Tuesday, April 7
Des Moines, Iowa
1:00 PM
Creighton University
5
vs
1
Northern Iowa
Graner Guides Bluejays to 5-1 Win Over UNI
4/7/2009 3:00:00 PM | Softball
DES MOINES, Iowa - Michelle Graner went 3-for-4 with two doubles and three RBI to lead the Creighton softball team to a 5-1 victory over Northern Iowa Tuesday afternoon in the first game of a make-up doubleheader with the Panthers. The game one win moved the Jays to 20-9 on the year and 8-1 in Missouri Valley Conference action. UNI dropped to 24-12 overall and 8-4 in conference play with the loss at Drake's Buel Field.
The Bluejays took the lead with a run in the top of the first inning. Bailey Dawson opened the game with a single to right field and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. With two outs, Sara Loeffelholz walked to put two on for Graner. The Bluejay left fielder ripped her first extra-base hit of the game slicing down the right field line, scoring Dawson with the game's first run. Loeffelholz was thrown out at home trying to score on the play.
The Panthers got that run back in the bottom of the second inning without the aid of a base hit. Creighton starter Tara Oltman walked the first two hitters of the inning and loaded the bases with a one-out walk. With two outs, Renae Sinkler couldn't handle a throw at first base, allowing a run to score on the error. A second UNI run tried scoring from second base on the play, but Sinkler recovered and gunned down the would-be go-ahead run to keep the score 1-1 after two innings.
Creighton regained the lead with a run in the fourth inning. Back-to-back one-out hits by Graner and Lauren Larson put two runners in scoring position. Graner was thrown out trying to score on an infield grounder to third base, but the Kari Sakamoto - pinch-running for Larson - would score on an infield single by Liz McKewon.
Two more Bluejay runs would score in the fifth to give the Jays a 4-1 lead. Michelle Koch walked to start the inning and Loeffelholz singled with one out to put runners at the corner for Graner. The Jays' leading hitter in MVC play crushed a double to right center field, scoring both runs.
A Northern Iowa error helped the Jays tack on another insurance run in the sixth inning. Jessi Jadlowski reached base on a fielding error by UNI shortstop Mackenzie Daigh. Jadlowski would eventually score on a two-out single by Sinkler to bring the score to 5-1.
Graner, who entered the game hitting a team-best .389 in Valley play, finished 3-for-4 with her fifth and sixth doubles of the year and three RBI. Six other Bluejays had one hit in the game.
Oltman improved to 16-6 on the season with the win, including 6-1 in MVC play. She went the distance, allowed just three singles and one unearned run. The two-time MVC Pitcher of the Year struck out seven, including three in the bottom of the seventh. The junior right-hander also helped her cause with seven assists in the circle.
Jen Larsen took the loss for UNI, dropping to 13-6 on the season. She surrendered nine hits and four earned runs, while walking three and striking out two.
The Bluejays took the lead with a run in the top of the first inning. Bailey Dawson opened the game with a single to right field and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. With two outs, Sara Loeffelholz walked to put two on for Graner. The Bluejay left fielder ripped her first extra-base hit of the game slicing down the right field line, scoring Dawson with the game's first run. Loeffelholz was thrown out at home trying to score on the play.
The Panthers got that run back in the bottom of the second inning without the aid of a base hit. Creighton starter Tara Oltman walked the first two hitters of the inning and loaded the bases with a one-out walk. With two outs, Renae Sinkler couldn't handle a throw at first base, allowing a run to score on the error. A second UNI run tried scoring from second base on the play, but Sinkler recovered and gunned down the would-be go-ahead run to keep the score 1-1 after two innings.
Creighton regained the lead with a run in the fourth inning. Back-to-back one-out hits by Graner and Lauren Larson put two runners in scoring position. Graner was thrown out trying to score on an infield grounder to third base, but the Kari Sakamoto - pinch-running for Larson - would score on an infield single by Liz McKewon.
Two more Bluejay runs would score in the fifth to give the Jays a 4-1 lead. Michelle Koch walked to start the inning and Loeffelholz singled with one out to put runners at the corner for Graner. The Jays' leading hitter in MVC play crushed a double to right center field, scoring both runs.
A Northern Iowa error helped the Jays tack on another insurance run in the sixth inning. Jessi Jadlowski reached base on a fielding error by UNI shortstop Mackenzie Daigh. Jadlowski would eventually score on a two-out single by Sinkler to bring the score to 5-1.
Graner, who entered the game hitting a team-best .389 in Valley play, finished 3-for-4 with her fifth and sixth doubles of the year and three RBI. Six other Bluejays had one hit in the game.
Oltman improved to 16-6 on the season with the win, including 6-1 in MVC play. She went the distance, allowed just three singles and one unearned run. The two-time MVC Pitcher of the Year struck out seven, including three in the bottom of the seventh. The junior right-hander also helped her cause with seven assists in the circle.
Jen Larsen took the loss for UNI, dropping to 13-6 on the season. She surrendered nine hits and four earned runs, while walking three and striking out two.
Players Mentioned
OF/1B
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
UT
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