MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Top-seeded Omaha kept its championship hopes alive for a second straight game Friday afternoon, eliminating No. 6 seed South Dakota State with an 8-0 run-rule victory in five innings at the 2026 Summit League Softball Championship.
The Mavericks used a six-run fourth inning to break the game open and advance to Saturday’s championship round, where Omaha will meet No. 4 seed South Dakota in a rematch of both last year’s title game and Thursday’s second-round matchup that saw the Coyotes earn a 1-0 victory.
Omaha struck first in the opening inning after Rylinn Groff scored on a throwing error following a stolen base by Katherine Johnson, giving the Mavericks an early 1-0 advantage despite not recording a hit in the frame.
South Dakota State threatened in the third after Ella Berlage and Alli Boyle opened the inning with consecutive singles before Emma Vike worked a walk to load the bases with one out. Summit League Pitcher of the Year Maddia Groff escaped the jam by striking out Abby Gentry and Akayla Barnard to preserve the lead.
The Mavericks then erupted in the fourth inning, sending 11 batters to the plate and scoring six runs. Sammy Schmidt opened the scoring burst with an RBI double before Emma Durr followed with a run-scoring single. Taylor Sedlacek later drew a bases-loaded walk before Bailey Sample added an RBI single. Summit League Defensive Player of the Year Marra Cramer capped the inning with a two-run single to stretch the Omaha lead to 7-0.
Omaha added one final run in the fifth when Ava Rongisch lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Schmidt after her second double of the afternoon.
The Mavericks held South Dakota State scoreless despite the Jackrabbits collecting six hits. Omaha stranded seven SDSU runners and turned away multiple scoring threats, including leaving the bases loaded in the third and stranding three more runners in the fourth.
Pitcher of Record
Win – Maddia Groff (Omaha): 3.2 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
Loss – Madi Mangulis (South Dakota State): 3.1 IP, 2 H, 4 ER, 4 BB, 1 K
Notables
- Omaha survived its second straight elimination game to remain alive in the tournament.
- Schmidt finished 2-for-2 with two doubles, two runs scored and an RBI.
- Cramer recorded two RBIs while reaching base three times.
- Omaha scored six runs in the decisive fourth inning.
- South Dakota State stranded seven runners despite collecting six hits.
- Berlage and Alli Boyle each recorded two hits for the Jackrabbits.
- Groff recorded six strikeouts in the shutout effort.
Up Next
No. 1 Omaha advances to Saturday’s Summit League Softball Championship final against No. 4 South Dakota at 1 p.m. CT. The Mavericks will need to defeat the Coyotes twice to claim their fourth consecutive Summit League Softball Championship title and earn the league’s automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament. South Dakota State has been eliminated from the tournament.
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