OMAHA, Neb. – Omaha softball dropped a doubleheader against South Dakota to open Summit League play, falling 11-6 and 11-2 (5 innings) on Friday at Westside Field at Westbrook.
The Mavericks are now 12-21 overall and 0-2 in Summit League play while the Coyotes improved to 12-20 and 2-0.
South Dakota 11, Omaha 6
Omaha built an early five-run lead but dropped an 11-6 decision to South Dakota in game one.
The win went to Dustie Durham (7-7), who allowed nine hits and six runs (four earned) over 5.0 innings of work. Sarah Lisko threw 2.0 shutout innings to pick up the save.
Sydney Hampton (8-9) took the loss for Omaha, surrendering six runs (four earned) on seven hits over 4.0 innings pitched.
Laura Roecker allowed five runs (one earned) in 3.0 innings of relief with two strikeouts.
Natalie Mostek (3-for-3, two runs scored),
Kelly Pattison (2-for-4, RBI) and
Aubrey Hacke (2-for-3, RBI) all finished with multi-hit performances at the plate.
Savannah Fisher and
Emma Dargy each homered for the Mavericks.
Omaha was hot at the plate from the beginning, as the Mavericks jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Mostek led off with an infield hit and moved to third with two outs. Fisher then launched a 1-1 pitch over the left field wall to put UNO on the board. Dargy was then hit by a pitch and scored on Hacke's run-scoring double.
UNO added a pair of runs in the second, using three hits and an error. Mostek started things with a two-out double.
Jessica Nelson hit an RBI single and moved to second on the play at home. Nelson then stole third and scored on Pattison's RBI single up the middle for a 5-0 advantage.
USD cut the lead to two in the third with a three-run, three-hit inning. Emily Winckler and Lauren Eamiguel hit back-to-back singles to start the frame. Durham hit the first pitch she saw from Hampton over the left field fence to make it 5-3.
The Coyotes added a single run in the fourth before scoring five runs in the fifth. Durham and Camille Fowler opened with consecutive hits. Following a pitching change, Durham scored on an Omaha error, which tied the game at 5-5. Roecker retired the next two batters before Jessica Rogers homered down the right-field line to take a 9-5 lead.
Dargy led off the bottom of the sixth with a solo shot to left center to cut the lead to 8-6.
USD added a pair of insurance runs in the seventh on a hit and an error, which made the final 11-6.
South Dakota 11, Omaha 2 (5 innings)
USD used an eight-run fourth inning to propel it to an 11-2 victory over UNO in the nightcap.
Lisko (4-7) pitch a complete game, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks with two strikeouts. Hacke (3-7) started and took the loss, going 3.0 innings allowing seven runs on 11 hits and a walk with two strikeouts.
Halley Jones pitched 0.1 innings, allowing four runs on one hit and four walks. Roecker pitched the final 1.2 innings allowing no runs on three hits and two strikeouts.
Fowler and Winckler opened game two with consecutive hits. After a strikeout, Rogers hit a two-run single to make it 2-0.
Omaha answered with a run in the bottom of the first. Mostek worked a leadoff walk and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. A Pattison bunt allowed Mostek to score to cut the lead to 2-1.
The Coyotes added a run in the third inning on two hits to increase the lead to 3-1.
UNO answered again in the bottom of the third. Mostek led off with a single and moved to third on Pattison's sacrifice. Fisher then hit an RBI single to make it 3-2.
South Dakota used six hits to score eight runs in the top of the fourth to make the score 11-2. Lisko retired the next six Maverick batters to end the game via run rule.
Up Next
Omaha and South Dakota conclude the series on Friday, March 23. First pitch is set for Noon at Westside Field at Westbrook.
