Bluejays Tangle With Huskers on Softball Diamond Wednesday

Creighton at Nebraska
Wednesday, April 1 ? Bowlin Stadium ? Lincoln, Neb. ? 6:00 p.m.
Creighton hosts Bradley
Saturday, April 4 ? CU Sports Complex ? Omaha, Neb. ? 12:00 p.m. (DH)
Sunday, April 5 ? CU Sports Complex ? Omaha, Neb. ? 12:00 p.m.

This Week: Creighton travels to Lincoln to play in-state rival Nebraska at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, looking for its fourth straight victory on NU's home field. The Bluejays then return home and to Missouri Valley Conference play when they host Bradley for a three-game weekend series. CU and BU play two on Saturday at noon and a single game on Sunday at noon as head coach Brent Vigness looks for his 500th win at Creighton this weekend.

Follow the Bluejays: Fans can watch live video of Wednesday's game at Nebraska for $4.95 by signing up here. Live stats for all four games this week can be found on the Creighton athletics web site here.

Last Week: The Bluejays pushed their season-best winning streak to five games by sweeping a doubleheader sweep at Kansas last Wednesday, before their three-game MVC series at Northern Iowa was cancelled because of the weather. CU topped KU 2-1 in the opener and came-from-behind to win 4-3 in 10 innings in the night cap, for its first wins in Lawrence since 1996. Liz McKewon went 4-for-6 with her first two career doubles in the twin bill last week.

Scouting Creighton (17-8, 6-0 MVC): Creighton is the two-time defending Missouri Valley Conference regular-season champion and is coming off of its fifth NCAA Tournament in six years ... The Bluejays have won five straight (all by one run) games and nine of their last 10 ... CU is 6-0 in MVC play for the second time in three years, equalling its best Valley start in school history ... The Bluejays are hitting .267 as a team this year, while opponents are hitting just .212 off of CU pitching ... CU leads the MVC with a .971 fielding percentage ... Renae Sinkler leads the team with a .343 average, .643 slugging percentage and .466 on-base percentage ... Laura Kratochvil (.333) is tied with Sinkler for the team-lead with five home runs, while she leads the team with 26 hits and 23 RBI ... Bailey Dawson leads the team and ranks third in the MVC with 22 runs scored ... Junior transfer Sara Loeffelholz, a two-year starter at New Mexico, leads the team with 12 extra-base hits, seven doubles and two triples ... CU is hitting .272 in MVC play, led by Michelle Graner's .467 average ... MVC opponents are hitting just .168 against the Jays ... Two-time MVC Pitcher of the Year Tara Oltman has allowed four earned runs in her last 81 innings of work, and is 14-5 with a 1.12 ERA on the season, with 113 Ks in 118.2 innings pitched.

Scouting Nebraska (25-7, 2-2 Big 12): The Huskers are 25-7 on the season after posting a 25-28 record last year ... NU's offense has returned this season, as its 22 home runs this season are the most by an NU squad since 2006 and the Huskers have posted nine run-rule victories this year after combining for six in the previous two seasons ... NU is hitting .302 as a team and out-scoring opponents 176-68 on the year ... Heidi Foland leads the team with five home runs ... Crystal Carwile leads NU with six doubles and 27 RBI ... Julie Brechtel leads the way with a .394 average, while both Meghan Mullin (.343) and Darcy Rutherford (.340) lead the team with 34 hits each ... Mullin also leads NU with 30 runs and 13 stolen bases ... Senior Molly Hill (15-4, 1.21 ERA) has thrown 121 of NU's 210 innings, and leads the team with 98 strikeouts ... Freshman Ashley Hagemann (6-3, 3.19 ERA) has 87 Ks in 59.1 innings pitched.

Head Coach: Head coach Brent Vigness (Central College, 1988) is in his 16th season at Creighton, owning a record of 498-344-2 with the Bluejays. Vigness also served as head coach at Assumption College in Worcester, Mass., for five years prior to coming to Creighton. His career record in 21 years as a head coach is 646-415-3. He has led the Jays to five MVC Tournament titles (1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007), five regular-season MVC crowns (1998, 1999, 2000, 2007, 2008), six NCAA Tournament appearances (1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008) and was named MVC Coach of the Year in 1998 and guided the MVC Coaching Staff of the Year in 2007 and 2008.

CU-NU Series History: Creighton trails the all-time series with Nebraska, 35-73, but since snapping a 15-game losing streak in the series, the Bluejays are 6-3 in their last nine meetings with the Huskers. The Jays have won three straight games in Lincoln (and three straight overall), including a 13-1 five-inning romp last year. CU won both games at Bowlin Stadium in 2007, winning 4-1 in the regular season and 2-1 to end NU's year in NCAA Regional play. The Bluejays out-scored NU 20-3 last year, also posting a 7-2 win in Omaha.

Bluejays Against NU: Creighton hit .358 in two games against Nebraska last year, out-scoring the Huskers 20-3 and out-hitting them 19-9. Three Jays had four hits against NU last year, led by Jessi Jadlowski's 4-for-6 output. Lincoln native Renae Sinkler was 4-for-7 with five RBI in the two games, while Michelle Koch went 4-for-8 and scored three runs in the two wins. Sinkler is 6-for-13 (.462) in five career games against NU, while Koch is 6-for-14 (.429) with six runs scored in five games against NU. Laura Kratochvil and Michelle Graner each boast home runs against NU in their careers, both coming in CU's home win last year. Lincoln native Bailey Dawson is 4-for-17 (.235) in her career against the Huskers, with five RBI in seven games. Tara Oltman is 4-1 with a 1.48 ERA in five career starts - all complete games - against NU. She has pitched 33 innings, allowed 23 hits, seven earned runs, walked six, struck out 29 and allowed the Huskers to hit .187 off of her in five career appearances.

Goin Bowlin: Creighton is 8-13 all-time at Bowlin Stadium, including 4-7 against Nebraska and 4-6 against NCAA Tournament opponents, as the Bluejays have made four NCAA Tournament appearances at the venue. The Jays have won their last three games against NU at Bowlin Stadium, two in 2007 and one last year. CU played in the first ever regular-season game at the venue on March 19, 2002.

Here Last Year: The 800th game in Brent Vigness' tenure at Creighton was a memorable one, as the Bluejays handed Nebraska a 13-1 loss in Lincoln last April 9. The loss was NU's worst in the history of Bowlin Stadium and tied the worst home loss in NU history. The win was CU's largest over NU since 1993, making the 12-run romp the largest over NU under Vigness. CU's 13 runs were a season-high. Jessi Jadlowski went 3-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored, Michelle Koch was 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored and Jessica Wakasugi went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Eight Bluejays scored at least one run and eight players had at least one RBI in the win. Tara Oltman allowed just two hits and one run, while striking out eight and walking none in the five-inning game.

Big Time vs. Big 12: A few Bluejays have fared well in their careers against Big 12 opponents. Last year Tara Oltman went 4-0 with a 1.00 ERA against the Big 12 and after three appearances against the conference this year she is now 8-3 with a 1.40 ERA in 12 career appearances. The right-hander has pitched 75 innings, allowed 52 hits, 22 runs, 15 earned runs, struck out 71 and held Big 12 opponents to a .191 average in her career. Renae Sinkler was 10-for-21 (.476) with nine RBI and four doubles in six games against the conference last year and in her career she is hitting .410 (16-39) with 12 RBI in 13 games against Big 12 foes. Jessica Wakasugi was 6-for-12 against the Big 12 last year and she is hitting .375 (12-32) in the last three years against the conference.

No Fooling: Creighton is 8-3-1 on April Fool's Day under head coach Brent Vigness. The Jays are 4-0-1 in their last five April 1 games. CU and NU last played on April 1 in Omaha in 2003 ? a 4-2 win by No. 6 Nebraska.

Jays Sweep Honors: On March 23, the Creighton battery of Laura Kratochvil and Tara Oltman were tabbed the MVC Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively. Oltman tossed complete games in each of her four starts, while posting two shutouts, 0.25 ERA, 24 Ks in 28 IP and allowing just 12 hits. Kratochvil went 5-for-12 (.417) with three home runs and six RBI in CU's five games that week.

Some Streaks of Note: Creighton enters the week on its longest winning streak of the year, at five games. The Jays have won their first six MVC games this year and have now won 13 straight regular-season MVC games dating back to last season. Tara Oltman has won her last eight decisions.

A First at CU: All of Creighton's five wins during its current five-game streak have come by one run. Never before in school history had the Bluejays won five straight games by one-run.

Vigness 500: Head coach Brent Vigness enters the week with 498 wins in his 16 seasons at Creighton. One of only two coaches in school history, Vigness can join Mary Higgins with 500 victories on the Bluejay bench. Higgins was 564-298 in her 17 seasons at CU.

Double Your Pleasure: Creighton tied a school record with six doubles in its 4-3 10-inning win over Kansas last Wednesday. CU had previously recorded six doubles in a game three times, but had not done so in 10 years. The last time CU had six doubles in a game was on Feb. 26, 1999 against Detroit. Bailey Dawson, Michelle Graner, Sara Loeffelholz and Jessica Wakasugi each had one double, while Liz McKewon notched her first two career doubles in the win.

Double the Doubles Notes: Bailey Dawson's double at Kansas last Wednesday was her sixth of the season and the 32nd of her career. With 32 two-baggers, she is now tied with DeAnn Kaster for 10th in a Bluejay career.

Oltman's ERA: After an unusually rough start to the season, Tara Oltman has settled into form as of late. The junior ace has allowed only four earned runs in her last 81 innings pitched, for a minute 0.35 ERA in that span. In that time, her ERA has dropped from 2.42 down to 1.12.

10 Inning Max: Creighton is 2-1 in extra-inning games this year, after defeating Kansas 4-3 in 10 innings on March 25. That game was CU's 11th extra-inning game in the last two seasons, but none have gone longer than 10 innings. The last CU game to go past 10, was an 11-inning loss at Indiana State on April 15, 2007.

Four .300 Hitters: Four Bluejay upper classmen starters have better than a .300 career batting average, led by senior Jessica Wakasugi's .321 mark which ranks eighth in school history. Juniors Renae Sinkler (.304) and Michelle Koch (.302) and senior Bailey Dawson (.300) are all career .300 hitters as well.

Something Extra From Liz: Sophomore Liz McKewon has started all 85 games she's played at Creighton and through the first 84 games she had yet to record an extra-base hit. Her 85th game saw her not only hit her first career double, but she had a pair of two-baggers in CU's 4-3 10-inning win at Kansas (March 25). Her bloop double to lead off the 10th inning led to her scoring the game-winning run.

Best for Last: Senior Laura Kratochvil is having her best offensive year as a Bluejay this season. The catcher reached a career-high RBI total in her first 20 games and has since added to it, as she leads the team with 23 RBI in 25 games (her former mark was 15). She is tied for the team lead with a career-best five home runs and is second on the team with a .333 average (110 points higher than her career average entering the season). Her eight multi-hit games and seven multi-RBI games also lead the team.

Still a Starter: Junior Sara Loeffelholz is a collegiate starter for the third straight season, but in her first at Creighton. The Omaha native transferred back home after starting 84 of 94 games at New Mexico over the past two seasons. The outfielder has started all 25 games this year at CU and leads the team with 12 extra-base hits, seven doubles and two triples.

The Run Producer: Senior Bailey Dawson knows how to produce runs, as evident by her lofty career numbers. Dawson ranks third in school history with 114 career RBI, fourth with 27 career home runs, seventh with 112 career runs scored and 10th with 32 career doubles. A starter at shortstop in all 177 of her career games, she has a .300 career average.

Wakasugi Has CLASS: Senior center fielder Jessica Wakasugi has been named one of 30 national candidates for the 2009 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: Classroom, Character, Community and Competition. Wakasugi, a first-team all-MVC performer last year, owns a 3.64 cumulative GPA in business entrepreneurship and marketing.

Oltman's Climb: Just midway through her junior season, Tara Oltman has already moved into the CU career top-five in nearly every pitching category. Her 71 career wins already rank second in school history, just five shy of Tammy Nielsen's record of 76. She remains in second ? where she started the season ? in both saves (10) and strikeouts (625). Her 110 career appearances rank fourth and 82 career starts rank fifth, while her career ERA of 1.09 is sixth in CU history.

Get On for Them: Renae Sinkler is hitting a team-leading .542 with runners in scoring position, while Laura Kratochvil has a team-best 14 hits and is batting .483 with RISP. Not surprisingly, the pair leads the team in RBI, Kratochvil with 23 and Sinkler with 21. Sinkler is hitting .447 with runners on base and just .219 with the bases empty, while Kratochvil hits 158 points higher (.400-.242) with runners on base compared to no one on.

Same Seven Starters: Creighton has started seven of the same players in all 25 games this year, with four players starting at the same position in every game. The Jays have had the same left side of the infield in every game, with Liz McKewon and Bailey Dawson starting at third base and shortstop, respectively, each game. Michelle Koch has joined that pair in starting at second base every game. Jessica Wakasugi has pushed her streak of 190 straight CU games started in center field. Renae Sinkler has split starts at first base (13) and designated player (12), Sara Loeffelholz has split time in right field (13) and left field (12) and Michelle Graner has shared time in left field (13) and first base (12).

Hovinga Minus Arizona: Freshman Kylie Hovinga (3-3, 4.26 ERA) had the difficult task of not only pitching against national power Arizona, but had to do so after the high-scoring team was shut out by Tara Oltman. The Wildcats unleashed an 18-hit, 19-run attack on the Bluejay rookie. If you subtract her UA outing from her season statistics, Hovinga's ERA is cut in half and she is 3-2 with a 2.13 ERA, having allowed just 39 hits and 13 earned runs in 42.2 innings.

Beating Arizona: For the second straight year, CU went to Arizona and defeated the nationally-ranked Wildcats earlier this month. This time CU crushed Arizona 6-0 on March 7, the first time the powerful UA offense had been shutout at home since UCLA did it in 2005. Tara Oltman scattered five singles to a line up which averaged 17 runs per game in its other five games during the Hillenbrand Invitational. Bailey Dawson and Laura Kratochvil both homered in the win over No. 13 Arizona.

High-Scoring Affair: Creighton blasted Saint Louis 18-5 on Feb. 20 at the Tulsa Select Festival. The 18 runs were the most scored by the Bluejays since setting the school record of 20 runs against the College of Saint Mary's on Feb. 9, 2000. The 18 runs are the second-most scored in a game in CU history and the most ever against a Division I opponent.

Sinkler's Streaks: Renae Sinkler had a 12-game hitting streak earlier this season, to give her the three longest hitting streaks by a Bluejay in the last two years. Last year she had a 17-game streak and eight-game streak. Her 17-game streak last year was tied with Jamie Reiss for the longest by a Bluejay this decade.

Bluejays Tangle With Huskers on Softball Diamond Wednesday

Players Mentioned

Michelle Graner

Jessi Jadlowski

Michelle Koch

Laura Kratochvil

Liz McKewon

Tara Oltman

Renae Sinkler

Jessica Wakasugi

Related Videos