MINNEAPOLIS –– Senior Marra Cramer closed the regular season with a 4-for-4 performance at the plate, and now Omaha Softball will look to make more history at the Summit League tournament.
The Mavericks, winners of the last three Summit League tournament titles, open postseason play at 11 a.m. CT Thursday in Minneapolis against (4) South Dakota in a rematch of last year's tournament final.
Cramer, Omaha's starting centerfielder the past four seasons, helped lead the Mavericks to a 34-10 record and the program's first outright Summit League regular-season championship. The senior finished the regular season batting .346 with 11 home runs and 43 RBIs.
"We've kind of had the same mindset all season, to go out and do our thing," Cramer said Monday before the team departed for Minneapolis. "The stakes obviously are a little higher now, but we still just want to go out and do our thing."
Head coach Mike Heard said winning the regular-season title had been a priority since preseason camp.
"We prioritize the tournament, but that's still a goal of ours," Heard said. "Obviously it was a big deal and I'm glad our team was able to do that."
Omaha led the Summit League in conference-only games in batting average (.333), runs per game (7.6) and ERA (1.59). The Mavericks also return significant postseason experience, including seven starters from last year's team and 16-game winner Maddia Groff.
"We have a really old team with so many juniors and seniors," Cramer said. "I feel like the pressure we've had under our belts really helps and being able to trust our stuff."
Heard said the balance throughout the roster has made this year's group one of the strongest he has coached at Omaha.
"I think this is our best all-around team since I've been coach," Heard said. "When you look at offense, defense, baserunning — all phases — this feels like the most complete team we've had so far."
The Summit League Championship continues through Saturday, May 9.
Click here for Championship Headquarters.
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