Leading Off
The Omaha softball team opens the 2023 season at the UNI Dome Tournament this weekend. The Mavericks will play three opponents in a five-game stretch from Friday, Feb. 10 through Sunday, Feb. 12. 

Weekend Schedule
Friday
vs. Iowa State at 12 p.m.
at UNI at 2:30 p.m.
Saturday
vs. Drake at 10 a.m.
at UNI at 12:30 p.m.
Sunday
vs. Drake at 9 a.m. - This has been moved up from a 10:30 a.m. start

Quick Hits
• The Omaha softball team was tabbed second in the 2023 Summit League Preseason Poll Wednesday morning, the league announced. Kamryn Meyer and Lynsey Tucker were selected as Athletes to Watch. 
• Meyer returns to the circle for Omaha and was named a Preseason Athlete to Watch. Last season, Meyer was named All-Region and All-Conference. Meyer led the league in ERA (1.13), opponent batting average (.138), strikeouts (285), shutouts (12) and wins (22). She ranked in the NCAA top-25 in six categories. With 11.2 strikeouts per seven innings, Meyer ranks second. She's third with 12 shutouts, seventh with 3.52 hits allowed per seven innings, ninth with a 1.13 ERA, seventh in total strikeouts with 285, and 19th with 22 wins.
• Meyer became the program's single-season strikeout leader in the final week of the regular season notching her 260th of the year. She also set the program's single-game record on two occasions. She retired 18 Tommies to break it and just a week later she downed 19 Coyotes to up it one more strikeout. Meyer pitched a no-hitter earlier this season vs. UTSA. It marked the second of her career. She also pitched two one-hitters.
• Tucker joins Meyer on the Athlete to Watch list and holds the highest batting average of returning players. Tucker hit .322 last season with 28 total hits, including nine doubles and a triple. Tucker tallied 27 runs, 36 RBI, and led with 16 stolen bases. She was an All-League selection last year.
• Meyer rewrote the record books in more categories than just strikeouts last season. Her 1.16 ERA was the best single-season ERA since 2012. Her 20 wins and 11 shutouts was the most since 2014.
• The Mavericks will play in four non-conference tournaments to start the year. The tournament action wraps with a game against the 2022 National Champions. Omaha will play Oklahoma on Sunday, March 12 to wrap up the Bulldog Invitational hosted by Mississippi State.
• Head coach Mike Heard enters his second season at the helm. He compiled a 32-14 overall record in his first year. Over his seven-year head coaching career, Heard sits at 184-110.

SCOUTING THE IOWA STATE CYCLONES
Head Coach: Jamie Pinkerton
Career: 482-492 (17th year)
ISU: 133-121 (5th Year) 

The Cyclones finished the 2022 campaign with a 28-27 overall record and 6-12 finish in the Big-12. They beat Baylor in the opening game of the Big-12 Championship before Oklahoma ended their post-season run.

CYCLONES TO WATCH
• Mikayla Ramos was named to the 2023 Exyta Elite Top-100 by Extra Inning Softball. She was an All-Big 12 Second Team selection and tabbed All-region. Ramos hit .329 on the year logging, 49 hits, which included 10 doubles, one triple, and 14 homers. She added 51 RBI and 35 runs scored.
• Ellie Spelhaug made the most appearances in the circle last season at 37 an returns to ISU. She posted a 9-16 overall record with a 4.13 ERA. Spelhaug gave up133 hits and struckout 81 batters. 

SCOUTING THE UNI PANTHERS
Head Coach: Ryan Jacobs
Career: 425-325 (15th Year)
UNI: Same

The Panthers posted a 32-13 overall record last season and 22-2 finish in MVC action. After claiming first place in the regular season standings, UNI beat Drake in the MVC Tournament before falling to Missouri State ending its run. UNI was tabbed the MVC preseason favorite back on Jan. 31.

PANTHERS TO WATCH
• Mya Dodge was tabbed the 2022 MVC Freshman of the Year after leading the Panthers at the plate. She hit .373 last season and logged 57 hits, 43 runs, and 34 RBI. The freshman totaled eight doubles, two triples, and 13 homers.
• Kailyn Packard returns to the circle after leading the UNI pitching staff with a 1.70 ERA last year. She posted a 20-6 record, including five shutouts and a save. Packard retired 205 batters last season over 172.2 innings of work.

SCOUTING THE DRAKE BULLDOGS
Head Coach: Rich Calvert
Career: 549-490 (20th Year)
DU: Same

The Bulldogs went 21-29 overall last season with a 14-12 finish in MVC action. Drake earned a win against Bradley in the MVC tournament last season before falling to UNI. The Bulldogs were selected seventh in the 2023 MVC Preseason Poll earlier this year. 

BULLDOGS TO WATCH
• Emily Valtman was named Preseason All-MVC. Last season, she hit .348 and tallied 57 total hits on the year. She led the Bulldogs with 12 homers en route to an all-league nod for the 2022 season.
• In the circle, Paige Bedworth returns after a stellar freshman season. She earned All-MVC honors. She threw 83 innings and won a team-best seven games. She posted a 4.70 ERA on the year.