Saturday, March 14
Evansville, Ind.
12:00 PM
Creighton University
1
at
0
Evansville
Softball Sweeps Evansville to Start MVC Play
3/14/2009 2:30:00 PM | Softball
EVANSVILLE, Ind. - Two-time Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year Tara Oltman renewed her dominance of the conference on Saturday afternoon, hurling a three-hit, 1-0 shutout at Evansville to open the 2009 conference season. The Bluejays (10-7, 2-0 MVC) then knocked around the Purple Ace pitching in a 10-1 victory to sweep a doubleheader at Cooper Stadium. Oltman extended her streak of innings pitched without allowing an earned run to 28.2, while freshman Kylie Hovinga scattered five hits and one run in her first MVC start.
In the opener, Laura Kratochvil's two-out RBI single in the third inning provided the only run of the game as the two-time defending Valley champs and preseason favorites captured game one of the doubleheader. Michelle Koch reached base on a two-out single and moved into scoring position on a single by Renae Sinkler, before scoring on Kratochvil's base knock.
Oltman allowed just three singles, struck out seven and walked none as she posted her third shutout in four games. The junior moved to 7-5 on the season with the victory.
Jennifer McKee (3-5) was the tough-luck loser, allowing six hits and one earned run for the Purple Aces (4-11, 0-2 MVC).
In game two, the Bluejays jumped on UE starter Annie Vincelett, chasing her from the game before she recorded an out in the first inning. Senior Bailey Dawson led off the game with her team-leading fourth home run of the season. Koch followed with a double and moved to third on a single by Sinkler. UE coach Gwen Lewis had the quick hook and McKee returned to the circle for the Aces. McKee uncorked a wild pitch to allow Koch to score and CU led 2-0 before UE had an at bat.
The Bluejays doubled their lead in the third inning on a two-run single by Michelle Graner.
UE scored its only run of the day in the bottom of the fourth inning, using a walk and two singles with two outs to get within three.
Creighton got that run right back in the top of the fifth, when Kratochvil crushed her second home run of the year, a solo shot to left field to put the Jays up 5-1.
The Jays put a five-spot up in the top of the seventh inning to blow the game open. The Jays used three singles, two walks, an error and a wild pitch to account for the five runs.
Hovinga surrenderd four singles and a double, along with just one earned run to pick up her first MVC win and move to 3-2 on the season. The left-hander walked one and struck out one in the complete game.
Kratochvil went 3-for-3 with a pair of RBI in the night cap. Koch and Dawson each had two hits and two runs scored in the big win.
Creighton will look for the MVC sweep on Sunday when the teams conclude their series with a single game at noon.
In the opener, Laura Kratochvil's two-out RBI single in the third inning provided the only run of the game as the two-time defending Valley champs and preseason favorites captured game one of the doubleheader. Michelle Koch reached base on a two-out single and moved into scoring position on a single by Renae Sinkler, before scoring on Kratochvil's base knock.
Oltman allowed just three singles, struck out seven and walked none as she posted her third shutout in four games. The junior moved to 7-5 on the season with the victory.
Jennifer McKee (3-5) was the tough-luck loser, allowing six hits and one earned run for the Purple Aces (4-11, 0-2 MVC).
In game two, the Bluejays jumped on UE starter Annie Vincelett, chasing her from the game before she recorded an out in the first inning. Senior Bailey Dawson led off the game with her team-leading fourth home run of the season. Koch followed with a double and moved to third on a single by Sinkler. UE coach Gwen Lewis had the quick hook and McKee returned to the circle for the Aces. McKee uncorked a wild pitch to allow Koch to score and CU led 2-0 before UE had an at bat.
The Bluejays doubled their lead in the third inning on a two-run single by Michelle Graner.
UE scored its only run of the day in the bottom of the fourth inning, using a walk and two singles with two outs to get within three.
Creighton got that run right back in the top of the fifth, when Kratochvil crushed her second home run of the year, a solo shot to left field to put the Jays up 5-1.
The Jays put a five-spot up in the top of the seventh inning to blow the game open. The Jays used three singles, two walks, an error and a wild pitch to account for the five runs.
Hovinga surrenderd four singles and a double, along with just one earned run to pick up her first MVC win and move to 3-2 on the season. The left-hander walked one and struck out one in the complete game.
Kratochvil went 3-for-3 with a pair of RBI in the night cap. Koch and Dawson each had two hits and two runs scored in the big win.
Creighton will look for the MVC sweep on Sunday when the teams conclude their series with a single game at noon.
Players Mentioned
OF/1B
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
UT
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