Creighton University
Indiana State
Softball Drops Season-Opener
2/13/2009 11:45:00 AM | Softball
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas ? Creighton lost its season-opener 4-3 to Indiana State Friday morning in the first game of the Corpus Christi Invitational. The Jays scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning with the aid of two Sycamore errors, but they stranded the tying and go-ahead runs on base in the one-run loss.
Junior transfer Sara Loeffelholz ripped a triple down the right field line in her first at bat as a Bluejay for CU's first hit of the game in the second inning. She was then thrown out at the plate trying to score on Michelle Graner's come-backer to the pitcher.
The Jays connected for two more hits, but stranded both runners in the third inning.
Loeffelholz then crushed a home run to center field in her second at bat to give the Bluejays a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning.
The Sycamores responded by scoring all four of their runs in the top of the fifth inning. A leadoff walk got the ISU offense going. The Sycamores notched four singles in the inning, while they managed just two hits in the other six frames.
The Bluejays' seventh-inning rally came up just short. Michelle Koch reached on a one-out single and was followed by Cassidy Nee, who walked in a pinch-hitting appearance. After pinch-hitter Lauren Larson was retired, Jessi Jadlowski reached on an error by the Sycamore second baseman to load the bases for Bailey Dawson. Dawson, who smacked a walk-off grand slam in the 2008 season opener, had the opportunity to repeat the feat. Instead, the CU shortstop reached on an error by the ISU shortstop Christina Meyers. Two runs scored on the play and put two runners on base, including the go-ahead run in Dawson at first base. Renae Sinkler flied out to right field to end the game.
Loeffelholz and Koch each finished 2-for-3 with a run scored, while Loeffeholz accounted for CU's only RBI in the opener.
Tara Oltman, the two-time MVC Pitcher of the Year, went the distance and allowed six hits, four earned runs, walked three and struck out nine. The junior preseason All-American allowed more than two earned runs in just two of her 48 appearances in 2008.
Katie Armour picked up the win in relief for ISU, tossing 3.2 innings. She allowed just two hits, walked two and struck out two in relief of Meagan McCurdy.
The game against Indiana State is Creighton's first in-season non-conference game against a Missouri Valley Conference foe since facing Missouri State and Wichita State in a season-opening tournament hosted by North Texas in 2004.
