BROOKINGS, S.D. – For the second consecutive season, Omaha captured the Summit League Softball Championship by defeating top-seeded South Dakota State twice Saturday at Jackrabbit Softball Stadium. The Mavericks forced a winner-take-all game after posting a 7-2 victory in the first matchup.
Omaha would then make it back-to-back postseason titles with a 5-1 victory in the finale.
Game One
The Jackrabbits threatened in their first at-bat, putting two runners on, but Kamryn Meyer was able to get out of the inning unscathed.
The Mavericks' offense did not waste any time giving Meyer run support as Maggie O’Brien belted a solo homer to right center in the bottom of the first.
Summit League Player of the Year, Mia Jarecki, evened things up for SDSU with a solo shot of her own to lead off the third inning. Emma Osmundson and Lindsey Culver then recorded back-to-back singles off Meyer, but the righthander retired the next three Jackrabbits to keep things level at 1-1.
Osmundson and Culver pulled off the same feat in the fifth, registering back-to-back singles. This time Meyer induced two straight infield pop ups to get out of the jam.
The Mavericks woud load the bases in the sixth off SDSU starter Tori Kniesche, which set the stage for Alex Olson. Omaha's designated player crushed the go-ahead grand slam to give Omaha a 5-1 lead and secure the winner-take-all game.
Game Two
Omaha jumped on SDSU with four runs in the first. After a bases-loaded walk plated the first run, Ava Rongisch laced a double down the left field line to clear the bases and give Omaha an early 4-0 lead.
With Meyer keeping the Jackrabbit bats at bay, O’Brien extended Omaha's advantage to 5-0 thanks to an RBI double that brought home Lynsey Tucker. In the top of the fifth inning, Tucker tacked on two more runs with a single through the right side.
Meyer would close out a three-hit shutout in the seventh, garnering her second straight Championship MVP nod. She struck out four to push her all-time Summit League record in that category to 1,017.
Notable Notes
• Omaha won its second straight Summit League Softball Championship and punched its ticket to the NCAA Tournament
• Fifth-year senior Kamryn Meyer won both games Saturday to push her season win total to 25
• Omaha’s 41 wins is the most in its Division I history
All-Tournament Team
Mariah Peters, North Dakota
Ella Claus, North Dakota State
Delaney White, South Dakota
Abi Brown, South Dakota
Camryn Stickel, Kansas City
Lexy Smith, Kansas City
Sydney Nichols, Kansas City
Lindsey Culver, South Dakota State
Mia Jarecki, South Dakota State
Tori Kniesche, South Dakota State
Emma Osmundson, South Dakota State
Lynsey Tucker, Omaha
Ava Rongisch, Omaha
Sydney Ross, Omaha
Maggie O’Brien, Omaha
Kamryn Meyer, Omaha - MVP
Up Next
Omaha will find out where it’s headed to continue its season at the NCAA Regionals during the selection show, which is slated for today at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN2.
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