OMAHA - The IUPUI softball team will travel to Omaha, Neb. this weekend to take on North Dakota State in a three-game series. The games were moved to Omaha due to unplayable field conditions and the games are scheduled to begin at 7 PM (EST) on Friday with Saturday's doubleheader slated for 1 PM (EST).

IUPUI (10-18, 5-4 Summit) has struggled as of late losing six of its last seven contests. The squad was swept in a doubleheader at Cleveland State and lost two of three to Western Illinois last weekend.

Freshman Brandi Lawson continues to be the team leading hitter at .333. Joy Perry has a higher average at .346 but has started only four games. Fellow freshman Alicia Brewer and senior Chelsie Hale are tied for the team lead with six home runs. Brewer's .313 batting average is good for second on the team. Angela Bartucci (.302) rounds out the team's .300 hitters.

Southport native Nikki Thomas has been IUPUI's top performer in the circle. She leads the team in ERA (3.78), strikeouts (102), wins (4) and innings pitched (79.2). Amy Raker has a 1.52 ERA but has nine innings pitched.

North Dakota State (12-21, 2-4 Summit)

The Bison record may be a bit misleading as the squad has played nine ranked opponents including five games against the number one and two ranked teams in the country.

Last weekend North Dakota State took two of three against IPFW winning the first two games 5-4 and 4-3 and dropping a 6-5 decision in the series' final game.

Offense

Nicole Rivera is the only Bison hitter with an average over .300 (.339). Taylor Mortenson leads North Dakota State with three home runs and her 13 RBI is second to team leader Brea Konz (14).

Pitching

Whitney Johnson has the best numbers of all the Bison pitchers. She is 7-8 with a 3.80 ERA in 15 starts. She has 74 strikeouts in 84 innings pitched.

Randi Parks and Katie Tamayo round out the team's pitchers. Parks comes in at 4-8 with a 5.34 ERA and Tamayo is 1-5 and has a 7.42 ERA.

Live Stats will be available at IUPUIjags.com