he Creighton University softball team opened up conference play by winning two of three games on the road in Peoria, Illinois, against the Bradley University Braves over the past weekend.

In game one of the doubleheader on Saturday afternoon, the Jays’ potent offense backed up sophomore pitcher Becca Changstrom (5-5) on the mound in a 11-3 win. An error by the Braves allowed senior shortstop Christa Ruf to score and give the Jays the 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning. The Jays tallied four more runs in both the fifth and sixth innings. Changstrom went the distance and pitched a shutout until the bottom of the sixth inning, when she surrendered three runs. Junior catcher Amy Baker, sophomore pitcher Alexis Cantu and freshman catcher Bri Lingl had two base hits apiece to lead the Bluejays’ offensive attack.

In game two of the doubleheader the Jays defeated the Braves 2-1 with eight innings in strong defensive performances by both teams. Cantu went the distance in the circle, throwing 133 pitches while only allowing one earned run on seven hits. Sophomore left fielder Ellen Homan delivered the defensive play of the game, coming up firing on a single to left field and gunning out the Braves’ go- ahead runner at the plate in the bottom of the seventh inning.

The Jays fell short of a sweep of the Braves falling 7-4 in the final game on Sunday. Despite earning a 1-0 lead, Changstrom could not get out of the first inning, surrendering four earned runs on five base hits. Sophomore pitcher Brittany Telecky and junior pitcher Sammy Snygg pitched the rest of the way for the Jays, but the Jays’ offense couldn’t muster more than one run in the sixth frames. s.

Up next for the Jays is a three games series against the Southern Illinois University Salukis. The doubleheader is set for noon in Carbondale.