OMAHA, Neb. – The Omaha softball team closed its weekend series with South Dakota Friday afternoon, falling 11-8 at Westside Field at Westbrook. The Mavericks are now 12-22 (0-3 Summit League), while the Coyotes improved to 13-20 (3-0).
South Dakota reliever Dustie Durham (8-7) went 3.1 innings for the win, allowing one hit with five strikeouts. The loss went to
Sydney Hampton (8-10), who surrendered two runs (one earned) on one hit.
UNO starter
Laura Roecker threw 5.0 innings, allowing seven runs (five earned) on 10 hits with a walk and two strikeouts.
Aubrey Hacke also tossed 1.2 innings of relief, allowing two runs on two hits and two walks.
Kelly Pattison led Omaha at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBI.
Savannah Fisher was 2-for-3 with a double, homer and three RBI. Hacke also went 2-for-4 with a double.
South Dakota opened the scoring in the top of the first with a pair of runs. Alyssa Fernandez got hit by a pitch before Jessica Rogers hit a two-run home run to put the Coyotes in front 2-0.
Omaha struck back in the bottom half of the first. Pattison and
Jessica Nelson hit back-to-back one-out singles. Fisher then hit a 3-1 offering to straightaway center and give the Mavericks a 3-2 advantage.
USD tied the game at 3-3 with a pair of doubles in the third.
The Mavericks broke the tie in the bottom of the fourth, scoring five runs on three hits and two errors. Omaha loaded the bases on a pair of errors and a base hit.
Natalie Mostek worked a one-out walk to put UNO in front 4-3. Following a fielder's choice, Pattison cleared the bases with a grand slam to left field for an 8-3 Maverick lead.
South Dakota answered with a pair of runs in the fifth on two hits and an error. The Coyotes took the lead in the top of the sixth with four hits and an error. USD added a pair of insurance runs in the seventh on Rogers' second home run of the game that made the final 11-8.
Up Next
The Mavericks return to the field next weekend, hosting South Dakota State in a three-game series. UNO and SDSU will play a doubleheader on Friday, March 30 starting at Noon, and a single game on Saturday, March 31 at 11 a.m.
