Softball Drops Regular Season Finale at NDSU
May 7, 2016 | Softball
FARGO, N.D. – The Omaha softball team dropped its regular season finale Saturday afternoon at the Ellig Sports Complex, as North Dakota State scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take an 8-5 win.
The Mavericks finish the regular season 29-27 overall and 12-5 in Summit League play. The Bison finish 35-13 overall and 17-0 in the league.
Omaha got on the board, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning after senior Sydney Hames hit her 14th home run of the season over the right centerfield fence.
The Mavericks increased their lead in the top of the second inning. Senior Bailey Schulenberg walked to start the inning and moved to second on sophomore Kelly Pattison's single up the middle. UNO loaded the bases when senior Tara Trede singled to center. Junior Nicole Warren hit the first pitch she saw into center field allowing Schulenberg and Pattison to score and put the Mavs up 3-0.
Alyssa Reina led off the bottom of the inning with a solo home run for NDSU to cut Omaha's lead to 3-1. The Bison tied things up in the bottom of the third as Julia Luciano hit a two-run single through the left side.
UNO responded in the top of the fourth. Hames hit a two-out double to right center to score Warren for a 4-3 Omaha lead.
The Mavericks added another run in the top of the fifth for a 5-3 lead. Freshman Kourtney Pock walked to lead off the inning and moved to second on junior Lizzie Noble's one out single. Sophomore Kylie Schwarting pinch ran for Pock and came in to score as Pattison reached on a Bison throwing error.
North Dakota State put together a five run bottom of the sixth inning to take an 8-5 lead. The Bison scored their runs on six hits and two Maverick errors in the inning.
Omaha was retired in order in the top of the seventh as NDSU completed the three-game sweep.
Noble and Hames each had two hits to lead the Mavericks. Noble had a pair of singles, while Hames had a double and a home run with two RBI. Warren went 1-for-4 with two RBI. Pattison, Trede and senior Campbell Ditto also had hits for Omaha.
Junior Abbie Clanton (11-12) suffered the loss allowing eight runs (five earned) on 13 hits and two walks with two strikeouts.
The Mavericks make their first postseason appearance next week in the Summit League Championships. North Dakota State earned the top seed, while Omaha will be the second seed. Both teams will receive a first round bye and will play on Thursday, May 12. Complete tournament pairings will be released later this weekend.
