Omaha Softball Captures Back-to-Back Summit League Championship Titles and Earns Second Consecutive NCAA Tournament Berth

Saturday, May 11

Brookings, SD

1 p.m.

Omaha

40-13

South Dakota State University

33-21

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
South Dakota State	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	2	7	0
OMAHA	1	0	0	0	0	4	X	5	7	1

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
OMAHA	4	0	0	1	2	0	0	7	11	0
South Dakota State	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0

Photo by: Dave Eggen/Inertia

Omaha Softball Captures Back-to-Back Summit League Championship Titles and Earns Second Consecutive NCAA Tournament Berth

May 11, 2024 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

The Omaha Mavericks are crowned back-to-back Summit League Champions with a sweep over South Dakota State in the two title games. The Mavericks came out hot with a 5-2 win in game one, and from the start, the Mavericks dominated game two 7-0, shutting out the Jackrabbits for the second year in a row during the championship game.

Kamryn Meyer, Lynsey Tucker, Ava Rongisch, Sydney Ross, and Maggie O'Brien were all named to the 2024 Summit League All-Tournament Team. Meyer was named the Tournament MVP for the second year in a row.

The Mavericks improved to a 41-13 overall record and are now 15-10 in the Summit League Tournament with two titles under their belt.

Game One: Omaha 5, South Dakota State 2
How It Happened
   - Maggie O'Brien wasted no time getting the Mavericks on the board with a deep home run to right center for an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first.
   - SDSU tied it up at one in the top of the third with a home run to right field.
   - In the bottom of the sixth, Sammy Schmidt entered as a pinch hitter for Sydney Thomason. With Lynsey Tucker and O'Brien at first and second, Schmidt laid down a bunt that got away from the third baseman and loaded the bases.
   - With bases loaded, Alex Olson hit a grand slam to right center, putting Omaha up 5-1.
   - SDSU recorded their second run in the seventh with a ground-out to second.

Game Notes
   - O'Brien went 2-3, scoring two runs and recording one RBI. Her home run marked just the second of her career.
   - Olson went 1-3 with one run and four RBIs.
   - At the end of game one, hits were tied at seven and the Mavericks only had one error.
   - Kamryn Meyer pitched the complete seven innings where she threw 122 pitches including nine strikeouts.

Game One: Omaha 7, South Dakota State 0
How It Happened
   - In the top of the first O'Brien recorded the first hit with a single to third base. Thomason and Olson were both walking behind her in the lineup, loading the bases with one out.
   - Sydney Ross in the five-hole, was walked on a 3-2 count advancing O'Brien home from third and making it 1-0.
   - Ava Rongisch recorded three RBIs with a hit to left field making it 4-0 in the first. Rongisch tried to make it a triple but got tagged out at third.
   - Leading off in the top of the fourth, Tucker singled to right field.
   - O'Brien hit an RBI double to right center to make it 5-0.
   - Rongisch singled up the right side in the top of the fifth followed by Jaelle Johnson who was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second.
   - Olivia Aden put down a sacrifice bunt to move Rongisch and Johnson to second and third.
   - Jenna Marshall entered to pinch run for Rongisch at third.
   - Tucker hit a two-RBI single to the right side putting Omaha up 7-0 in the top of the fifth.
   - The game ended with an SDSU ground out to Kamryn Meyer and the Mavericks were crowned champions with a 7-0 shutout.

Game Notes
   - Today's win marked the Maverick's 19th shutout of the season.
   - O'Brien went 3-3 with one hit and one RBI.
   - Tucker went 3-5 with two RBIs and one run.
   - Rongisch went 2-4 with three RBIs.
   - Jaelle Johnson had a team-high eight putouts.
   - Kamryn Meyer paced the Mavericks with four assists.
   - Meyer pitched the complete seven-inning shutout, throwing 78 pitches including four strikeouts. She only allowed three hits with zero runs, zero walks, and zero errors.
   - Her shutout today marked her ninth of the season and is now 25-4 on the campaign.