The softball team hosted the Creighton Tournament this weekend, going 1-2 against Iowa University and Wichita State.
Play for Creighton kicked off on Saturday as the Bluejays took on Iowa first, suffering a narrow 4-3 defeat. Senior pitcher Bryana Clark kept the Hawkeyes in check with a shutout performance through the first six innings. However, the Bluejays struggled to capitalize in the bottom of each frame, posting no runs through their first five innings.
Things changed for Creighton in the bottom of sixth as the Jays quickly added three runs thanks to a series of successful plate appearances. As the Jays got the bases loaded, sophomore outfielder Mileah McKelvy singled to left field to move all runners up a base, before junior pitcher Nikki McNeil drove in two more runs as a pinch hitter.
However, Iowa came out fighting in its last inning. Two successive singles followed by a sac bunt put two runners in scoring position. The next batter was walked to leave the bases loaded, where McKenzie Schneider then took full advantage by hitting a grand slam. Creighton was unable to get much going in the bottom of the seventh as it was retired in order.
The team then immediately got ready to play a second game of the day, this time against Wichita State, where the Jays grabbed a thrilling 12-11 win in extra innings.
“This team, I just can’t say enough good things about this team and where we’re heading,” sophomore catcher Mikaela Pechar said. “This is just a little taste of what we’re going to do this season and how we’re going to carry ourselves in conference play.”
After the Shockers grabbed a run in the first, Creighton answered with three of its own thanks to an RBI single by senior catcher Jordyn Sturgeon, and a two-RBI double by McKelvy. After Creighton once again found itself down in the third inning, junior infielder Jayci McGill connected on a two-run homer to cut the opponents’ lead to 6-5.
Wichita State once again answered the Creighton pressure and extended its lead to five runs, however, the Bluejays were again up to the task, and came storming back in the fifth inning.
One run was scored on a wild pitch before Sturgeon cashed in another RBI single to draw the jays within three. Creighton managed to get runners on the corners, where Pechar hit a three-run homer to tie the game at 10, where it remained through the eighth inning.
“Pretty much go up there and try to get a hit,” Pechar said. “I saw a pitch that was low but he [the umpire] called it a strike and then I cannot tell what that pitch was that I hit out, I have no idea.”
After Wichita State scored in the top of the eighth, Creighton needed to answer. After getting runners on the corners thanks to errors, senior outfielder Sam Crowley hit an RBI single to tie the game. Immediately after, junior utility player Kelli Finan singled to right field, driving in the winning run for the Jays.
“I just knew Ashley was fast on second,” Finan said. “If I hit the ball hard somewhere to the right side and have her score and hopefully the ball got through and fortunately it did.”
Sturgeon had a double and went 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBI’s and two runs, while Finan also grabbed a double to go with another hit, one RBI and two runs scored.
The Bluejays then prepared for a third game on Sunday, again taking on Wichita State. After grabbing a single run in the first inning, the Jays’ offense struggled for the rest of the game, eventually losing 9-1.
As the weekend concluded, the Jays overall record moved to 11-9 on the season.
The Bluejays took on Nebraska for a single game on Wednesday before going to St. John’s for a three-game series this weekend.