The Creighton softball team completed a three-game sweep of the University of Northern Iowa Saturday with a 4-1 victory, propelling the Jays to the top of the Missouri Valley Conference leader board.

Creighton (19-9, 5-1 MVC) dropped UNI (13-19, 3-4 MVC) in a two-day affair that had the Jays unexpectedly playing in front of their home crowd at the CU Sports Complex in Omaha. Original scheduling had the game set to be played in Cedar Falls, but due to poor weather and field conditions the game had to be relocated.

“I was pleased with how we played especially, since it was supposed to be their home game,” head coach Brent Vigness said.

“Last year we lost to them twice. They’re the defending league champs with the defending pitcher of the year so getting a series sweep from them is a good weekend for us.”

The Jays opened up the series strong with a 4-0 win Friday afternoon followed by an 11-1 victory later in the day. Junior outfielder Ellen Homan lead the Jays in the first contest with two hits and an RBI and freshman outfielder Kelsey Allender posted four RBIs in a good hitting performance by the Jays in the latter match.

Day two saw similar results for Creighton thanks in large part to a four-hit performance from sophomore infielder Liz Dike off of UNI’s Jamie Fisher.

“I know I had struggled the day before a little bit,” Dike said. “I just came in with an attacker mentality and thought positive.”

The pitching of junior Becca Changstrom can also be attributed to the Jays’ recent success. Changstrom picked up her fourth consecutive victory Sunday and improved her record to 13-4 overall

“Becca threw well as she has been,” Vigness said.

Senior catcher Amy Baker recorded an RBI in Saturday’s match to bring her career total to 154, just three shy of tying the MVC record held since 1999.

“If I get [the record] and we don’t go to the championship or get a championship it means nothing because our team didn’t go anywhere,” Baker said. “A championship is more important.”

Creighton hopes to continue their success and quest for a championship when they take on in-state rival Nebraska Wednesday at the CU Sports Complex at 6pm.

“It’s a good rivalry.” Vigness said, “We’ll have our hands full, but we’re looking forward to the opportunity. If we play the way we did over the weekend we’ll certainly have a chance.”