Corpus Christi winning the last meeting 2-1 last Sunday.
On Deck
The Mavericks head to Stillwater, Okla., to play in the Mizuno Classic March 2-4. UNO is scheduled to play Maine, Saint Francis and host Oklahoma State in a total of five games over three days.
