OMAHA, Neb. – Omaha softball is set to play its final road tournament this week. After a change in the schedule due to incoming weather, the Mavericks will play in the Wichita State Tournament Thursday, March 11 through Saturday, March 13. The tournament was originally slated as a Friday through Sunday series.
Weekend Schedule
Omaha opens action on Thursday at 10 a.m. vs. host school Wichita State. Immediately following the finish of that game, Omaha will take the field vs. North Texas. The Mavericks and Mean Green will open Friday morning with a 10 a.m. first pitch. After a bit of a break, Omaha will then play Missouri State at 3 p.m. Friday. The tournament will be capped with one final game vs. Missouri State on Saturday at 11 a.m.
Leading Off
- Omaha picked up its 200th Division I win last week vs. New Mexico in the OSU/Tulsa Invitational. The Mavericks downed the Lobos, 7-2, to wrap up the tournament.
- The win was highlighted by a two-run homer from Emily Klosterman in the second inning and a two-run homer from Janae Cameron in the third.
- Sydney Nuismer made her first career-start in the circle vs. No. 9 Oklahoma State. She also made the start vs. New Mexico to tally her first career win. In the win, Nuismer retired four batters.
- Over the five-game tournament, Burkardt led the Mavericks at the plate hitting .357. She went 5-for-14 at the plate, including one double.
- Cameron made three starts and hit .500 over those three games. She tallied a double, a homer, two runs and two RBI.
- With a .275 team batting average, Omaha sits third in the Summit League behind South Dakota State (.302) and Kansas City (.318). Omaha's seven homers and 49 RBI on the year also ranks third in the conference.
- Burkhardt is hitting .382 this season ranking fifth on the Summit League hitting charts. She has 13 hits so far this season.
- Lynsey Tucker isn't far behind Burkhardt. She's batting .361 and sits eighth in the ranks. Tucker has 13 hits and seven runs so far this season.
Series History
- Omaha leads the series with Wichita State, 3-2. Wichita State and Omaha met last in the 2015 season with a doubleheader in Wichita, Kansas. The Shockers took both meetings over the Mavericks. Wichita took the first meeting 7-5 and the second 4-1.
- The all-time series with North Texas is tied, 1-1. North Texas and Omaha met last in 2016 in Tucson, Arizona. The Mean Green run-ruled the Mavericks 11-3 in five innings. A seven-run third inning for North Texas sealed the win as Omaha couldn't catch up.
- The Mavericks lead the all-time series with Missouri State, 4-1. and Omaha will meet for the third time this season and sixth time in program history. The Mavericks run-ruled the Bears 10-1 in six innings in the last meeting on Feb. 27. Omaha finished the game with 13 hits with six players tallying two each. Klosterman and Diana Murtha each recorded three RBI. Klosterman added two runs scored. Kamryn Meyer pitched a full six innings. She retired a career-best nine batters and picked up the win in the circle.
On Deck
Omaha will open the home portion of its schedule and
Connie Claussen Field on March 17 at 4 p.m. vs. crosstown rival Creighton.
