Friday, March 6
Tucson, Ariz.
12:00 PM
Creighton University
8
vs
0
Saint Joseph's
Softball Sweeps Doubleheader From Saint Joseph's
3/6/2009 5:30:00 PM | Softball
TUCSON, Ariz. ? The Creighton softball team opened play at the Hillenbrand Invitational on Friday with a doubleheader sweep of Saint Joseph's (4-5) at the University of Arizona's Hillenbrand Stadium. The Bluejays used a pair of run-rule games to move to 7-5 on the year, topping the Hawks 8-0 in six innings in the opener and 10-2 in five innings in the night cap. Tara Oltman came within one out of a no-hitter in the first game, while Bailey Dawson went 5-for-8 with four RBI and three runs scored in the twinbill.
In the opener, Creighton scored two runs in the bottom of the second inning to get the scoring started. Jessica Wakasugi started the rally with a one out bunt single and stolen base. She came around to score on an RBI single by Dawson. Dawson would eventually score on a wild pitch to give the Jays a 2-0 lead after two.
With two outs in the third inning, the Jays pushed a run across the plate. Michelle Graner smacked a two-out double, her first extra-base hit of the year, and scored on a pinch-hit single by Cassidy Nee.
The score remained unchanged until the sixth inning when the offense erupted for five runs, all coming after no runners were on with two outs. The Bluejays put together five straight hits to end the game, including four extra-base knocks. Michelle Koch started it with a double and scored on a single by Renae Sinkler. Laura Kratochvil followed with a double to score Sinkler. Kratochvil scored when freshman Christa Ruf smacked a triple to right field for her first collegiate hit. Sara Loeffelholz then crushed her second home run of the year to end the game due to the mercy rule at 8-0.
While the Bluejay offense was clicking, Oltman regained the form which has earned her two straight MVC Pitcher of the Year honors. The junior did not allow a hit until the top of the sixth inning with two outs. She finished with a complete game one-hitter for her first shutout of the season. She walked two and struck out two to move to 5-4 on the year.
The Jays smacked a season-high 15 hits in the opener, with the top four spots in the lineup going 9-for-14 in the game. Dawson, Koch, Sinkler and Wakasugi each had two hits, while Kratochvil finished 3-for-4 and eight different Bluejays scoring a run.
In game two, the Bluejays wasted little time in jumping on Saint Joseph's pitching. Dawson led off the game with a double to left center field and would score on Sinkler's second homer of the year. The blast by Sinkler moved her hitting streak to 10 games.
The Jays put three more runs on the board in the top of the second inning. Loeffelholz and Graner walked to start the inning and Liz McKewon walked with one out to load the bases. With two outs, Koch cleared the bases with a three-run double to the gap in left center and CU led 5-0 after two.
Dawson's single drove in CU's sixth run in the top of the fourth inning.
A two-run home run by Brooke Darreff gave the Hawks their only runs of the day in the bottom of the fourth.
Dawson drove home two more runs with a single in the fifth inning. Sinkler and Kratochvil added RBI singles and the Jays led 10-2.
Freshman hurler Kylie Hovinga set down SJU 1-2-3 in the bottom of the fifth and the game was called because of the run-rule.
Hovinga (2-1) allowed just three hits and two earned runs, struck out four and walked none in a complete game effort.
Dawson went 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored to cap her 5-for-8 day. Graner and McKewon both scored twice in the game two victory.
Creighton returns to action at the Hillenbrand Invitational on Saturday when it takes on 13th-ranked Arizona. The Jays and Wildcats play a doubleheader at 5 p.m. (CST).
In the opener, Creighton scored two runs in the bottom of the second inning to get the scoring started. Jessica Wakasugi started the rally with a one out bunt single and stolen base. She came around to score on an RBI single by Dawson. Dawson would eventually score on a wild pitch to give the Jays a 2-0 lead after two.
With two outs in the third inning, the Jays pushed a run across the plate. Michelle Graner smacked a two-out double, her first extra-base hit of the year, and scored on a pinch-hit single by Cassidy Nee.
The score remained unchanged until the sixth inning when the offense erupted for five runs, all coming after no runners were on with two outs. The Bluejays put together five straight hits to end the game, including four extra-base knocks. Michelle Koch started it with a double and scored on a single by Renae Sinkler. Laura Kratochvil followed with a double to score Sinkler. Kratochvil scored when freshman Christa Ruf smacked a triple to right field for her first collegiate hit. Sara Loeffelholz then crushed her second home run of the year to end the game due to the mercy rule at 8-0.
While the Bluejay offense was clicking, Oltman regained the form which has earned her two straight MVC Pitcher of the Year honors. The junior did not allow a hit until the top of the sixth inning with two outs. She finished with a complete game one-hitter for her first shutout of the season. She walked two and struck out two to move to 5-4 on the year.
The Jays smacked a season-high 15 hits in the opener, with the top four spots in the lineup going 9-for-14 in the game. Dawson, Koch, Sinkler and Wakasugi each had two hits, while Kratochvil finished 3-for-4 and eight different Bluejays scoring a run.
In game two, the Bluejays wasted little time in jumping on Saint Joseph's pitching. Dawson led off the game with a double to left center field and would score on Sinkler's second homer of the year. The blast by Sinkler moved her hitting streak to 10 games.
The Jays put three more runs on the board in the top of the second inning. Loeffelholz and Graner walked to start the inning and Liz McKewon walked with one out to load the bases. With two outs, Koch cleared the bases with a three-run double to the gap in left center and CU led 5-0 after two.
Dawson's single drove in CU's sixth run in the top of the fourth inning.
A two-run home run by Brooke Darreff gave the Hawks their only runs of the day in the bottom of the fourth.
Dawson drove home two more runs with a single in the fifth inning. Sinkler and Kratochvil added RBI singles and the Jays led 10-2.
Freshman hurler Kylie Hovinga set down SJU 1-2-3 in the bottom of the fifth and the game was called because of the run-rule.
Hovinga (2-1) allowed just three hits and two earned runs, struck out four and walked none in a complete game effort.
Dawson went 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored to cap her 5-for-8 day. Graner and McKewon both scored twice in the game two victory.
Creighton returns to action at the Hillenbrand Invitational on Saturday when it takes on 13th-ranked Arizona. The Jays and Wildcats play a doubleheader at 5 p.m. (CST).
Players Mentioned
OF/1B
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
UT
/ Softball
OF
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