Sunday, March 25
CU Sports Complex
TBA
Creighton University
5
vs
1
Wichita State
Bluejay Battery Leads Softball to 5-1 Win Over Shockers
3/25/2007 3:00:00 AM | Softball
OMAHA, Neb. Catcher TJ Eadus launched a fifth-inning grand slam and pitcher Tara Oltman tossed a two-hitter as the Creighton softball team completed a three-game sweep of Wichita State with a 5-1 victory Sunday afternoon at the CU Sports Complex. The win keeps the Bluejays perfect in Missouri Valley Conference play, off to their best ever Valley start at 6-0. Creighton improved to 22-6 overall with the win, while the Shockers fell to 16-21 overall, 4-4 in the MVC.
The Shockers took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning. Brooke Usher led off the inning with an infield single and would later come around to score on a single by Cynthia Verhulst. Verhulst was then doubled off first base on a line drive to right field to halt any further threat.
Creighton stranded one runner in each of the first, second and fourth innings while not getting its first hit off of WSU starter Margo Pruis until an Eadus single in the fourth inning.
The Jays then scored all five of their runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Michelle Koch reached on a one-out infield single and moved to second when Jessica Wakasugi was hit by a pitch. After Jamie Reiss grounded into a fielder's choice, the Jays had runners at first and third with two out. Bailey Dawson then drew a walk to load the bases for Michelle Graner. The rookie left fielder, who hit a school record three home runs in a game earlier this week, was hit by a pitch for the fourth time in the series to bring in the tying run.
Eadus then stepped in with the bases full and sent a high fly ball up into the wind and over the center field fence for a grand slam. Her team-leading ninth round-tripper of the season proved to be the margin of victory as the Jays led 5-1 after five innings.
Oltman was in typical stellar form, allowing only two base hits, both in the fourth inning. She went all seven innings, allowed one run, walked one, hit a batter and struck out six in moving to 13-2 in her rookie season.
Pruis (9-9) held the Bluejays to only three hits in the game, but the walk and two hit batters in the fifth proved costly. The tall right-hander tossed six innings, all five runs were earned and struck out nine in the loss.
Eadus finished with two of CU's three base hits in the game, including the key fifth inning blast. Reiss was held hitless for just the third time in 28 games this year, snapping her 17-game hitting streak.
Creighton has never before started 6-0 in MVC play, starting 5-0 in The Valley in both 1999 and 1995. The perfect start sets up a battle of unbeatens next weekend in Omaha, as nationally-ranked Southern Illinois will come to Creighton for a key three-game MVC series with an 8-0 conference record.
The Bluejays continue their season-long 10-game home stand on Tuesday when they play host to a non-conference doubleheader with Colorado State at the CU Sports Complex. First pitch for the twin bill is set for 3 p.m.
The Shockers took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning. Brooke Usher led off the inning with an infield single and would later come around to score on a single by Cynthia Verhulst. Verhulst was then doubled off first base on a line drive to right field to halt any further threat.
Creighton stranded one runner in each of the first, second and fourth innings while not getting its first hit off of WSU starter Margo Pruis until an Eadus single in the fourth inning.
The Jays then scored all five of their runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Michelle Koch reached on a one-out infield single and moved to second when Jessica Wakasugi was hit by a pitch. After Jamie Reiss grounded into a fielder's choice, the Jays had runners at first and third with two out. Bailey Dawson then drew a walk to load the bases for Michelle Graner. The rookie left fielder, who hit a school record three home runs in a game earlier this week, was hit by a pitch for the fourth time in the series to bring in the tying run.
Eadus then stepped in with the bases full and sent a high fly ball up into the wind and over the center field fence for a grand slam. Her team-leading ninth round-tripper of the season proved to be the margin of victory as the Jays led 5-1 after five innings.
Oltman was in typical stellar form, allowing only two base hits, both in the fourth inning. She went all seven innings, allowed one run, walked one, hit a batter and struck out six in moving to 13-2 in her rookie season.
Pruis (9-9) held the Bluejays to only three hits in the game, but the walk and two hit batters in the fifth proved costly. The tall right-hander tossed six innings, all five runs were earned and struck out nine in the loss.
Eadus finished with two of CU's three base hits in the game, including the key fifth inning blast. Reiss was held hitless for just the third time in 28 games this year, snapping her 17-game hitting streak.
Creighton has never before started 6-0 in MVC play, starting 5-0 in The Valley in both 1999 and 1995. The perfect start sets up a battle of unbeatens next weekend in Omaha, as nationally-ranked Southern Illinois will come to Creighton for a key three-game MVC series with an 8-0 conference record.
The Bluejays continue their season-long 10-game home stand on Tuesday when they play host to a non-conference doubleheader with Colorado State at the CU Sports Complex. First pitch for the twin bill is set for 3 p.m.
Players Mentioned
SS
/ Softball
OF/1B
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
OF
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