Creighton University
Nebraska
Bluejays Crush Nebraska Softball 13-1
4/9/2008 9:30:00 PM | Softball
The Bluejays (28-13) wasted little time in getting their offense going, scoring a run in the first inning. Jessi Jadlowski led off the game with an infield single and would later score on a two-out bloop single to center field off the bat of Michelle Graner.
CU plated four more runs in the second inning. The first run of the frame crossed the plate on a bases loaded walk to TJ Eadus after Michelle Koch and Jadlowski sandwiched singles around a walk to Jessica Wakasugi.
Three more Bluejay runs came across in the third inning to push the CU lead to eight. With one out, Koch reached base on an error by NU second baseman Julie Brechtel and Wakasugi followed with an infield single. Pinch-hitter Cassidy Nee loaded the bases when she drew a walk. Jadlowski then lined a double off the third baseman's glove to plate a pair of runs.
The Huskers (16-19) notched their first hit of the game in the bottom of the third, on an infield single by Meghan Mullin. NU then scored its lone run of the game on the first career home run by Husker designated player Kelli Linke, a solo shot in the bottom of the fourth inning.
The Bluejay offense responded with five runs in the top of the fifth inning to finish off Creighton's first run-rule victory over the Huskers since 1994. CU's first three runs of the inning scored without the aid of a base hit, as a bases loaded walk, a bases jammed hit batsman and a wild pitch pushed across the runs. The Jays then added RBI singles by Koch and Wakasugi to reach their highest run output of the season.
Tara Oltman (19-6) was nearly untouchable in the circle for the Bluejays as she cruised to her 19th victory of the season. She allowed just two base hits and one run, while striking out eight batters to improve to 4-1 against NU in her career.
NU ace Molly Hill (7-9) took the loss for the Huskers, as she allowed six earned runs in 2.1 innings of work, walking four and allowing seven hits in her outing.
Jadlowski finished 3-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored for the Jays, while Koch was 3-for-4 with one RBI and two runs scored. Eadus, who walked three times in the game, Wakasugi and Liz McKewon also scored two runs each in the win. Wakasugi finished 2-for-3 with an RBI at the plate. Eight Bluejays drove in at least one run and eight CU players scored at least one run in the game.
Creighton's three straight wins in the series ties its longest winning streak over Nebraska in the 28-year history of the series. CU's five-inning triumph was the first run-rule game in the series since 1997 and just the second time the Bluejays have run-ruled NU in the 108 all-time meetings. The last time CU run-ruled NU was a 14-1 Bluejay victory on April 20, 1993.
The Bluejay win over Nebraska was the Huskers worst home loss in the seven-year history of Bowlin Stadium and its worst home loss since 1977. The 12-run defeat tied the worst home loss in NU history, a 14-2 loss to Northwest Missouri State on April 25, 1977. It was also NU's worst loss since a 13-0 defeat to Arizona in the 2000 NCAA tournament.
The Bluejays will look to keep their offense firing when they play host to a three-game Missouri Valley Conference series with Evansville this weekend. CU and UE play a doubleheader Saturday at noon and a single contest on Sunday at noon at the CU Sports Complex.
