Sunday, March 22
CU Sports Complex
12:00 PM
Creighton University
2
vs
1
Illinois State
Softball Sweeps Series From Illinois State
3/22/2009 3:00:00 PM | Softball
OMAHA, Neb. ? Creighton finished a three-game Missouri Valley Conference series sweep of Illinois State on Sunday afternoon, topping the Redbirds 2-1 for the Bluejays' third one-run win in the series. Michelle Graner went 2-for-3 with her first home run of the year to pace the Bluejay offense and keep the Jays undefeated in MVC play at 6-0 on the year, matching their best Valley start in school history.
After Illinois State (13-14, 2-4 MVC) starter Jordan Birch struck out the first two Bluejay hitters in the game, she appeared headed for an easy first inning. Renae Sinkler followed those two Ks by battling to a full count before lining a ground-rule double to center field. She then came around to score on Laura Kratochvil's fourth two-out RBI of the weekend to give CU the 1-0 lead.
The Bluejays (15-8, 6-0 MVC) added to their lead in the second inning when Graner led off the inning with her first home run of the season. Graner's homer hit the top of the fence in left center field and bounced over for her 16th career home run ? which ties her for ninth in a Bluejay career.
Creighton would hold that 2-0 lead until the top of the sixth inning, when Michelle Henderson lined a two-out, solo home run over the left field fence for her second round tripper of the year. Bluejay starter Tara Oltman would bounce back from the blast and retire the final four ISU hitters she would face in the game.
Oltman pitched every inning of the series for the Bluejays, moving her record to 12-5 on the year, including a 5-0 Valley mark. She allowed five hits, one earned run, walked one and struck out three on Sunday. She has allowed just two earned runs in her last 71 innings pitched and owns a 0.40 ERA in conference play.
Graner finished 2-for-3 in the game, while Jessica Wakasugi also reached on two infield singles to go 2-for-3.
Birch (7-6) lasted just 1.1 innings, allowing four hits and both CU runs. Amber Smith pitched the final 4.2 innings, allowing three hits and no runs for the Redbirds.
Creighton's sweep of ISU was its first against the Redbirds since 2004, while the Redbirds had not been swept in any three-game MVC series since 2005. The Jays have now equalled their best MVC start in school history, also starting 6-0 in 2007.
The Bluejays step out of conference for a doubleheader at Kansas on Wednesday at 2 p.m. CU will then look to add to its best ever Valley start when it plays at upstart Northern Iowa next weekend. The Panthers (19-8, 5-1 MVC), picked to finish last in the MVC, are in second place in the Valley after taking two of three from Southern Illinois in Cedar Falls this weekend.
After Illinois State (13-14, 2-4 MVC) starter Jordan Birch struck out the first two Bluejay hitters in the game, she appeared headed for an easy first inning. Renae Sinkler followed those two Ks by battling to a full count before lining a ground-rule double to center field. She then came around to score on Laura Kratochvil's fourth two-out RBI of the weekend to give CU the 1-0 lead.
The Bluejays (15-8, 6-0 MVC) added to their lead in the second inning when Graner led off the inning with her first home run of the season. Graner's homer hit the top of the fence in left center field and bounced over for her 16th career home run ? which ties her for ninth in a Bluejay career.
Creighton would hold that 2-0 lead until the top of the sixth inning, when Michelle Henderson lined a two-out, solo home run over the left field fence for her second round tripper of the year. Bluejay starter Tara Oltman would bounce back from the blast and retire the final four ISU hitters she would face in the game.
Oltman pitched every inning of the series for the Bluejays, moving her record to 12-5 on the year, including a 5-0 Valley mark. She allowed five hits, one earned run, walked one and struck out three on Sunday. She has allowed just two earned runs in her last 71 innings pitched and owns a 0.40 ERA in conference play.
Graner finished 2-for-3 in the game, while Jessica Wakasugi also reached on two infield singles to go 2-for-3.
Birch (7-6) lasted just 1.1 innings, allowing four hits and both CU runs. Amber Smith pitched the final 4.2 innings, allowing three hits and no runs for the Redbirds.
Creighton's sweep of ISU was its first against the Redbirds since 2004, while the Redbirds had not been swept in any three-game MVC series since 2005. The Jays have now equalled their best MVC start in school history, also starting 6-0 in 2007.
The Bluejays step out of conference for a doubleheader at Kansas on Wednesday at 2 p.m. CU will then look to add to its best ever Valley start when it plays at upstart Northern Iowa next weekend. The Panthers (19-8, 5-1 MVC), picked to finish last in the MVC, are in second place in the Valley after taking two of three from Southern Illinois in Cedar Falls this weekend.
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Players Mentioned
OF/1B
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
UT
/ Softball
OF
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