GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The University of North Dakota softball team fell, 4-0, to Omaha in the series finale on a cold Sunday afternoon from Apollo Park at Oxford Sports Complex.

It was a pitching duel between a pair of aces, with the two hurlers combining for 17 strikeouts and seeing runs coming in only two innings as both finished with complete games.

Omaha’s Kamryn Meyer, who entered as the Summit League’s leader in multiple pitching categories, pitched a complete game, three-hit shutout with 10 strikeouts to notch her 21st win of the season. Jackie Albrecht also had a strong afternoon in the circle for the Fighting Hawks, allowing four earned runs on nine hits while striking out seven over seven innings of work.

The defense came up strong early for NoDak, with Albrecht inducing a 6-4-3 double play in the top of the first to get out of a two-on, one-out jam, but Omaha responded with a double play of its own after Angie Dumlao opened the bottom of the first with a single to keep the game scoreless.

Omaha jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second, plating a pair when back-to-back doubles followed a walk to bring home the first runs of the day for the visitors. The Mavs notched a third run of the inning with two outs, but Cassie Castaneda limited the damage by gunning out a runner attempting to steal to end the stanza.

Both pitchers began to settle into a groove over the middle innings, with only three hits coming between the two teams during the third, fourth and fifth frames. UND did threaten in the fourth after a hit and a fielder’s choice, but Castaneda’s rocket was snagged at third.

The Mavericks pushed the lead to four in the top of the seventh before Meyer finished off the complete game and the 4-0 win with a 1-2-3 frame.

North Dakota will close out the regular season with a three-game series at home against Kansas City beginning with a doubleheader on Friday at 2 p.m.

Postgame Notes 

  • Albrecht tossed her 12th complete game of the season
  • The junior also fanned seven hitters
  • Izzy Haslett notched a hit to finish the weekend 3-for-9, including 3-for-6 over the final two games
  • Cassie Castaneda recorded a hit and finished 1-for-1 on stolen base attempts against

How It Happened 

2nd | UNO | Rongisch doubles home the first run of the game into left field to give the Mavs a 1-0 lead
2nd | UNO | Johnson follows with another two-bagger to increase the advantage to 2-0
2nd | UNO | O’Brien makes it a three-run inning with a single into right field
7th | UNO | Olson brings home a fourth run with a single into left field

For more information on North Dakota softball, visit FightingHawks.com or follow on social media @UNDsoftball.