OMAHA, Neb. – The Omaha softball team begins its 51
st season in program history this weekend as the Mavericks compete at the Rambler Rumble hosted by Loyola Chicago on Friday-Sunday, Feb. 7-9 in Rosemont, Ill.
Weekend Schedule
Omaha opens the season on Friday at 10 a.m. against IUPUI before battling Loyola at 3 p.m. Saturday's action begins with a 10 a.m. showdown with Green Bay, followed by a game vs. Butler at 12:30 p.m. The Mavericks conclude the weekend action against Miami (OH) on Sunday at 10 a.m. Live stats and video are not available for any games this weekend.
Leading Off
- The Mavericks return 13 letterwinners and seven starters from last season's team, adding a talented crop of 10 newcomers to the roster.
- One of the three seniors on the roster, Maverick infielder Emma Dargy received some preseason recognition heading into the season. Dargy joined sophomore Jamie White on the Summit League's Preseason Players to Watch List.
- White led Omaha with a .263 batting average, five home runs and 21 RBI last season while Dargy started all 47 games, hitting a team-leading eight doubles with three home runs and 14 RBI to collect Second Team All-Summit honors.
- Head coach Amanda Eberhart enters her second season at the helm of the Maverick softball program and sixth season overall as a head coach. Omaha's next victory will put Eberhart at the century mark as she has a career record of 99-151.
- The Mavericks play on the road for the first six weekends of the season before their home opener against Summit League foe South Dakota set for Saturday, March 21 at noon.
- Omaha was picked to finish seventh in the Summit League Preseason Poll, as voted on by the league's head coaches.
Starting Strong
The Mavericks are 31-19 in season openers in the history of the program. Since the transition to Division I, Omaha owns a 5-3 mark in season openers.
Omaha has finished a season-opening tournament with a perfect record one time since moving to DI after starting the 2013 season with a flawless 5-0 mark.
Looking Ahead
The Mavericks travel to Las Cruces, N.M., to face New Mexico State in a three-game series on Friday-Saturday, Feb. 14-15. Omaha and the Aggies play a doubleheader on Friday beginning at 4 p.m. CT before wrapping up the series on Saturday at 1 p.m. CT.
