“I don’t really have a set plan or anything. I just go out there and do my thing.”

Whatever her “thing” is, Bluejay fans hope that Alexis Cantu continues her success both on the mound and in the batter’s box. The sophomore from Frisco, Texas, has made quite an impact in just her first year with the Bluejay softball team.

This week the Missouri Valley Conference recognized Cantu as the Softball Player of the Week due to her outstanding performance last week. She hit .421 with four home runs, 11 RBI, and seven runs scored in six games last week in addition to two wins on the mound. But Creighton nearly did not get her.

At Wakeland High School in her hometown of Frisco, Texas, Cantu was getting attention as one of the top pitchers in the state of Texas. ESPN Rise selected her as a First Team All-America Pitcher. As a senior she had three perfect games on the mound and had a 58 inning scoreless streak.

She was as lethal batting as she was pitching, hitting .483. Did she ever consider Creighton out of high school?

“I actually never even heard of it until we played them [Creighton.]”

Cantu played her freshman year at the University of Texas-Arlington, but didn’t really enjoy her time there. How did Creighton make its impact?

“When I was looking to transfer, I remembered playing Creighton. We [UT- Arlington] played them last year. It kind of interested me because I knew I was going to transfer. I remember Coach [Vigness] and the team being really sharp. They were really good. They beat us (laughs).”

Cantu expressed how academics also played a role while she was considering what school to transfer too.

“I looked at the education program and saw how good this school was. I came on a visit, and I really liked it.”

Since joining the Bluejays Cantu has started all 36 games, with eleven of those games starting as the pitcher. Cantu says that on the mound she does not go into a game with a set strategy or plan. Her go-to pitch is usually the screwball, but every game is different.

Since she is a newcomer, she is not very familiar with the Missouri Valley Conference yet. However she knows that the non- conference schedule has prepared the team for a rugged conference schedule.

Following a game at in-state rival University of Nebraska on Wednesday the Jays (20-15-1, 9-3 MVC) open up a weekend homestand against the University of Northern Iowa. The Panthers (28-9, 12-0 MVC) will provide “quite a test” for the Jays.

Cantu had one message for the fans: “Come out and support us this weekend!” Game one of the doubleheader is set for 12 p.m. at the CU Sports Complex.