OMAHA, Neb. — Omaha Softball scored eight runs in the third inning to earn an 8-0 five-inning win over Kansas City on Saturday at Connie Claussen Field.
It was the seventh straight win for Omaha (23-7, 5-0 Summit), which will go for the series sweep at 1 p.m. CT Sunday.
On a day when a strong wind was blowing toward the left-field corner, Omaha didn't have any extra-base hits as it finished with seven singles. Head coach Mike Heard credited his team's discipline at the plate during the third inning when all eight runs scored with two outs.
"We stressed that pretty hard," he said. "We earned a lot of those runs with our plate discipline, making sure the ball was in the zone."
Omaha left runners in scoring position in each of the first two innings before breaking the game wide open by taking advantage of Kansas City miscues in the third.
In a scoreless game, Omaha had a runner at second base with two outs when the next nine Mavericks reached safely.
The first run scored when Alyson Edwards was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Sammy Schmidt drove in the next run with a walk, then Marra Cramer scored on a wild pitch. The next two runs scored on a throwing error.
Taylor Sedlacek added a two-run single to left field to make it 7-0. That was the only ball that left the infield in the inning. Bailey Sample finished the scoring with an infield single to shortstop.
In all, in the third inning, Omaha had two hits, drew four walks, was hit by pitches twice and Kansas City committed two errors.
While Kansas City pitchers struggled, Omaha's Alexis Wiggins threw a one-hitter as she struck out three and didn't walk a batter.
"I thought she really pounded the zone, got ahead of hitters, challenged hitters," Heard said. "She understood the conditions. I thought she did everything we asked of her."
With the win, Wiggins improved to 9-1 in her second season with Omaha.
"She's always been able to pitch well, the ball moves," Heard said, "but her command has been better this year."
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