South Dakota State needed one win this weekend at Connie Claussen Field to clinch the Summit League regular-season softball title.
The Jackrabbits got that Friday night with a comeback win in the nightcap of a doubleheader with Omaha, which needed a sweep to win the league title.
After UNO won the opener 2-0 on a two-hitter by Kamryn Meyer, SDSU scored the final four runs of the second game for a 6-4 win.
SDSU (31-19, 14-1) and UNO (37-12, 13-4) will play the regular-season finale at 11 a.m. Saturday.
The only runs in the opener came in the bottom of the fourth on a ball that didn’t leave the infield.
With two outs in the fourth, South Dakota State starter Tori Kniesche walked the bases loaded. UNO’s Lynsey Tucker then hit a ground ball up the middle that was stopped on a diving play by SDSU second baseman Mia Jarecki, but she wasn’t able to flip the ball to the shortstop for a forceout as UNO’s Jaelle Johnson and Olivia Aden scored on the play.
Kniesche worked the first four innings as she was lifted after throwing 112 pitches. SDSU walked eight batters in the opener as UNO stranded 10 runners.
Meyer worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the third inning, but that was her only high-stress inning. She struck out six and is 25 away from 1,000 for her career.
Meyer improved to 22-3 on the season as she won her 17th straight decision.
UNO took its first lead in the nightcap thanks to a three-run fourth inning. Down 2-1, the Mavs tied it when Ava Rongisch grounded an RBI single to right field. Three batters later with the bases loaded, Tucker lined a single to center to score Rongisch and Olivia Aden.
But in the fifth, SDSU made it 4-4 as Emma Osmundson delivered a two-run single to left, then the Jackrabbits regained the lead in the sixth.
With two on and two out, Papillion-La Vista graduate Mia Jarecki lined a triple into the right-field corner to make it 6-4.
UNO had runners on base in the sixth and seventh, but weren’t able to draw closer.
Photos: Omaha softball hosts Creighton
Omaha's Alex Olson (2) slides into third base during the second inning of a college softball game against Creighton at Connie Claussen Field in Omaha on Tuesday, April 2, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Creighton's Madeline Vejvoda (19) swings during the first inning of a college softball game against Omaha at Connie Claussen Field in Omaha on Tuesday, April 2, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Creighton's Natalia Puchino (20) pitches during the first inning of a college softball game against Omaha at Connie Claussen Field in Omaha on Tuesday, April 2, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Omaha's Maggie O'Brien (1) bats during the first inning of a college softball game against Creighton at Connie Claussen Field in Omaha on Tuesday, April 2, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Omaha's Maggie O'Brien (1) connects during the first inning of a college softball game against Creighton at Connie Claussen Field in Omaha on Tuesday, April 2, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Omaha's Ava Rongisch (23) swings during the first inning of a college softball game against Creighton at Connie Claussen Field in Omaha on Tuesday, April 2, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Omaha's Kamryn Meyer (18) pitches during the second inning of a college softball game against Creighton at Connie Claussen Field in Omaha on Tuesday, April 2, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Omaha head coach Mike Heard during the second inning of a college softball game against Creighton at Connie Claussen Field in Omaha on Tuesday, April 2, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Omaha's Alex Olson (2) rounds second base during the second inning of a college softball game against Creighton at Connie Claussen Field in Omaha on Tuesday, April 2, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Creighton's Ella Dalton (13) catches a ball to center field during the second inning of a college softball game against Omaha at Connie Claussen Field in Omaha on Tuesday, April 2, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Creighton's Ella Dalton (13) throws to the infield during the second inning of a college softball game against Omaha at Connie Claussen Field in Omaha on Tuesday, April 2, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Omaha's Lynsey Tucker (14) slides into third base as Creighton's Erika Perez (12) catches the ball during the second inning of a college softball game at Connie Claussen Field in Omaha on Tuesday, April 2, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Creighton's Ashten Pierson (4) connects during the third inning of a college softball game against Omaha at Connie Claussen Field in Omaha on Tuesday, April 2, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Creighton's Kenzie Schopfer (16) pitches during the third inning of a college softball game against Omaha at Connie Claussen Field in Omaha on Tuesday, April 2, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Omaha's Ava Rongisch (23) bats during the third inning of a college softball game against Creighton at Connie Claussen Field in Omaha on Tuesday, April 2, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Omaha's Sydney Ross (6) catches the ball during the fourth inning of a college softball game against Creighton at Connie Claussen Field in Omaha on Tuesday, April 2, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Creighton's Lily West (8) bats during the fourth inning of a college softball game against Omaha at Connie Claussen Field in Omaha on Tuesday, April 2, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Omaha's Olivia Aden (12) catches the ball during the fourth inning of a college softball game against Creighton at Connie Claussen Field in Omaha on Tuesday, April 2, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Creighton's Kenzie Schopfer (16) pitches during the fourth inning of a college softball game against Omaha at Connie Claussen Field in Omaha on Tuesday, April 2, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Creighton's Ella Dalton (13) catches a fly ball to center field during the fourth inning of a college softball game against Omaha at Connie Claussen Field in Omaha on Tuesday, April 2, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Omaha's Kamryn Meyer (18) pitches during the fifth inning of a college softball game against Creighton at Connie Claussen Field in Omaha on Tuesday, April 2, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
A look inside Connie Claussen Field as Omaha takes on Creighton during the fifth inning of a college softball game in Omaha on Tuesday, April 2, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Omaha's Kamryn Meyer (18) tosses the ball to Omaha's Jaelle Johnson (20) to out the Creighton runner at first base during the sixth inning of a college softball game at Connie Claussen Field in Omaha on Tuesday, April 2, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Creighton's Sydney Potter (18) runs to first base after connecting during the sixth inning of a college softball game against Omaha at Connie Claussen Field in Omaha on Tuesday, April 2, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Creighton's Lily West (8) rounds third base to score a run during the sixth inning of a college softball game against Omaha at Connie Claussen Field in Omaha on Tuesday, April 2, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Creighton's Sydney Potter (18) celebrates after a run against Omaha during the sixth inning of a college softball game at Connie Claussen Field in Omaha on Tuesday, April 2, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
A rainbow is seen over Connie Claussen Field as Omaha takes on Creighton during the sixth inning of a college softball game in Omaha on Tuesday, April 2, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Creighton's Ella Dalton (13) catches the ball during the sixth inning of a college softball game against Omaha at Connie Claussen Field in Omaha on Tuesday, April 2, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Omaha's Jaelle Johnson (20) celebrates after hitting against Creighton during the sixth inning of a college softball game at Connie Claussen Field in Omaha on Tuesday, April 2, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Creighton's Madeline Vejvoda (19) tosses the ball to first base during the sixth inning of a college softball game against Omaha at Connie Claussen Field in Omaha on Tuesday, April 2, 2024.
NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
Be the first to know
Get local news delivered to your inbox!