Mavs Set for Trip to Alabama
Feb 16, 2012 | General, Softball
Game Notes
Lady Hornet Invitational
Location: Montgomery, Ala.
Complex: ASU Softball Complex
Host: Alabama State
The UNO softball team returns to the diamond this weekend, but for the first time this year outdoors, as the Mavs compete at the Lady Hornet Invitational in Montgomery, Ala., hosted by Alabama State. The Mavs will open play at Alabama State on Friday at 4 p.m. UNO caps the first night against Savannah State at 6 p.m. On Saturday, the Mavs play the same teams in reverse order, facing Savannah State at 2 p.m. and Alabama State at 4 p.m.
Scouting the Opponents
Alabama State is off to an 0-5 start this season. The Lady Hornets were shut out in their first three games at the Auburn Invitational last weekend by Auburn, IPFW and Bowling Green. They then lost 17-8 to Appalachian State and 6-3 to Wright State. ASU's Meagan Dixon leads the team with a .333 batting average, and Breeya Wright is the only other player batting over .200 (.214) for the Lady Hornets. Bailey Patt has an 0-3 record and a 5.79 ERA, while Aman Gracia is 0-2 with a 10.24 ERA.
Savannah State enters with a 3-2 record after playing five home games to open the season. The Tigers swept Howard last weekend, 8-0, 11-3, 6-1, but dropped two games to College of Charleston on Wednesday, 8-2, 1-0. Chelsea Parrish hit .714 with four RBIs on opening weekend to lead the Tigers. Madison Hedderly pitched two complete-game wins against Howard allowing no earned runs.
Last Time Out
The Mavs began the 2012 season with an 0-4 record at the Ramada Inn UNI-Dome Classic at Iowa State's Bergstrom Facility last weekend. The Mavs fell to Green Bay, 7-1, and to Valparaiso, 6-0, on the first day to start their inaugural Division I season. On Sunday, the Mavs lost 2-1 to North Dakota and 3-2 to Northern Iowa. Although UNO fell 7-1 to Green Bay, the Mavs actually outhit the Phoenix 13-12. On Saturday, Amber Lutmer and Molly Negrete each went 3-for-6, while Lauren Larson and Emma Wright both went 3-for-7. The Mavs were much closer to a win on Sunday in the pair of one-run losses. Kat Barrow pitched a complete game against North Dakota in her first career start, allowing just two runs on seven hits. Dana Elsasser pitched a complete game in the nightcap, but UNI kept the Mavs' would-be tying run at third base in the top of the seventh to take the 3-2 win. Molly Negrete had walked to open the inning and advanced to third with two outs, but UNO grounded out to end the game. Hinton went 4-for-6 on Sunday with two doubles and two RBIs to lead the Mavs.
Mavs Aim for Third Different Conference Tournament Title in Five Years
In 2012, the UNO Maverick softball team will have a rare opportunity to capture a third conference tournament title in the last five years playing in three different conferences. That's because the Mavs - who won a Division II North Central Conference title in 2008 and a Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletics Association title in 2011 - will spend one year in the four-team Great West Conference before moving on to The Summit League in 2013. The Mavs will get their chance at the Great West Conference Tournament on May 13-14 in Farmers Branch, Texas. Before then, the Mavericks will make the most of their first year as a Division I softball program, beginning with four Division I tournaments in a five-week span.
UNO travels to the Ramada Inn UNI-Dome Classic in Ames, Iowa (Feb. 11-12), the Lady Hornet Invitational in Montgomery, Ala. (Feb. 17-18), the Coastal Carolina Tournament in Conway, S.C. (March 2-4) and the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Fla. (March 11-15).
Mavs' Young Pitching Staff Will Grow Up Quickly in 2012
As if jumping from Division II to Division I wasn't enough, the UNO softball team will also have to replace two All-American pitchers who graduated after the 2011 season - Beth Haley and Lindsey Slocum - UNO's Nos. 1 and 2 options for the past two seasons. Early on, the Mavs' will turn to their lone returner, sophomore Dana Elsasser. The Hershey, Neb., native was 10-1 last year with a 1.18 ERA. Elsasser threw four shutouts and completed seven of her 12 starts. The Mavs added two new pitching prospects in the offseason in junior college transfer Ashton Hughes (Western Nebraska Community College) and freshman Kat Barrow (Kearney, Mo.). The trio will replace Haley and Slocum, who combined for a 37-10 record last year and 82.2 percent of the Mavs' innings pitched.
Offensive Firepower Returns for UNO
Senior catcher Lauren Larson will lead the way offensively after hitting .320 last year and knocking 10 home runs out. Larson was named the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year as well with a .977 fielding percentage behind the plate. The Mavs will also lean on Katelyn Hinton and Amber Lutmer at the plate. Hinton hit .288 last year and drove out seven home runs and had 13 doubles to rank second on the team and scored a team-high 40 runs. Hinton was a second-team All-MIAA selection last season, as was Lutmer, who led the Mavs in home runs as a true freshman with 11 and in RBIs with 42. Lutmer finished with a .312 batting average. Emma Wright, Molly Negrete, Lindsay Redding and Mollie Jones also return as veterans from last season.
Injury Bug Bites Mavs
The Mavs will be without last year's starting middle infield to begin the season. Senior shortstop Molly Feichtinger, the Mavs' leading hitter last year with a .423 batting average, has battled nagging offseason injuries and will be out of the lineup indefinitely to start the season. Senior Ashley Lynch, the Mavs' starting second baseman last year, is recovering from an offseason arm injury and will be used only as a pinch-hitter to start the season.
Mavs Picked Fourth in GWC Preseason Coaches' Poll
The UNO softball team has been picked to finish fourth in the Great West Conference preseason coaches' poll.
The league's last two champions - Houston Baptist and North Dakota - shared the top spot in the rankings with 12 points apiece. Utah Valley came in third with 11 points, while newcomer UNO tallied five points in the poll. The Mavs will play one year in the Great West Conference before beginning Summit League play next season.
The 2012 Great West Conference champion will be crowned at the GWC Softball Tournament held May 13-14, at Farmers Branch, Texas, hosted by Houston Baptist.
2012 GWC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll
Rk. Team (First-place votes) Points
T1. Houston Baptist (1) 12
T1. North Dakota (1) 12
3. Utah Valley (2) 11
4. Nebraska Omaha 5
Great West Conference Welcomes UNO for 2012 Season
The University of Nebraska Omaha softball program has accepted a one-year invitation to join the Great West Conference as an associate member for the 2012 season. The Mavericks, in the midst of reclassifying from NCAA Division II to the Division I Summit League, will be a part of the four-team Great West Conference for one year before beginning Summit League regular-season conference play in 2013.
“We are very excited to be able to play in the Great West Conference this upcoming season,” Head Coach Jeanne Scarpello said. “This is a great opportunity for our student-athletes to not only be able to compete for a trophy next season, but also to earn weekly and all-conference awards. Although we won't be able to battle for a spot in the NCAA Tournament this year, we are thrilled that our great class of seniors will have a chance to end their careers in a competitive tournament atmosphere.”
UNO joins Houston Baptist, North Dakota and Utah Valley in the Great West Conference for softball. The Mavs replace South Dakota, who left the GWC after the 2011 season to begin regular-season conference play in The Summit League in 2012. The four teams will all gather in Farmers Branch, Texas, on March 23-25, 2012, for an event in which each team will play the other three teams to determine seeding for the GWC Softball Championship, which will take place May 13-14 in Farmers Branch, hosted by Houston Baptist.
New Division, New Conference, New Home
In addition to the jump to Division I and the one-year contract with the Great West Conference, the Mavericks will also call a new ballpark home in 2012. The Mavs will begin play at the brand new Westside Field at Westbrook on March 20, when Nebraska visits for a 3 p.m. game. In all, UNO will host six opponents at its new digs, four of which will be doubleheaders. South Dakota and North Dakota will be the only Summit League foes the Mavericks host this year, doubleheaders on April 4 and 22, respectively.
Mavericks Add Five New Talents in 2012
Six student-athletes are new to the UNO program this season. Kat Barrow (RHP, Kearney, Mo.), Mara Eeman (OF, Ralston, Neb.), Lindsay Gilliland (OF, Liberty, Mo.), Tonya Peterson (IF, Omaha, Neb.) and Kiley Thalken (IF, Bennington, Neb.) will all join the team as freshmen. In addition, junior college transfer Ashton Hughes (RHP, Regina, Saskatchewan) will be a first-year Maverick in 2012.
“Not only are these six players athletic, but they are also quality students in the classroom,” Scarpello said. “We look forward to working with all of these young ladies. They all have strong work ethics along with a strong desire to win. They are a perfect fit to keep the winning tradition here at UNO going and take us to another level. We believe that each of these players has the potential and ability to make a strong impact in their first year as Mavericks, and we feel very fortunate that they have chosen to play for UNO.”
Bright Future Ahead with 2013 Signing Class
University of Nebraska Omaha softball head coach Jeanne Scarpello has signed seven recruits to national letters of intent to join the Mavericks in the 2012-13 school year. All seven of the Maverick signees are high school seniors, representing Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma.
“We're very excited to be bringing in seven quality student-athletes,” Scarpello said. “With this being our first Division I signing class, we wanted to find high-caliber players that will compete hard and help us battle for Summit League titles down the road. All of the girls come from successful high school or club teams, and they will all bring a competitive attitude to our team. They will be a great fit at UNO, and we believe that each one has the potential to make a big impact for us.”
The Mavs picked up four signees from their home state. Tania Carroll and Bailey Schulenberg, state champion teammates at Lincoln Southwest, will bring their all-state credentials to the Maverick outfield. Sydney Hames, an all-state product of Bennington, will join the Mavericks, as will Yutan native Tara Trede, who broke numerous school records at Bishop Neumann High School.
UNO also picked up three out-of-state recruits. Kansas City, Kan., native Jesslyn Buie was a standout hitter and starting pitcher at Saint James Academy, and she will join fellow Kansan Campbell Ditto, of Wamego, who was homeschooled through high school but brings an impressive resume of athletic accomplishments. The final member of the class is Kayla Wyatt, a pitcher from Purcell, Okla. Wyatt is Purcell High School's all-time winningest pitcher with a 90-18 record and 16 career no-hitters.
Next Up
UNO will take next week off before returning to the Southeast for the Coastal Carolina Tournament in Conway, S.C., set for March 2-4. The Mavericks will play five games in a span of three days against St. Peter's (twice), Coastal Carolina and Dartmouth (twice).
Lady Hornet Invitational
Location: Montgomery, Ala.
Complex: ASU Softball Complex
Host: Alabama State
The UNO softball team returns to the diamond this weekend, but for the first time this year outdoors, as the Mavs compete at the Lady Hornet Invitational in Montgomery, Ala., hosted by Alabama State. The Mavs will open play at Alabama State on Friday at 4 p.m. UNO caps the first night against Savannah State at 6 p.m. On Saturday, the Mavs play the same teams in reverse order, facing Savannah State at 2 p.m. and Alabama State at 4 p.m.
Scouting the Opponents
Alabama State is off to an 0-5 start this season. The Lady Hornets were shut out in their first three games at the Auburn Invitational last weekend by Auburn, IPFW and Bowling Green. They then lost 17-8 to Appalachian State and 6-3 to Wright State. ASU's Meagan Dixon leads the team with a .333 batting average, and Breeya Wright is the only other player batting over .200 (.214) for the Lady Hornets. Bailey Patt has an 0-3 record and a 5.79 ERA, while Aman Gracia is 0-2 with a 10.24 ERA.
Savannah State enters with a 3-2 record after playing five home games to open the season. The Tigers swept Howard last weekend, 8-0, 11-3, 6-1, but dropped two games to College of Charleston on Wednesday, 8-2, 1-0. Chelsea Parrish hit .714 with four RBIs on opening weekend to lead the Tigers. Madison Hedderly pitched two complete-game wins against Howard allowing no earned runs.
Last Time Out
The Mavs began the 2012 season with an 0-4 record at the Ramada Inn UNI-Dome Classic at Iowa State's Bergstrom Facility last weekend. The Mavs fell to Green Bay, 7-1, and to Valparaiso, 6-0, on the first day to start their inaugural Division I season. On Sunday, the Mavs lost 2-1 to North Dakota and 3-2 to Northern Iowa. Although UNO fell 7-1 to Green Bay, the Mavs actually outhit the Phoenix 13-12. On Saturday, Amber Lutmer and Molly Negrete each went 3-for-6, while Lauren Larson and Emma Wright both went 3-for-7. The Mavs were much closer to a win on Sunday in the pair of one-run losses. Kat Barrow pitched a complete game against North Dakota in her first career start, allowing just two runs on seven hits. Dana Elsasser pitched a complete game in the nightcap, but UNI kept the Mavs' would-be tying run at third base in the top of the seventh to take the 3-2 win. Molly Negrete had walked to open the inning and advanced to third with two outs, but UNO grounded out to end the game. Hinton went 4-for-6 on Sunday with two doubles and two RBIs to lead the Mavs.
Mavs Aim for Third Different Conference Tournament Title in Five Years
In 2012, the UNO Maverick softball team will have a rare opportunity to capture a third conference tournament title in the last five years playing in three different conferences. That's because the Mavs - who won a Division II North Central Conference title in 2008 and a Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletics Association title in 2011 - will spend one year in the four-team Great West Conference before moving on to The Summit League in 2013. The Mavs will get their chance at the Great West Conference Tournament on May 13-14 in Farmers Branch, Texas. Before then, the Mavericks will make the most of their first year as a Division I softball program, beginning with four Division I tournaments in a five-week span.
UNO travels to the Ramada Inn UNI-Dome Classic in Ames, Iowa (Feb. 11-12), the Lady Hornet Invitational in Montgomery, Ala. (Feb. 17-18), the Coastal Carolina Tournament in Conway, S.C. (March 2-4) and the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Fla. (March 11-15).
Mavs' Young Pitching Staff Will Grow Up Quickly in 2012
As if jumping from Division II to Division I wasn't enough, the UNO softball team will also have to replace two All-American pitchers who graduated after the 2011 season - Beth Haley and Lindsey Slocum - UNO's Nos. 1 and 2 options for the past two seasons. Early on, the Mavs' will turn to their lone returner, sophomore Dana Elsasser. The Hershey, Neb., native was 10-1 last year with a 1.18 ERA. Elsasser threw four shutouts and completed seven of her 12 starts. The Mavs added two new pitching prospects in the offseason in junior college transfer Ashton Hughes (Western Nebraska Community College) and freshman Kat Barrow (Kearney, Mo.). The trio will replace Haley and Slocum, who combined for a 37-10 record last year and 82.2 percent of the Mavs' innings pitched.
Offensive Firepower Returns for UNO
Senior catcher Lauren Larson will lead the way offensively after hitting .320 last year and knocking 10 home runs out. Larson was named the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year as well with a .977 fielding percentage behind the plate. The Mavs will also lean on Katelyn Hinton and Amber Lutmer at the plate. Hinton hit .288 last year and drove out seven home runs and had 13 doubles to rank second on the team and scored a team-high 40 runs. Hinton was a second-team All-MIAA selection last season, as was Lutmer, who led the Mavs in home runs as a true freshman with 11 and in RBIs with 42. Lutmer finished with a .312 batting average. Emma Wright, Molly Negrete, Lindsay Redding and Mollie Jones also return as veterans from last season.
Injury Bug Bites Mavs
The Mavs will be without last year's starting middle infield to begin the season. Senior shortstop Molly Feichtinger, the Mavs' leading hitter last year with a .423 batting average, has battled nagging offseason injuries and will be out of the lineup indefinitely to start the season. Senior Ashley Lynch, the Mavs' starting second baseman last year, is recovering from an offseason arm injury and will be used only as a pinch-hitter to start the season.
Mavs Picked Fourth in GWC Preseason Coaches' Poll
The UNO softball team has been picked to finish fourth in the Great West Conference preseason coaches' poll.
The league's last two champions - Houston Baptist and North Dakota - shared the top spot in the rankings with 12 points apiece. Utah Valley came in third with 11 points, while newcomer UNO tallied five points in the poll. The Mavs will play one year in the Great West Conference before beginning Summit League play next season.
The 2012 Great West Conference champion will be crowned at the GWC Softball Tournament held May 13-14, at Farmers Branch, Texas, hosted by Houston Baptist.
2012 GWC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll
Rk. Team (First-place votes) Points
T1. Houston Baptist (1) 12
T1. North Dakota (1) 12
3. Utah Valley (2) 11
4. Nebraska Omaha 5
Great West Conference Welcomes UNO for 2012 Season
The University of Nebraska Omaha softball program has accepted a one-year invitation to join the Great West Conference as an associate member for the 2012 season. The Mavericks, in the midst of reclassifying from NCAA Division II to the Division I Summit League, will be a part of the four-team Great West Conference for one year before beginning Summit League regular-season conference play in 2013.
“We are very excited to be able to play in the Great West Conference this upcoming season,” Head Coach Jeanne Scarpello said. “This is a great opportunity for our student-athletes to not only be able to compete for a trophy next season, but also to earn weekly and all-conference awards. Although we won't be able to battle for a spot in the NCAA Tournament this year, we are thrilled that our great class of seniors will have a chance to end their careers in a competitive tournament atmosphere.”
UNO joins Houston Baptist, North Dakota and Utah Valley in the Great West Conference for softball. The Mavs replace South Dakota, who left the GWC after the 2011 season to begin regular-season conference play in The Summit League in 2012. The four teams will all gather in Farmers Branch, Texas, on March 23-25, 2012, for an event in which each team will play the other three teams to determine seeding for the GWC Softball Championship, which will take place May 13-14 in Farmers Branch, hosted by Houston Baptist.
New Division, New Conference, New Home
In addition to the jump to Division I and the one-year contract with the Great West Conference, the Mavericks will also call a new ballpark home in 2012. The Mavs will begin play at the brand new Westside Field at Westbrook on March 20, when Nebraska visits for a 3 p.m. game. In all, UNO will host six opponents at its new digs, four of which will be doubleheaders. South Dakota and North Dakota will be the only Summit League foes the Mavericks host this year, doubleheaders on April 4 and 22, respectively.
Mavericks Add Five New Talents in 2012
Six student-athletes are new to the UNO program this season. Kat Barrow (RHP, Kearney, Mo.), Mara Eeman (OF, Ralston, Neb.), Lindsay Gilliland (OF, Liberty, Mo.), Tonya Peterson (IF, Omaha, Neb.) and Kiley Thalken (IF, Bennington, Neb.) will all join the team as freshmen. In addition, junior college transfer Ashton Hughes (RHP, Regina, Saskatchewan) will be a first-year Maverick in 2012.
“Not only are these six players athletic, but they are also quality students in the classroom,” Scarpello said. “We look forward to working with all of these young ladies. They all have strong work ethics along with a strong desire to win. They are a perfect fit to keep the winning tradition here at UNO going and take us to another level. We believe that each of these players has the potential and ability to make a strong impact in their first year as Mavericks, and we feel very fortunate that they have chosen to play for UNO.”
Bright Future Ahead with 2013 Signing Class
University of Nebraska Omaha softball head coach Jeanne Scarpello has signed seven recruits to national letters of intent to join the Mavericks in the 2012-13 school year. All seven of the Maverick signees are high school seniors, representing Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma.
“We're very excited to be bringing in seven quality student-athletes,” Scarpello said. “With this being our first Division I signing class, we wanted to find high-caliber players that will compete hard and help us battle for Summit League titles down the road. All of the girls come from successful high school or club teams, and they will all bring a competitive attitude to our team. They will be a great fit at UNO, and we believe that each one has the potential to make a big impact for us.”
The Mavs picked up four signees from their home state. Tania Carroll and Bailey Schulenberg, state champion teammates at Lincoln Southwest, will bring their all-state credentials to the Maverick outfield. Sydney Hames, an all-state product of Bennington, will join the Mavericks, as will Yutan native Tara Trede, who broke numerous school records at Bishop Neumann High School.
UNO also picked up three out-of-state recruits. Kansas City, Kan., native Jesslyn Buie was a standout hitter and starting pitcher at Saint James Academy, and she will join fellow Kansan Campbell Ditto, of Wamego, who was homeschooled through high school but brings an impressive resume of athletic accomplishments. The final member of the class is Kayla Wyatt, a pitcher from Purcell, Okla. Wyatt is Purcell High School's all-time winningest pitcher with a 90-18 record and 16 career no-hitters.
Next Up
UNO will take next week off before returning to the Southeast for the Coastal Carolina Tournament in Conway, S.C., set for March 2-4. The Mavericks will play five games in a span of three days against St. Peter's (twice), Coastal Carolina and Dartmouth (twice).
Players Mentioned
RHP
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OF
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RHP
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IF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
LHP
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OF
/ Softball
RHP
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OF
/ Softball
C
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C
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IF
/ Softball
IF
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IF
/ SoftballOF
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LHP/OF
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IF
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IF
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Friday, August 21
Tuesday, April 21
