Wednesday, March 25
Lawrence, Kan.
4:00 PM
Creighton University
4
at
3
.png&width=60&height=60&type=webp)
Kansas
Softball Needs 10 Innings to Win Second Game at Kansas
3/25/2009 7:45:00 PM | Softball
LAWRENCE, Kan. - Creighton topped Kansas 4-3 in 10 innings in game two of Wednesday afternoon's doubleheader at Arrocha Ballpark. Renae Sinkler's sacrifice fly in the top of the 10th proved to be the winning run for the Bluejays in the night cap, after they took game one 2-1 from the Jayhawks. Six of Creighton's nine hits in the game were doubles. CU had not won in Lawrence since 1996, prior to the twin bill sweep on Wednesday.
In the night cap, Kansas (10-19) took the early lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning. Val Chapple doubled with one out and came around to score when Liz Kocon followed with an RBI single. A two-out RBI single by Amanda Jobe put the Jayhawks up 2-0 after one frame.
Creighton (17-8) cut into the KU lead with a two-out rally in the top of the second inning. After KU starter Sarah Vertelka retired the first two Bluejay hitters in the second, she hit Michelle Graner with a pitch. Sara Loeffelholz then stepped in and ripped her team-leading seventh double of the year down the right field line, scoring Graner with CU's first run.
The Bluejays scored two runs in the top of the third to take a 3-2 lead. Liz McKewon led off the inning with her first career extra-base hit, a double to left center. Bailey Dawson followed with a double off the right center field wall to tie the game at 2-2. Dawson moved to third on a single by Michelle Koch and then scored on a single by Laura Kratochvil to put the Jays up 3-2.
The scored remained 3-2 until the bottom of the fifth inning, when the Jayhawks pulled even off of Tara Oltman, who relieved CU starter Kylie Hovinga to start the frame. Dougie McCaulley reached on a one-out infield single and would score the tying run on a two-out double by Kocon.
Creighton had a chance to retake the lead in the top of the seventh inning when Jessica Wakasugi led off the inning with a double down the left field line. She moved to third on a sac bunt with one out, but was stranded there when CU could not get a ball out of the infield.
The Bluejays would not put another runner on base until McKewon blooped a double down the left field line to start the 10th inning. She moved to third on a single by Koch and would score on a deep sacrifice fly by Renae Sinkler to give the Jays a 4-3 lead.
Oltman, who hurled a complete game in the opener, went six innings in relief to move her record to 14-5 on the year. She allowed four hits and one run, while striking out six in the relief appearance. Hovinga pitched well in the start, going four innings in the no decision. The freshman allowed five hits and two earned runs, while she did not walk a batter and struck out one.
McKewon finished the second game 2-for-3 with two runs scored, while she was 4-for-6 in the doubleheader. Koch was 2-for-5 in the night cap.
The win was CU's fifth straight, all of which have come by one run.
The Bluejays return to Missouri Valley Conference play on Saturday when they are scheduled to play a noon doubleheader at Northern Iowa. CU will aim to improve upon its school best 6-0 start in Valley play.
In the night cap, Kansas (10-19) took the early lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning. Val Chapple doubled with one out and came around to score when Liz Kocon followed with an RBI single. A two-out RBI single by Amanda Jobe put the Jayhawks up 2-0 after one frame.
Creighton (17-8) cut into the KU lead with a two-out rally in the top of the second inning. After KU starter Sarah Vertelka retired the first two Bluejay hitters in the second, she hit Michelle Graner with a pitch. Sara Loeffelholz then stepped in and ripped her team-leading seventh double of the year down the right field line, scoring Graner with CU's first run.
The Bluejays scored two runs in the top of the third to take a 3-2 lead. Liz McKewon led off the inning with her first career extra-base hit, a double to left center. Bailey Dawson followed with a double off the right center field wall to tie the game at 2-2. Dawson moved to third on a single by Michelle Koch and then scored on a single by Laura Kratochvil to put the Jays up 3-2.
The scored remained 3-2 until the bottom of the fifth inning, when the Jayhawks pulled even off of Tara Oltman, who relieved CU starter Kylie Hovinga to start the frame. Dougie McCaulley reached on a one-out infield single and would score the tying run on a two-out double by Kocon.
Creighton had a chance to retake the lead in the top of the seventh inning when Jessica Wakasugi led off the inning with a double down the left field line. She moved to third on a sac bunt with one out, but was stranded there when CU could not get a ball out of the infield.
The Bluejays would not put another runner on base until McKewon blooped a double down the left field line to start the 10th inning. She moved to third on a single by Koch and would score on a deep sacrifice fly by Renae Sinkler to give the Jays a 4-3 lead.
Oltman, who hurled a complete game in the opener, went six innings in relief to move her record to 14-5 on the year. She allowed four hits and one run, while striking out six in the relief appearance. Hovinga pitched well in the start, going four innings in the no decision. The freshman allowed five hits and two earned runs, while she did not walk a batter and struck out one.
McKewon finished the second game 2-for-3 with two runs scored, while she was 4-for-6 in the doubleheader. Koch was 2-for-5 in the night cap.
The win was CU's fifth straight, all of which have come by one run.
The Bluejays return to Missouri Valley Conference play on Saturday when they are scheduled to play a noon doubleheader at Northern Iowa. CU will aim to improve upon its school best 6-0 start in Valley play.
Players Mentioned
OF/1B
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
UT
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballCreighton Softball Hit-A-Thon 2025
Thursday, August 21
Creighton Baseball & Softball Fields Groundbreaking - 6/11/25
Wednesday, June 11
Creighton BET Postgame vs. St John's, 5/8/25
Thursday, May 08
Creighton Softball Highlights vs. Seton Hall, 5/4/25
Sunday, May 04
