SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Omaha softball, ranked fifth in the D1 Softball Mid-Major Top 25, returns to action Saturday as the Mavericks head to Roadrunner Field on the campus of UTSA in San Antonio for a shortened weekend, taking part in three matchups.

Omaha will face Akron and Sam Houston State on Saturday, Feb. 22 beginning at 2:30 p.m. CT, followed by a single game against Michigan State on Sunday, Feb. 23 at 9 a.m. CT. The event was originally slated to begin on Friday, Feb. 21 but was altered due to inclement weather in the region.

The Mavericks have been red-hot to begin the 2025 campaign, currently 9-1 (6-0 in neutral site matchups) and winners of five-straight after sweeping the field in last weekend's FGCU Invitational. 

Coming off the stellar outings, sophomore pitcher Maddia Groff and sophomore outfielder Sammy Schmidt were named Kwik Star Summit League Peak Pitcher and Peak Performer of the Week, respectively –– the second and third Mavericks this season to earn Summit League plaudits after Ava Rongisch got the nod in week one.

Groff had herself a week in the circle as the Mavericks took part in the FGCU Invitational in Fort Meyers, Fla. Groff pitched in three of Omaha's five games, going 3-0 with a pair of starts. Groff pitched two complete games with two shutouts en route to a 0.00 earned run average against Wisconsin, Seton Hall and Florida Gulf Coast. Clocking double-digit strikeouts twice (12 vs. Wisconsin, 11 at FGCU), Groff finished the weekend with 27 strikeouts, allowing only nine hits in 17.0 innings pitched.

Groff did not allow a hit, walking two, in three innings of relief work against the Pirates.

With a season ERA of 0.88, Groff has 52 total strikeouts, the most in the Summit League and third among Division I pitchers.

Schmidt was an offensive power for the Mavericks making four starts for Omaha, going 8-for-15, good for a .533 average over the weekend. Schmidt scored five runs, batted in five runs and registered eight total bases. With a .533 slugging percentage and on-base percentage of .500, Schmidt was a threat in the middle of the lineup. She stole two bases in two attempts (both vs. Seton Hall [2/14 and 2/15]). Schmidt went 3-for-4 in the weekend finale at Florida Gulf Coast with an RBI.

As a team, Omaha is hitting .337 with 28 extra-base hits through the first 10 games this season. Mike Heard's club has outscored opponents 75-27 (+48) thus far.

Following the spell in Texas, Omaha softball heads west for the Louisville Slugger Invitational, hosted by Long Beach State in Long Beach, Calif. beginning with a bout against Pitt on Friday, Feb. 28 at 1:30 p.m. CT.

Season tickets for home games at Connie Claussen Field are on-sale now at OMavs.com/Tix.

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