It’s the bottom of the seventh. There are two outs with two strikes against the batter. There’s one strike between senior pitcher Tara Oltman and a complete game. She throws a pitch. Called strike three. The batter’s out, and Oltman has achieved yet another complete game.

Oltman’s work ethic and her love of softball have helped her to become the most decorated player in Creighton softball history.

As a senior, Oltman is the first player in Creighton history to be honored as an All-American following three seasons, and the only three-time Pitcher of the Year in Missouri Valley Conference history.

Entering her final year at Creighton, Oltman already owns the MVC record for career victories with 86. In her 23 appearances this season, she has added 12 wins to her record. She also came into this season with three Creighton career records in pitching appearances, starts and complete games, and broke the Creighton career record in strikeouts during Tuesday’s complete game against Iowa State.

Her immense success is something that she has worked hard to earn.

“She goes to work every day,” head coach Brent Vigness said. “She’s always very demanding of herself, very critical of herself, extremely self motivated. We don’t have to tell her very much at all. She wants to be the best she can be, and she’s really put in the work in practice.”

Even with her immense success, her work ethic and personality haven’t changed.

“She just works hard,” Vigness said. “You would not know. When you talk to her or watch her work in practice, you would have no idea of the success she has had.”

Even Oltman doesn’t pay attention to her many accolades.

“The only time I’m really aware of what the records are is when people tell them to me or I read it in a newspaper article or something like that,” Oltman said. “I guess I’ve known I was close to [Creighton’s career record for most innings pitched], but I don’t even know what it is or how many I have. I try not to pay attention to the record books.”

When she’s on the mound, all of Oltman’s focus is on the game.

“Every time she hits her spot, she really looks like she’s out there, she’s positive and always supportive no matter what,” sophomore catcher Lauren Larson said. “She’s a good teammate.”

In her 21 appearances this season, Oltman has thrown 13 complete games.

“If I can do it, I just expect myself to do it,” Oltman said. “I always just expect myself to give whatever I have not matter how many innings I’ve thrown already.”

Vigness is willing to keep her in for the full seven innings because of how she has performed during her years at Creighton, and because she wants to be out there.

“History has shown what Tara’s been able to do,” Vigness said, “so we want to give our team the best chance to be successful. And secondly, she wants to be out there every inning she can.”

Every game she doesn’t start, Oltman is prepared to pitch in a few innings.

“Sometimes when I come into games, I’ve thrown three pitches before I come in the games,” Oltman said. “Most of the time, that’s if I’ve already pitched the game before, but that happens sometimes when I’ve thrown fewer than 10 pitches then been in the game.”

Although Oltman prefers to start, she loves to be in the game, and is excited to go in whenever she’s needed and whenever she can.

“If she could throw every inning, thatwould suit her just fine,” Vigness said.