Creighton University
Northern Colorado
Softball Sweeps Doubleheader at Northern Colorado
3/10/2007 2:00:00 AM | Softball
The Bluejays set the tone for the day early, leading 3-0 after just three batters in the opening game. Jessica Wakasugi and Jamie Reiss both reached on infield base hits before they came around to scored on a three-run home run by Bailey Dawson. Dawson's deep blast to left field was her fourth of the season and the Jays led 3-0 after the first.
Freshman hurler Tara Oltman allowed just two hits and struck out 10 through the first four innings, before the Bears put up a three-spot in the fifth inning to tie the game. A two-out triple opened the flood gates as UNC collected four two-out hits and plated three runs in the frame.
CU answered back with two runs in the top of the sixth. TJ Eadus led off with a single and pinch-runner Kate Petullo would come around to scored when rookie Michelle Graner connected for her second home run of the season. Graner's two-run shot gave CU a 5-3 lead.
UNC plated an unearned run in the bottom of the sixth to get within one, but Oltman struck out two more in the ninth to pitch around the Jays' fourth error of the game and seal the victory.
Oltman improved to 6-2 on the year with the win. She went all seven innings, allowed eight hits and only one of the four UNC runs were earned. The rookie right-hander also fanned a season-best 14 in the triumph.
CU managed only seven hits in the game and both teams left eight runners on base. Wakasugi was the only Jay with more than one hit, going 2-for-2 in the game one win.
The Bluejay offense clicked in the night cap, scoring nine runs on nine hits, while the CU defense settled down and was flawless in the field.
UNC led off the bottom of the first inning with a home run to take a 1-0 lead, but the Jays tied it in the second when Jess Stigge scored on an RBI triple by Michelle Koch. The Jays tacked on two more in the third inning when Laura Kratochvil's two-run double plated Reiss and Graner.
The Jays ended the game in the fifth inning, by scoring six runs on only three hits in the frame. Lau Emmsley-Chang's bunt single brought home the first run. The next three crossed the dish when Mary Egan delivered a pinch-hit bases-loaded triple. After the bases were loaded again, CU's fifth run of the inning scored on a walk to Kratochvil. A sacrifice fly off the bat of Renae Sinkler scored the final run of the game for CU.
Amanda Hess (3-2) benefited from CU's offensive explosion, pitching five innings for her third win of the year. She allowed only three hits, one run and struck out 10 for the victory.
Eight different Bluejays collected hits, led by Graner's 2-for-3 game at the plate. Kratochvil and Egan each had three RBI in game two.
The Bluejays wrap up their three-game series with UNC on Sunday with a noon (CST) first pitch.
