Creighton University
Wichita State
Softball Splits Twin Bill With Shockers
4/5/2008 3:30:00 PM | Softball
In game two, Humpal was the story, as the rookie picked up a victory in her first career MVC start. The right-hander tossed 6.1 innings and allowed no runs and one hit through six innings. She gave way to Tara Oltman for the final two outs in the Bluejay win.
The Bluejay offense scored its first run of the day in the top of the second inning with the aid of a pair of Shocker errors. Michelle Koch reached on a one-out single to start the sequence of events. Jessica Wakasugi then dropped down a sacrifice bunt, but reached base when WSU pitcher Brianna Smet threw wildly to first, allowing Koch to advance to third on the play. The first run of the game then crossed the plate when Jamie Stanclift made an error at first base on a ball hit by Liz McKewon.
The Jays added to their lead with a run in the third inning. TJ Eadus singled to lead off the inning, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and on to third on a wild pitch. She then crossed the plate with ease on a single up the middle by designated player Cassidy Nee.
Creighton again pushed across one run in the fifth inning, doing its damage with two outs. With two down, Renae Sinkler was hit by a pitch and Michelle Graner followed with a double down the left field line to score Sinkler from first, giving the Jays a 3-0 lead.
The Shockers attempted to stage a late comeback, scoring a run and bring the winning run to the plate in the bottom of the seventh inning. Cynthia Verhulst took the first pitch of the inning high over the center field wall for WSU's lone run. Heather Gerritse then reached on an error before Humpal struck out Jamie Hull for the first out of the inning. Jamie Stanclift then singled to put the tying run on first.
That's when Oltman was brought in and struck out both batters she faced to pick up the save. The save was the sophomore's fifth of the year, the most by a Bluejay since Candi Letts earned a school record nine saves in 1982.
Humpal improved to 5-2 with the win. She lasted 6.1 innings, allowing just three hits and one run, while walking two and striking out four.
Smet (9-4) allowed eight hits and three runs in defeat for WSU.
Sinkler finished game two 2-for-2 with a run scored, while Koch was 2-for-4 with a run scored in the nightcap.
Game one was scoreless until the Shocker half of the sixth inning, when WSU scored the only runs of the game. Katie McGeeney walked to lead off the frame and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Britnee Barnett then reached on a fielder's choice in which McGeeney advanced to third with just one out. The Jays then opted to intentionally walk Verhulst to load the bases. Gerritse then dropped down a sacrifice bunt to drive in the first run of the game. She was followed by a two-out, two-run single by
Bright out-dueled Oltman, who took her first loss in 12 decisions to drop to 18-5 on the year. She allowed just four WSU hits, but walked three and surrendered three earned runs to go along with six strikeouts.
The Bluejays left seven runners on base, including two in both the fifth and sixth innings in the opener.
Wakasugi went 2-for-3 in game one, while Sinkler hit her team-leading 11th double in the loss.
Creighton will look to earn the series victory on Sunday when the teams face off at noon.
