OMAHA, Neb. –– Home runs from Katherine Johnson and Emma Durr carried Omaha Softball to a 5-1 Senior Day win over South Dakota State on Sunday at Connie Claussen Field.
The victory gave Omaha (29-8) a weekend sweep as the Mavericks improved to 11-1 in Summit League play with five conference games left. Omaha also finished its league home schedule 9-0, going unbeaten at home for the first time in head coach Mike Heard's tenure.
The home runs came early and late for the Mavericks, who never trailed throughout the series.
With one on and two out in the bottom of the first inning, Johnson went the opposite way as her drive to right-center cleared the fence for a two-run homer. It was her ninth homer this season, and she has a team-best 46 RBIs.
Omaha had base hits in every inning on the day but had a hard time extending its lead. Starting pitcher Maddia Groff, though, didn't require much run support.
"She had her stuff today, and you could tell she was on," Heard said of Groff, who threw a four-hitter with nine strikeouts.
Groff, who tied a season high with 12 strikeouts in Friday's win, retired the first 11 batters she faced before South Dakota State's Abby Gentry hit a drive to right-center that went for a double.
South Dakota State (23-27, 5-7) cut its deficit to 2-1 in the top of the sixth when another Gentry double drove in Emma Vike.
But in the bottom of the sixth, Omaha had two on with two out when Durr secured the win with her three-run homer to left. It was the fourth home run this year for Durr, who is enjoying her best stretch of play since a knee injury ended her sophomore year in 2024.
"She's had to battle through so much. She's toughed her way through it, never quit, and to see her do that, I was so happy for her," Heard said.
Durr, one of seven seniors honored on Senior Day, hit the home run on the seventh pitch of the at-bat.
"It meant everything. It was really special," Durr said. "It was fun to get to home plate and celebrate."
Groff then struck out the side in the seventh as she has thrown 10 complete games this season.
Omaha will now host fourth-ranked Nebraska at 6 p.m. CT Tuesday as the Mavericks look to break the Connie Claussen Field attendance record. Tickets are on sale now at OMavs.com/Tickets or by calling 402-554-MAVS.
