OMAHA, Neb. — Maddia Groff and Grace Hornbuckle combined on a two-hit shutout as Omaha softball rolled to an 8-0 five-inning win over North Dakota State on Saturday afternoon at Connie Claussen Field.

Groff struck out six as she worked the first four innings on a day when the Mavericks played this season's home opener as well as their Summit League opener.

"It's really nice not being in an airport. Love playing at our stadium we have here, love seeing our fans," said head coach Mike Heard, whose team improves to 18-7. "Our players were really happy to be home."

Omaha wasted no time jumping on the Bison.

A Rylinn Groff single and two walks loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the first inning. Marra Cramer then lined a two-run single to center field to give the Mavericks a 2-0 lead.

NDSU (16-14) put together its best threat in the second as it had runners at second and third with no outs. But Groff, who improved her record to 7-4, struck out the next two batters and got a groundout to end the inning.

Omaha then scored four runs on a pair of two-out hits in the bottom of the second. First, Bailey Sample's single up the middle scored Rylinn Groff, and Katherine Johnson followed with a three-run home run that cleared the fence in center.

It was Johnson's seventh home run of the season as Omaha has homered in each of its last 13 games.

Overall, Omaha has homered in 22 of its first 25 games.

Omaha scored two more in the third as Rylinn Groff looped a two-run single to center to make it 8-0.

Six of Omaha's runs on the day were scored with two outs.

Heard said it was a good start to the home slate for his team.

"I thought Maddia pitched well, I thought Grace played well. Offense was productive," Heard said.

"Overall, I thought we handled (the home opener) like a very mature team."

Omaha and North Dakota State continue their series at 2 p.m. CT Saturday at Connie Claussen Field.