Creighton University
Wichita State
Softball Closes Regular Season With Walk-Off Homer Against Shockers
5/3/2009 2:30:00 PM | Softball
Two-time Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year Tara Oltman (28-10) broke the conference record with her 85th career victory. Just a junior, Oltman delivered 183 pitches while completing her 30th straight complete start. She struck out 10 and allowed six hits, but none after the fifth inning in the victory. The former MVC record of 84 wins was held by Southern Illinois' Amy Harre (2002-05).
The win closed out a 34-15 regular-season for the three-time reigning MVC champion Bluejays, including a 19-6 league mark. Wichita State had its season end in heartbreaking fashion with a 21-32 mark, 10-15 in league play. The Shockers could have advanced to the Valley Tournament with a win.
Graner's homer, her fourth of the season and 19th of her career, came on a 1-2 pitch with teammate Renae Sinkler on second base. It went just over the out-stretched glove of WSU rightfielder Brittney Osborn, who crashed into the fence trying to make the season-saving grab.
After going scoreless over the course of 11.2 innings against Bluejay ace Oltman in Saturday's doubleheader, it didn't take long for WSU to open the scoring on Sunday. Kiersten Dixon reached on an infield single and moved to third after a sac bunt and deep fly out to center. After a walk to Heather Gerritse put runners at the corners, Jamie Hull's roller up the middle would score
Sinkler tied the game on the first pitch of the bottom of the third, sending a high blast just inside the left field foul pole for her team-best 12th homer of the season. The 12 homers this year are tied for fourth-most in Creighton season history and tie her for the 2009 Valley lead with UNI's Kelly Papesh.
Creighton had a scoring chance in the sixth inning, putting runners on first and second, before Jessi Jadlowski's drive to the gap in right-center was hauled down by center fielder
Dawson, Graner and Jessica Wakasugi each had two hits in the game.
Kasha Kolb (14-24) took the tough loss for WSU. The freshman went the distance, lasting 9.2 innings, allowing seven hits along with her six walks and five strikeouts.
NOTES: Creighton did not lose a series in MVC play for the second time in three seasons, while capturing their third consecutive MVC regular-season title this year ... Sinkler hit lead-off for the first time in her 152-game career at Creighton ...Sinkler opened the bottom of the first with a 10-pitch walk ... Sinkler's homer gives her 25 in her career, sixth-most in Bluejay history ... Oltman struck out WSU pinch-hitter Tiffany Dahlquist with the bases loaded to end the fourth inning. Creighton opponents are now 0-for-20 this year with the bases loaded ... Sinkler walked four times in the game, the most by any Bluejay since Stacey Rybar against Indiana State on April 6, 2002 ... Sinkler walked in her final three plate appearances, on 12 straight pitches thrown out of the strike zone ... Creighton is now 3-1 in extra-inning games this season ... Oltman's 28 wins are tied for second-most in Creighton history, trailing only her Valley-record total from 2008 (31) ... Oltman tied her own school-record with her 33rd complete game of the season. Oltman has completed 33 of her 34 starts this spring, including the last 30 ... Creighton's last walk-off homer was by Laura Kratochvil against Illinois State on March 21 ... Oltman became the first Bluejay pitcher to throw 10 or more innings in a game since she tossed 10 innings on March 29, 2008 against Northern Iowa.
