VERMILLION, S.D. – Second-seeded Omaha advanced to their second straight #SummitSB Championship title game after knocking off third-seeded North Dakota State 2-1 in the loser’s bracket game Saturday at Nygaard Field. Senior third basemen Jamie White delivered the go-ahead three-run home run in the bottom of the third inning to secure the victory.
Omaha hurler Kamryn Meyer, a first-team all-league honoree, pitched a complete-game shutout and gave up just one hit and struck out 10 Bison batters.
Meyer and NDSU pitcher Lainey Lyle retired the first two batters they faced to open the game. The Bison were able to get two runners on in the top of the second with one out, but Meyer was able to get out of the inning with a groundout and a key strikeout.
Omaha’s Rachel Weber posted the Mavericks’ first hit of the game with a line drive single to left. After Jaelle Johnson reached first on a fielding error, Lyle was able to escape the inning with a slick inning-ending double play.
The third inning was a different story, for the Mavericks and would be the difference maker in the contest. With two runners on and two outs in the bottom of the third inning, White, an all-league second team honoree, belted a three-run home run to give the Mavericks the lead.
NDSU’s bats prevailed in the top of fifth inning, as the Bison make it a one-run contest. Skylar Padgett followed up a Nicole Licea single with a double to right center and North Dakota State got on the board as Licea came all the way around to score. Molly Gates would go on to pick up an RBI groundout to score Padgett, and Meyer followed that up with a groundout to retire the following batter and end the frame.
With one out in the top of the seventh inning, NDSU would get a runner on first off a fielding error and Licea would be next at bat. Meyer came through and her defense picked up an inning-ending double play to earn a trip to the championship game.
Pitcher of Record
Win – Kamryn Meyer (21-6): 7.0 IP, 3 hits, 2 earned runs, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts
Loss – Lainey Lyle (7-5): 6.0 IP, 5 hits, 3 earned runs, 2 walks, 0 strikeouts
Notable Notes
• This will be a rematch of last season’s #SummitSB Championship game, with SDSU needing two wins to get claim the title
• Jamie white registered her ninth home run of the season, which ranks second among Maverick batters
• Kamryn Meyer posted her league-leading 21
st win of the season and struck out four Bison batters
Up Next
Omaha will play in its second #SummitSB Championship title game on Sunday at 10 a.m. CT against No. 1 seed South Dakota State. If Omaha defeated SDSU, the if necessary game with take place at 12:30 p.m. CT.
#SummitSB
