Tuesday, March 27
CU Sports Complex
TBA
Creighton University
8
vs
0
Colorado State
Oltman, Hess Shut Down Colorado State Softball in Sweep
3/27/2007 3:00:00 AM | Softball
OMAHA, Neb. Tara Oltman and Amanda Hess both hurled shut outs as the Creighton softball team swept Colorado state with 8-0 and 3-0 victories Tuesday afternoon at the Creighton Sports Complex. Oltman hurled a one-hitter in the opening game, while Hess allowed only five base runners in the game-two triumph. The Bluejays improved to 24-6 on the season, already surpassing their win total from a year ago, with 24 games still remaining in the regular season.
Oltman (14-2) carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning, before Lauren Cusick broke up the no-no with two outs in what proved to be the Rams (21-16) final at bat. The rookie right-hander hurled six innings, allowed just one hit, walked one and struck out seven. She lowered her MVC leading ERA to 0.78.
The Bluejays scored two runs in the first inning, using small ball. The first run crossed the plate on a Michelle Koch bunt and the second scored on a Jessica Wakasugi safety squeeze.
The Creighton offense then exploded for six runs in the bottom of the sixth to end the game due to the run rule. Michelle Graner opened the frame with a single and moved to third when Caitlin Marcano followed with a double down the left field line. Those hits chased Colorado State starter Kim Klabough (7-6) from the game, making way for Rebecca Penland. Jessica German welcomed Penland to the game with a single up the middle to score both runs and give CU a 4-0 lead. Lau Emmsley-Chang then reached on a bunt single. Two outs later, there were still two runners on for CU's leading hitter, Jamie Reiss.
Reiss, a senior, sent a 1-0 pitch sailing over the right field fence for her first career home run. The extra-base hit was her ninth in 29 games this year, after she entered the year with just three in her first 159 career games. Bailey Dawson walked after the home run and moved to third on a pair of wild pitches. TJ Eadus ended the game with a single up the middle to score Dawson with the final run.
Five different Bluejays recorded two hits in the opening game, with German, Emmsley-Chang and Marcano each finishing 2-for-3. Reiss and Eadus went 2-for-4 in the contest. German had two RBI and scored twice, while Reiss knocked in three runs to move her season total to 20, doubling her career total entering the season. After the double dip, her average stands at .426.
Game two was much closer, as the Rams sent the sister-in-law of Creighton head coach Brent Vigness to the circle, Cayte Billman. Billman (3-3) allowed only two hits and one earned run in three innings of work, but two unearned runs also scored and the right-hander walked three in defeat.
The Bluejays scored a pair of unearned runs in the second inning. With the bases loaded, Dawson singled up the middle to drive in the first two runs of the game. CU tacked on a single tally in the third inning, when Graner scored on a wild pitch.
Hess upped her record to 9-3 this season, pitching her second complete game shutout of the year. The junior right-hander surrendered only four hits and hit a batter, walked none and struck out nine for the win.
German again went 2-for-3 in game two, while Dawson was 2-for-4 with the two-run single in the second inning.
Creighton, which began receiving votes in the ESPN.com/ USA Softball poll on Tuesday, is now 24-6 this year after going 23-27 last season. The Jays blanked a high-powered CSU offense which had been shutout only once previously this season and had smashed 41 home runs in its first 35 games. The game was the first meeting between CU and CSU since Bluejay Hall of Famer Mary Yori took over the Ram program as head coach.
The Bluejays will now turn their attention to a first-place Missouri Valley Conference showdown between unbeaten squads. Nationally-ranked Southern Illinois (27-6, 8-0 MVC) comes to town for a three-game series beginning with a doubleheader at noon on Saturday and concluding with one game on Sunday. CU will put its best-ever MVC start (6-0) on the line in the key series.
Oltman (14-2) carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning, before Lauren Cusick broke up the no-no with two outs in what proved to be the Rams (21-16) final at bat. The rookie right-hander hurled six innings, allowed just one hit, walked one and struck out seven. She lowered her MVC leading ERA to 0.78.
The Bluejays scored two runs in the first inning, using small ball. The first run crossed the plate on a Michelle Koch bunt and the second scored on a Jessica Wakasugi safety squeeze.
The Creighton offense then exploded for six runs in the bottom of the sixth to end the game due to the run rule. Michelle Graner opened the frame with a single and moved to third when Caitlin Marcano followed with a double down the left field line. Those hits chased Colorado State starter Kim Klabough (7-6) from the game, making way for Rebecca Penland. Jessica German welcomed Penland to the game with a single up the middle to score both runs and give CU a 4-0 lead. Lau Emmsley-Chang then reached on a bunt single. Two outs later, there were still two runners on for CU's leading hitter, Jamie Reiss.
Reiss, a senior, sent a 1-0 pitch sailing over the right field fence for her first career home run. The extra-base hit was her ninth in 29 games this year, after she entered the year with just three in her first 159 career games. Bailey Dawson walked after the home run and moved to third on a pair of wild pitches. TJ Eadus ended the game with a single up the middle to score Dawson with the final run.
Five different Bluejays recorded two hits in the opening game, with German, Emmsley-Chang and Marcano each finishing 2-for-3. Reiss and Eadus went 2-for-4 in the contest. German had two RBI and scored twice, while Reiss knocked in three runs to move her season total to 20, doubling her career total entering the season. After the double dip, her average stands at .426.
Game two was much closer, as the Rams sent the sister-in-law of Creighton head coach Brent Vigness to the circle, Cayte Billman. Billman (3-3) allowed only two hits and one earned run in three innings of work, but two unearned runs also scored and the right-hander walked three in defeat.
The Bluejays scored a pair of unearned runs in the second inning. With the bases loaded, Dawson singled up the middle to drive in the first two runs of the game. CU tacked on a single tally in the third inning, when Graner scored on a wild pitch.
Hess upped her record to 9-3 this season, pitching her second complete game shutout of the year. The junior right-hander surrendered only four hits and hit a batter, walked none and struck out nine for the win.
German again went 2-for-3 in game two, while Dawson was 2-for-4 with the two-run single in the second inning.
Creighton, which began receiving votes in the ESPN.com/ USA Softball poll on Tuesday, is now 24-6 this year after going 23-27 last season. The Jays blanked a high-powered CSU offense which had been shutout only once previously this season and had smashed 41 home runs in its first 35 games. The game was the first meeting between CU and CSU since Bluejay Hall of Famer Mary Yori took over the Ram program as head coach.
The Bluejays will now turn their attention to a first-place Missouri Valley Conference showdown between unbeaten squads. Nationally-ranked Southern Illinois (27-6, 8-0 MVC) comes to town for a three-game series beginning with a doubleheader at noon on Saturday and concluding with one game on Sunday. CU will put its best-ever MVC start (6-0) on the line in the key series.
Players Mentioned
SS
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
1B
/ Softball
OF/1B
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
OF
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