FARGO, North Dakota – The Omaha softball team split its two games at the Summit League Softball Championship Thursday, falling 9-0 to top-seeded North Dakota State before bouncing back for an 11-1 win over Fort Wayne at the Ellig Sports Complex. The Mavericks are now 20-30 on the season.
With the win, the Mavericks move on and take on the loser of North Dakota State and South Dakota State in the consolation bracket championship game with first pitch scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on Friday. Links to live stats and video will be available on OMavs.com.
North Dakota State 9, Omaha 0 (5 innings)
Aubrey Hacke went 3-for-3 at the plate to lead the Mavericks in the first game of the day.
Jessica Nelson was 1-for-2 at the plate with two stolen bases.
Zoe Stavrou went 2-for-3 with a double and home run and two RBI to lead North Dakota State. Tabby Heinz finished 1-for-3 with a homer and three RBI.
North Dakota State's Jacquelyn Sertic (23-9) pitched a complete-game shutout for the win, allowing six hits and a walk with nine strikeouts. Omaha starter
Sydney Hampton (11-13) took the loss, allowing three runs (two earned) in an inning of work with one strikeout.
Laura Roecker pitched the final 3.0 innings allowing six runs (five earned) on five hits and three walks with four strikeouts.
The Bison wasted no time offensively, plating three runs in the first inning and another in the third inning. They finished the game off with a five-spot in the fifth.
Omaha 11, Fort Wayne 1 (5 innings)
Omaha's offense exploded for 11 runs on 12 hits in the elimination game.
Kelly Pattison was 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBI.
Emma Dargy added a 2-for-2 effort at the dish with a homer and three RBI.
Faith Romero was 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI.
Aubrey Hacke finished 2-for-3 with an RBI while
Savannah Fisher went 2-for-3 with an RBI.
Aubrey Hacke (6-8) earned the complete-game victory, limiting the Mastodons to one run on four hits and six walks with a strikeout. The loss went to Bailey Benefiel (12-14), who allowed 11 runs (nine earned) on 12 hits and a walks with a strikeout over a 4.0-inning start.
A two-hit, three-run first inning put Omaha in front early. The Mavericks' put runners on first and third when Mostek walked and moved to third on Hacke's single. Pattison reached on a fielder's choice, and Mostek scored on an error by the catcher. Following a double play, Dargy homered to left center for a 3-0 lead.
Pattison hit a solo home run in the third inning to make it 4-0.
Omaha used a seven-run fourth inning to put the game out of reach. Hacke started off the scoring barrage with an RBI single to left. Pattison then drove in two more with a single to left. Fisher followed with an RBI single to left. Dargy hit a sacrifice fly to score Pattison. Romero then hit a two-run homer to left field for an 11-0 lead.
A walk and two base hits led to the Mastodons lone run in the top of the fifth to make the final 11-1.
