SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Following the first weekend of league play, Omaha and St. Thomas sit atop the standings after completing series sweeps to open conference action at 3-0.
 
The Mavericks opened league play with a three-game sweep of North Dakota State on their home field, while the Tommies matched the feat with a road sweep at Kansas City. Omaha remains at home this weekend, hosting KC for a three-game set beginning Friday at 4 p.m. CT, while St. Thomas returns to St. Paul for a three-game series against South Dakota, slated to begin Saturday at 12 p.m. CT.
 
North Dakota, the lone team that did not open conference play last week, begins its league slate with a three-game series at South Dakota State starting Saturday at 1 p.m. CT.

All inter-league games can be streamed on the Summit League Network.
 
UPCOMING
Date | Stream/TV | Central Time
Friday, March 27
South Dakota at St. Thomas | *(SLN) | 3 p.m.
Kansas City at Omaha | *(SLN) | 4 p.m.
North Dakota State at (6/7) Alabama | (SECN+) | 6 p.m.
 
Saturday, March 28
North Dakota State at (6/7) Alabama | (SECN+) | 1 p.m.
North Dakota at South Dakota State | *(SLN) | 1 p.m.
South Dakota at St. Thomas | *(SLN) | 1 p.m.
Kansas City at Omaha | *(SLN) | 2 p.m.
 
Sunday, March 29
South Dakota at St. Thomas | *(SLN) | 12 p.m.
North Dakota at South Dakota State | *(SLN) | 1 p.m.
Kansas City at Omaha | *(SLN) | 1 p.m.
 
Monday, March 30
North Dakota at South Dakota State | *(SLN) | 2:30 p.m.
 
Wednesday, April 1
Minnesota at St. Thomas | (SLN) | 4 p.m.
 
*Summit League games
Rankings: (NFCA/USA Softball)
Key: SLN (Summit League Network), SECN+ (SEC Network Plus)

AROUND THE LEAGUE
• Omaha moved to the top of the standings after sweeping North Dakota State to open league play, outscoring the Bison 27-7 over the three-game series, and added a 3-2 midweek win over Creighton to extend its winning streak to five games.
• The Mavericks lead the league in batting average (.322) and fielding percentage (.974), with Taylor Sedlacek posting a league-best .552 OBP, 1.422 OPS and 11 home runs.
• Junior outfielder Sammy Schmidt ranks third in the league with a .406 batting average, while pitcher Maddia Groff ranks second in the league with eight wins and 86 strikeouts.
• On March 23, Omaha was ranked second in the week seven D1 Softball Mid-Major Poll.
• St. Thomas opened league play with a road sweep of Kansas City (8-2, 4-1, 15-4) before dropping a pair of midweek games at Iowa.
• The Tommies lead the league with a 2.20 ERA, paced by Ella Cook (1.83) and Mya Tautges (1.88), who rank first and second, respectively.
• Senior Avery Wukawitz ranks second in batting average (.409), slugging (.860) and OPS (1.360) while leading the league with 39 runs scored.
• SDSU took two of three from South Dakota to open league play, winning 4-0 and 9-0 before falling 8-6 in the finale.
• The Jackrabbits rank second in batting average (.306), led by Amanda Vacanti’s league-best .412 average.
• Akayla Barnard is tied for the league lead with 11 home runs and ranks among the top Summit performers in runs (34) and RBI (28).
• South Dakota’s victory over the Jackrabbits marked its first league win of the season.
• USD’s Madison Evans leads the league in innings pitched (97.0) and strikeouts (94), while junior Brooke Carey leads the team with a .356 batting average, ranking ninth in the league.
• North Dakota added a doubleheader sweep of Dakota State after splitting at Portland State, entering league play at 22-11 overall. UND will play its first league contest Saturday at SDSU.
• The Fighting Hawks rank third in ERA (3.57) and second in fielding percentage (.968).
• Junior Tegan Livesay leads the conference with nine wins and ranks among the top three in innings pitched and strikeouts.
• North Dakota State was swept at Omaha to open league play, moving to 16-16 overall.
• Bella Dean leads the league with 12 doubles and ranks among the top five in hits and RBI.
• Freshman standout Jocelyn McClary ranks third in ERA (2.24) and has seven wins in the circle.
• Kansas City was swept at home by the Tommies to begin conference play.
• Leilani Bustamante leads the Roos with a .350 batting average, while pitcher Delilah Robles owns a 2.77 ERA with 40 strikeouts and places amongst the league leaders in wins (6).
 
RESULTS
Friday, March 20
North Dakota State 0, Omaha 8*
South Dakota State 4, South Dakota 0*
North Dakota 3, Portland State 2
St. Thomas 8, Kansas City 2*
North Dakota 0, Portland State 1
 
Saturday, March 21
St. Thomas 4, Kansas City 1*
South Dakota State 9, South Dakota 0*
North Dakota State 0, Omaha 2*
 
Sunday, March 22
St. Thomas 15, Kansas City 4*
South Dakota State 6, South Dakota 8*
North Dakota State 7, Omaha 17*
 
Tuesday, March 24
St. Thomas 1, Iowa 4
St. Thomas 3, Iowa 4
 
Wednesday, March 25
Dakota State 0, North Dakota 9
Creighton 2, Omaha 3
Dakota State 0, North Dakota 8
 
*Summit League games
 
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