Softball Hosts Kansas in Doubleheader Thursday
4/14/2010 12:00:00 PM | Softball
Creighton hosts Kansas
Thursday, April 15 • CU Sports Complex • 3 p.m. (DH)
This Week: Creighton plays five home game, starting with a non-conference doubleheader with Kansas on Thursday at 3 p.m. The Bluejays also play a three-game MVC series with Northern Iowa this weekend, starting with a pair of games at noon on Saturday and a single game Sunday at noon.
Last Week: The Bluejays snapped their longest losing streak in seven years by winning five of six games. Creighton started the week with a doubleheader sweep of North Dakota State, winning 8-4 and 14-1. The Jays hit five home runs during a 13-run first inning against NDSU in the nightcap. In-state rival Nebraska edged the Jays 4-3 in their only loss last week. CU finished the week with a three-game series sweep at Wichita State for the first time since 2002, picking up their first true road wins of the year. Amy Baker was named the MVC Player of the Week after going 9-for-17 (.529) with six home runs and 14 RBI last week, including a 5-for-5 doubleheader with three home runs and eight RBI against NDSU.
Scouting Creighton (19-17, 5-5 MVC): Creighton has won three straight MVC regular-season titles and is again the preseason favorite led by three-time MVC Pitcher of the Year, NFCA All-American and preseason National Player of the Year Candidate Tara Oltman and reigning MVC Player of the Year Renae Sinkler ... The Bluejays are 2-6 in their last eight home games, including three losses to Big 12 teams ... Even with a 4-6 mark at home this year, the Jays are 50-20-1 (.711) at home since 2007 ... The Bluejays still rank last in the MVC with a .219 team batting average, even after hitting .325 last week ... Despite ranking last in average, the Jays are third in the MVC in home runs (35) and fourth in runs scored (148) ... Sinkler, who owns the CU record with 40 career home runs, leads the MVC with with 14 home runs and 36 runs scored, while ranking second in slugging (.895), on-base percentage (.520), total bases (85) and walks (25) ... Freshman Amy Baker has raised her average 59 points during her current seven-game hitting streak and is second on the team in average (.325), home runs (9) and RBI (28) ... Sophomore catcher Lauren Larson has raised her average 87 points during her seven-game hitting streak, going 11-for-21 (.523) with 10 RBI in that span ... Senior Michelle Graner leads all active Jays with a .421 career on-base percentage, thanks to school records in both walks (94) and hit-by-pitches (32) ... Oltman, the MVC record-holder for wins, recorded her 100th win on Saturday and is second among active NCAA players with 102 victories ... The right-hander is CU's career leader in wins, strikeouts (951), appearances (163), starts (124), complete games (110), shutouts (39) and innings pitched (924.2).
Scouting Kansas (17-22, 1-7 Big 12): The Jayhawks snapped a five-game losing streak by picking up their first Big 12 win of the season at Baylor on Sunday ... KU plays a single game against Nebraska on Wednesday before coming to Omaha ... Kansas is hitting .249 as a team with 140 runs scored and 25 home runs ... Rosie Hull tops the team with a .386 average ... Alex Jones (.344) leads KU with 43 hits, 23 runs scored, nine stolen bases and three triples ... Sara Ramirez tops KU with six home runs and Brittany Hile leads the way with 23 RBI ... A trio of Jayhawks have divided the workload in the circle – Alex Jones (5-5, 3.90 ERA, 66.1 IP, 41 K) has the best ERA, while Allie Clark (6-5, 3.93 ERA, 87.1 IP, 52 K) and Sarah Vertelka (6-12, 5.12 ERA, 94.1 IP, 52 K) see the most time at pitcher ... Opponents are hitting .311 against the KU pitching staff, while they have combined for a 4.38 team ERA.
Head Coach: Head coach Brent Vigness (Central College, 1988) is in his 17th season at Creighton, owning a record of 535-369-2 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 22 years as a head coach is 683-440-3. He has led the Jays to five MVC Tournament titles (1999, 2003-05, 2007), six regular-season MVC crowns (1998-2000, 2007-09), six NCAA Tournament appearances (1999, 2003-05, 2007-08) and was named MVC Coach of the Year in 1998 and guided the MVC Coaching Staff of the Year in 2007 and 2008.
CU-KU Series: Kansas leads the all-time series with Creighton, 42-23-1 ... CU swept a doubleheader at KU last year, 2-1 and 4-3 in 10 innings ... CU and KU split a twinbill the last time the Jayhawks visited Omaha on April 2, 2008 ... There is no record of the Jays owning a doubleheader sweep from Kansas at home ... CU has not won consecutive games over KU in Omaha since an April 25, 2001 triumph and April 21, 2005 win on KU trips to the CU Sports Complex.
Individuals vs. KU: How Bluejays have fared against Kansas in their careers ...
• Tara Oltman is 3-1 with a 1.08 ERA in her four career appearances against KU. She hurled a three-hit shutout against Kansas in 2008 and struck out 14 batter in 13 innings for two wins last year. She has allowed 17 hits, four earned runs, walked two and struck out 25 in 26 innings vs. Kansas, while the Jayhawks are hitting .185 against her in the four meetings.
• Renae Sinkler is 7-for-17 (.412) against KU, with a home run, three doubles and five RBI in five games. She was 5-for-8 with two doubles and three RBI at home in 2008 vs. KU.
• The currently injured Liz McKewon was 4-for-6 with her first two career doubles at KU last year.
• Michelle Graner (.182) has a home run and a double for her only two career hits against KU.
• Jessi Jadlowski (.222), Sara Loeffelholz (.200) and Michelle Koch (.176) have struggled with KU pitching.
Baker is Cooking: Freshman Amy Baker has been on a tear lately, as she has raised her batting average 59 points during her current seven-game hitting streak. The rookie was named the MVC Player of the Week after an impressive six-game stretch (April 5-11). The DP hit .529 (9-17) with six home runs, seven runs scored and 14 RBI, with a 1.588 slugging percentage and .619 on-base percentage. She homered in four straight games during the week, starting with her third multi-HR game of the season against North Dakota State (April 5). Baker had six RBI and two homers in the opener against NDSU and then singled and homered in the first inning along of the night cap, to finish the doubleheader 5-for-5 with three home runs and eight RBI.
Big Bat from Backstop: Sophomore catcher Lauren Larson has caught every inning of Creighton's season. She entered last week with seven RBI on 10 hits in 81 at bats this season, for a .123 average. In six games last week, Larson went 10-for-18 (.556) with 10 RBI, a home run and two doubles to raise her batting average 79 points to .202. She was 6-for-11 with eight RBI in three games against Wichita State. During her seven-game hitting streak her average has jumped 87 points. The backstop also picked off her league-leading seventh runner of the season last week – the rest of the entire MVC has one pick-off this season.
Oltman Wins No. 100: Tara Oltman became one of just three active players to reach 100 career victories in CU's 5-1 triumph at Wichita State on April 10. Cleveland State's Amanda Marcenko also won No. 100 that same day to join 2009 National Player of the Year Danielle Lawrie (119) with 100+ career wins. Every Oltman win continues to distance herself from the former mark of 84 (SIU's Amy Harre) and the former Creighton record of 76 (Tammy Nielsen).
Not So Ruf: Sophomore center fielder Christa Ruf had to be removed from CU's first game at Wichita State on April 10 after crashing into the fence in center. The scratches didn't deter Ruf, who returned to the lineup in game two and had a hit and her first stolen base of the season. Then on Sunday she went 3-for-4 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored. Over her last eight games, Ruf is 8-for-25 (.320) with her first career home run, five RBI and five runs scored after she was 3-for-36 (.083) with two runs scored and no RBI in her first 24 games played.
Fantastic Freshman: Amy Baker doubled her season RBI total last week, with 14 RBI in six games to move to 28 RBI on the season. Her 28 RBI are the most by a Bluejay freshman since Mary Egan drove in 30 as a rookie in 2005. The Bluejay freshman record for RBI in a season is 40 by Jody Ream in 1989.
Now Batting ... Tara Oltman?: All-American pitcher Tara Oltman has been setting records throughout her senior season, but she experienced a first in her career on April 10. The hurler logged her first two career plate appearances against Wichita State after entering game two in relief. Oltman dropped down a sacrifice bunt on the first pitch she saw in her first plate appearance and then struck out on three pitches in her second at bat.
Return of the Bat: Creighton had scored only eight runs on 20 hits, while batting .131 during its recent seven-game losing streak. The Bluejays snapped out of that funk in a big way in their doubleheader sweep of North Dakota State on Monday. The CU offense erupted, hitting as many home runs in the twinbill as runs they had scored during their losing streak. The Jays scored 22 runs on eight home runs and 17 hits, batting .378 in the doubleheader sweep. In its six games following the seven-game skid, the Bluejays hit .325 with 12 home runs and 50 runs scored.
Two Hits, One Inning: Creighton sent 16 batters to the plate during its 13-run, five-home run first inning against North Dakota State on April 5, with Michelle Graner, Amy Baker and Lauren Larson each smacking two hits in the inning. The Bluejays batted around again in the seventh inning of their 12-0 win over Wichita State on April 11. The Jays collected eight singles and scored seven runs, as Michelle Koch became the fourth player in one week to have two hits in one inning for the Jays.
Time For TO: Tara Oltman has thrown complete games in each of her last four starts after going four straight starts without finishing – quite a change from a pitcher who completed the last 32 starts she made in 2009. Oltman pitched 153.2 of CU's 176 innings in MVC play last year, but tossed only 11.1 of CU's first 45 innings in Valley play this year, including just 1.1 of CU's 31 conference innings before going to Wichita State (April 10-11). Oltman then hurled 19 of CU's 21 innings at Wichita and won all three games against the Shockers.
On this Day: Creighton is playing a doubleheader on April 15th for the fifth straight season. In 2008 and 2009, the Bluejays played Drake on this date, sweeping DU in 2008, but splitting a home doubleheader last year. The Jays also split doubleheaders on April 15 in 2007 (at Indiana State) and 2006 (at Wichita State).
NCAA Ranks: Renae Sinkler starts the week ranked ninth in the NCAA with 14 home runs and 11th in home runs per game. Her .895 slugging percentage ranks 12th in the nation. She also ranks in the top-50 in runs per game (36th), walks (44th) and on-base percentage (45th). Tara Oltman ranks 16th in shutouts and in the top-50 in wins (34th), ERA (36th), hits per seven innings (44th) and strikeouts (47th).
More National Perspective: The only active pitcher in the nation with more wins than Creighton's Tara Oltman is Washington's Danielle Lawrie (2009 National Player of the Year). Oltman enters the week with 102 victories, trailing only Lawrie's 119 among active NCAA pitchers. Her 951 career strikeouts rank sixth among active players.
Tying the Record: One would think that homering five times in one inning would be a school record – as Creighton connected for five long balls in the first inning of a 14-1 win over North Dakota State (April 5). While the five blasts didn't set a record, they did tie the mark set by the Bluejays just last April 22 when they knocked five over the fence in the third inning against South Dakota State. The five long balls are believed to tie an NCAA record, also accomplished by Illinois in 2009 and UT-San Antonio in 2004. (The NCAA offices do not keep track of home runs in an inning). The five home runs in one game also tied the school record for homers in a game, originally done against Northern Colorado on April 28, 2004.
Baker's Dozen: Creighton scored a baker's dozen – 13 runs – in the first inning of its 14-1 win over North Dakota State (April 5). The 13 runs marked the first time CU had plated at least 10 in one inning since scoring 10 in the third inning against South Dakota State on April 22, 2009. It was the most runs scored by the Jays in an inning since scoring 17 runs in the third against the College of Saint Mary (Neb.) on Feb. 9, 2000.
First Impressions: Creighton scored 13 runs in the first inning of its 14-1 win over North Dakota State (April 5) to add to its best offensive inning of the season. The Bluejays have scored 46 first-inning runs, 22 more than their next-highest scoring frame (24 in the fourth). Of CU's 35 home runs, 11 have come in the first inning. The Jays have scored in the first inning in 18 of 36 games this year after scoring in the first in just 16 of 51 games all of last season. Creighton is hitting .307 in the first inning this season.
No April Fools: The Bluejays are 5-4 in the month of April this year. Even with the slow start this month, the Bluejays are now 46-18-1 (.715) in April since 2007, compared to a .664 winning percentage in the other three competition months combined in that same span.
Seniors Set Records: Renae Sinkler homered in both games against Indiana State (March 21) to claim sole possession of the CU career home run record. Sinkler now is just the second player in MVC history with at least 40 home runs. The slugger has also moved into second in CU history with 122 career RBI. Tara Oltman has become the CU leader in strikeouts (951) and innings pitched (924.2), while adding to the records she already held entering the season – wins (102), appearances (163), starts (124) and complete games (110). Her 102 wins and 110 complete games are both MVC records, while she is second in MVC history in strikeouts and shutouts. Michelle Graner is now CU's all-time leader in walks (94) and hit-by-pitches (32).
Get Out of the Way: Senior Michelle Graner has been hit by seven pitches this year to top the MVC, while CU's 27 hit-batters this year ranks second in the league. Graner has been hit by a pitch a school-record 32 times in her career. In each of Graner's four seasons at CU, she has ranked in the top-10 in single-season history in hit by pitches. Michelle Koch ranks third in CU history, getting hit by 21 pitches, Renae Sinkler ranks fifth with 12 HBPs and Liz McKewon is tied for ninth, getting hit by 11 pitches in her career.
Bluejays Can Run Too: Against UMKC (Feb. 27), Creighton had six stolen bases. The six steals were three shy of the school record and rank as the third-highest steals total in game in school history. It was the most stolen bases in a game by the Jays since swiping seven against Bradley on March 31, 2001.
Strange Happenings: Creighton's recent struggles have brought to light just how dominant it has been in recent years, see below:
• CU's seven-game losing streak was its longest since losing seven straight in 2003.
• The Jays had not lost more than four straight games since losing five in a row in 2005.
• CU lost five straight home games for the first time since 2003.
• CU lost consecutive games in MVC play for the first time since 2007 and had not lost three straight Valley games since 2006.
• CU lost five straight MVC games for the first time since dropping six straight in 2003.
• CU was swept in an MVC doubleheader for the first time since 2006.
• CU was swept in a home doubleheader for the first time since 2004.
This Never Happens: Creighton has won three straight MVC regular-season titles by dominating league opponents. When the Bluejays were swept by Southern Illinois in a doubleheader on March 28, it marked the first time they had lost consecutive games in league play since April 6 & 15, 2007. No Bluejay on this year's roster had ever experienced getting swept in an MVC doubleheader before this season, as the last team to take a twinbill from the Bluejays was Illinois State on March 18, 2006.
Reigns at CF and SS End: Four different players have started a game in center field for the Bluejays this season. That is three more than started for the Jays in center from 2006-09. Jessica Wakasugi started 216 straight games for CU in center field over the previous four seasons. Christa Ruf, Sara Loeffelholz, Danai Martin and Emily Perry have each started in center this year, with Ruf's 26 starts leading the way.
While Bailey Dawson did miss a few games during her four-year career, she was a four-year starter at shortstop from 2006-09. Four players have also started at short for CU already this season. Liz McKewon, Danie Brinkmann, Jennifer Bohle and Michelle Koch has all started at short, led by Koch and McKewon's 11 starts each.
Oltman's Honors: Senior pitcher Tara Oltman is on two impressive preseason lists this year. Oltman is one of 50 players to be named to the preseason USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year Watch List. The right-hander from Cortland, Neb., is the only MVC student-athlete on the list which features players from 35 schools and 14 conferences.
Oltman was also one of 30 candidates on the initial list for the 2010 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award. The 30 student-athletes excel on and off the field and 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.
Leftovers: CU is 91-20 (.820) when hitting a home run since 2007 – with seven of the 20 losses coming this year – and just 46-44-1 (.511) when not homering in that same span ... Michelle Koch hit her first career grand slam and drove in a career-high five runs against North Dakota State (April 5) ... Koch made her first 173 career starts at second base before starting at shortstop in the second game of CU's doubleheader against Iowa State (March 23), she has now made 11 starts at short this year ... Michelle Graner is not only the CU record-holder with 94 career walks and 32 hit-by-pitches, she also leads all active Bluejays with a .421 career on-base percentage, 99 runs scored and 17 stolen bases ... Graner is one run shy of becoming the 12th player in school history to score 100 runs, while Renae Sinkler is three runs shy of the mark ... Creighton swept a three-game series in Wichita for the first time since 2002, out-scoring the Shockers 25-7 in the sweep ... CU's 12 runs at Wichita State on April 11 were its most scored in Valley play since a 12-5 win at Drake on April 15, 2008 and the 12-run margin of victory in MVC play was its largest since a 13-0 win over Indiana State on April 3, 2004 ... The 12-0 win at WSU was CU's largest winning margin on the road since winning at Nebraska 13-1 on April 9, 2008.
Thursday, April 15 • CU Sports Complex • 3 p.m. (DH)
This Week: Creighton plays five home game, starting with a non-conference doubleheader with Kansas on Thursday at 3 p.m. The Bluejays also play a three-game MVC series with Northern Iowa this weekend, starting with a pair of games at noon on Saturday and a single game Sunday at noon.
Last Week: The Bluejays snapped their longest losing streak in seven years by winning five of six games. Creighton started the week with a doubleheader sweep of North Dakota State, winning 8-4 and 14-1. The Jays hit five home runs during a 13-run first inning against NDSU in the nightcap. In-state rival Nebraska edged the Jays 4-3 in their only loss last week. CU finished the week with a three-game series sweep at Wichita State for the first time since 2002, picking up their first true road wins of the year. Amy Baker was named the MVC Player of the Week after going 9-for-17 (.529) with six home runs and 14 RBI last week, including a 5-for-5 doubleheader with three home runs and eight RBI against NDSU.
Scouting Creighton (19-17, 5-5 MVC): Creighton has won three straight MVC regular-season titles and is again the preseason favorite led by three-time MVC Pitcher of the Year, NFCA All-American and preseason National Player of the Year Candidate Tara Oltman and reigning MVC Player of the Year Renae Sinkler ... The Bluejays are 2-6 in their last eight home games, including three losses to Big 12 teams ... Even with a 4-6 mark at home this year, the Jays are 50-20-1 (.711) at home since 2007 ... The Bluejays still rank last in the MVC with a .219 team batting average, even after hitting .325 last week ... Despite ranking last in average, the Jays are third in the MVC in home runs (35) and fourth in runs scored (148) ... Sinkler, who owns the CU record with 40 career home runs, leads the MVC with with 14 home runs and 36 runs scored, while ranking second in slugging (.895), on-base percentage (.520), total bases (85) and walks (25) ... Freshman Amy Baker has raised her average 59 points during her current seven-game hitting streak and is second on the team in average (.325), home runs (9) and RBI (28) ... Sophomore catcher Lauren Larson has raised her average 87 points during her seven-game hitting streak, going 11-for-21 (.523) with 10 RBI in that span ... Senior Michelle Graner leads all active Jays with a .421 career on-base percentage, thanks to school records in both walks (94) and hit-by-pitches (32) ... Oltman, the MVC record-holder for wins, recorded her 100th win on Saturday and is second among active NCAA players with 102 victories ... The right-hander is CU's career leader in wins, strikeouts (951), appearances (163), starts (124), complete games (110), shutouts (39) and innings pitched (924.2).
Scouting Kansas (17-22, 1-7 Big 12): The Jayhawks snapped a five-game losing streak by picking up their first Big 12 win of the season at Baylor on Sunday ... KU plays a single game against Nebraska on Wednesday before coming to Omaha ... Kansas is hitting .249 as a team with 140 runs scored and 25 home runs ... Rosie Hull tops the team with a .386 average ... Alex Jones (.344) leads KU with 43 hits, 23 runs scored, nine stolen bases and three triples ... Sara Ramirez tops KU with six home runs and Brittany Hile leads the way with 23 RBI ... A trio of Jayhawks have divided the workload in the circle – Alex Jones (5-5, 3.90 ERA, 66.1 IP, 41 K) has the best ERA, while Allie Clark (6-5, 3.93 ERA, 87.1 IP, 52 K) and Sarah Vertelka (6-12, 5.12 ERA, 94.1 IP, 52 K) see the most time at pitcher ... Opponents are hitting .311 against the KU pitching staff, while they have combined for a 4.38 team ERA.
Head Coach: Head coach Brent Vigness (Central College, 1988) is in his 17th season at Creighton, owning a record of 535-369-2 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 22 years as a head coach is 683-440-3. He has led the Jays to five MVC Tournament titles (1999, 2003-05, 2007), six regular-season MVC crowns (1998-2000, 2007-09), six NCAA Tournament appearances (1999, 2003-05, 2007-08) and was named MVC Coach of the Year in 1998 and guided the MVC Coaching Staff of the Year in 2007 and 2008.
CU-KU Series: Kansas leads the all-time series with Creighton, 42-23-1 ... CU swept a doubleheader at KU last year, 2-1 and 4-3 in 10 innings ... CU and KU split a twinbill the last time the Jayhawks visited Omaha on April 2, 2008 ... There is no record of the Jays owning a doubleheader sweep from Kansas at home ... CU has not won consecutive games over KU in Omaha since an April 25, 2001 triumph and April 21, 2005 win on KU trips to the CU Sports Complex.
Individuals vs. KU: How Bluejays have fared against Kansas in their careers ...
• Tara Oltman is 3-1 with a 1.08 ERA in her four career appearances against KU. She hurled a three-hit shutout against Kansas in 2008 and struck out 14 batter in 13 innings for two wins last year. She has allowed 17 hits, four earned runs, walked two and struck out 25 in 26 innings vs. Kansas, while the Jayhawks are hitting .185 against her in the four meetings.
• Renae Sinkler is 7-for-17 (.412) against KU, with a home run, three doubles and five RBI in five games. She was 5-for-8 with two doubles and three RBI at home in 2008 vs. KU.
• The currently injured Liz McKewon was 4-for-6 with her first two career doubles at KU last year.
• Michelle Graner (.182) has a home run and a double for her only two career hits against KU.
• Jessi Jadlowski (.222), Sara Loeffelholz (.200) and Michelle Koch (.176) have struggled with KU pitching.
Baker is Cooking: Freshman Amy Baker has been on a tear lately, as she has raised her batting average 59 points during her current seven-game hitting streak. The rookie was named the MVC Player of the Week after an impressive six-game stretch (April 5-11). The DP hit .529 (9-17) with six home runs, seven runs scored and 14 RBI, with a 1.588 slugging percentage and .619 on-base percentage. She homered in four straight games during the week, starting with her third multi-HR game of the season against North Dakota State (April 5). Baker had six RBI and two homers in the opener against NDSU and then singled and homered in the first inning along of the night cap, to finish the doubleheader 5-for-5 with three home runs and eight RBI.
Big Bat from Backstop: Sophomore catcher Lauren Larson has caught every inning of Creighton's season. She entered last week with seven RBI on 10 hits in 81 at bats this season, for a .123 average. In six games last week, Larson went 10-for-18 (.556) with 10 RBI, a home run and two doubles to raise her batting average 79 points to .202. She was 6-for-11 with eight RBI in three games against Wichita State. During her seven-game hitting streak her average has jumped 87 points. The backstop also picked off her league-leading seventh runner of the season last week – the rest of the entire MVC has one pick-off this season.
Oltman Wins No. 100: Tara Oltman became one of just three active players to reach 100 career victories in CU's 5-1 triumph at Wichita State on April 10. Cleveland State's Amanda Marcenko also won No. 100 that same day to join 2009 National Player of the Year Danielle Lawrie (119) with 100+ career wins. Every Oltman win continues to distance herself from the former mark of 84 (SIU's Amy Harre) and the former Creighton record of 76 (Tammy Nielsen).
Not So Ruf: Sophomore center fielder Christa Ruf had to be removed from CU's first game at Wichita State on April 10 after crashing into the fence in center. The scratches didn't deter Ruf, who returned to the lineup in game two and had a hit and her first stolen base of the season. Then on Sunday she went 3-for-4 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored. Over her last eight games, Ruf is 8-for-25 (.320) with her first career home run, five RBI and five runs scored after she was 3-for-36 (.083) with two runs scored and no RBI in her first 24 games played.
Fantastic Freshman: Amy Baker doubled her season RBI total last week, with 14 RBI in six games to move to 28 RBI on the season. Her 28 RBI are the most by a Bluejay freshman since Mary Egan drove in 30 as a rookie in 2005. The Bluejay freshman record for RBI in a season is 40 by Jody Ream in 1989.
Now Batting ... Tara Oltman?: All-American pitcher Tara Oltman has been setting records throughout her senior season, but she experienced a first in her career on April 10. The hurler logged her first two career plate appearances against Wichita State after entering game two in relief. Oltman dropped down a sacrifice bunt on the first pitch she saw in her first plate appearance and then struck out on three pitches in her second at bat.
Return of the Bat: Creighton had scored only eight runs on 20 hits, while batting .131 during its recent seven-game losing streak. The Bluejays snapped out of that funk in a big way in their doubleheader sweep of North Dakota State on Monday. The CU offense erupted, hitting as many home runs in the twinbill as runs they had scored during their losing streak. The Jays scored 22 runs on eight home runs and 17 hits, batting .378 in the doubleheader sweep. In its six games following the seven-game skid, the Bluejays hit .325 with 12 home runs and 50 runs scored.
Two Hits, One Inning: Creighton sent 16 batters to the plate during its 13-run, five-home run first inning against North Dakota State on April 5, with Michelle Graner, Amy Baker and Lauren Larson each smacking two hits in the inning. The Bluejays batted around again in the seventh inning of their 12-0 win over Wichita State on April 11. The Jays collected eight singles and scored seven runs, as Michelle Koch became the fourth player in one week to have two hits in one inning for the Jays.
Time For TO: Tara Oltman has thrown complete games in each of her last four starts after going four straight starts without finishing – quite a change from a pitcher who completed the last 32 starts she made in 2009. Oltman pitched 153.2 of CU's 176 innings in MVC play last year, but tossed only 11.1 of CU's first 45 innings in Valley play this year, including just 1.1 of CU's 31 conference innings before going to Wichita State (April 10-11). Oltman then hurled 19 of CU's 21 innings at Wichita and won all three games against the Shockers.
On this Day: Creighton is playing a doubleheader on April 15th for the fifth straight season. In 2008 and 2009, the Bluejays played Drake on this date, sweeping DU in 2008, but splitting a home doubleheader last year. The Jays also split doubleheaders on April 15 in 2007 (at Indiana State) and 2006 (at Wichita State).
NCAA Ranks: Renae Sinkler starts the week ranked ninth in the NCAA with 14 home runs and 11th in home runs per game. Her .895 slugging percentage ranks 12th in the nation. She also ranks in the top-50 in runs per game (36th), walks (44th) and on-base percentage (45th). Tara Oltman ranks 16th in shutouts and in the top-50 in wins (34th), ERA (36th), hits per seven innings (44th) and strikeouts (47th).
More National Perspective: The only active pitcher in the nation with more wins than Creighton's Tara Oltman is Washington's Danielle Lawrie (2009 National Player of the Year). Oltman enters the week with 102 victories, trailing only Lawrie's 119 among active NCAA pitchers. Her 951 career strikeouts rank sixth among active players.
Tying the Record: One would think that homering five times in one inning would be a school record – as Creighton connected for five long balls in the first inning of a 14-1 win over North Dakota State (April 5). While the five blasts didn't set a record, they did tie the mark set by the Bluejays just last April 22 when they knocked five over the fence in the third inning against South Dakota State. The five long balls are believed to tie an NCAA record, also accomplished by Illinois in 2009 and UT-San Antonio in 2004. (The NCAA offices do not keep track of home runs in an inning). The five home runs in one game also tied the school record for homers in a game, originally done against Northern Colorado on April 28, 2004.
Baker's Dozen: Creighton scored a baker's dozen – 13 runs – in the first inning of its 14-1 win over North Dakota State (April 5). The 13 runs marked the first time CU had plated at least 10 in one inning since scoring 10 in the third inning against South Dakota State on April 22, 2009. It was the most runs scored by the Jays in an inning since scoring 17 runs in the third against the College of Saint Mary (Neb.) on Feb. 9, 2000.
First Impressions: Creighton scored 13 runs in the first inning of its 14-1 win over North Dakota State (April 5) to add to its best offensive inning of the season. The Bluejays have scored 46 first-inning runs, 22 more than their next-highest scoring frame (24 in the fourth). Of CU's 35 home runs, 11 have come in the first inning. The Jays have scored in the first inning in 18 of 36 games this year after scoring in the first in just 16 of 51 games all of last season. Creighton is hitting .307 in the first inning this season.
No April Fools: The Bluejays are 5-4 in the month of April this year. Even with the slow start this month, the Bluejays are now 46-18-1 (.715) in April since 2007, compared to a .664 winning percentage in the other three competition months combined in that same span.
Seniors Set Records: Renae Sinkler homered in both games against Indiana State (March 21) to claim sole possession of the CU career home run record. Sinkler now is just the second player in MVC history with at least 40 home runs. The slugger has also moved into second in CU history with 122 career RBI. Tara Oltman has become the CU leader in strikeouts (951) and innings pitched (924.2), while adding to the records she already held entering the season – wins (102), appearances (163), starts (124) and complete games (110). Her 102 wins and 110 complete games are both MVC records, while she is second in MVC history in strikeouts and shutouts. Michelle Graner is now CU's all-time leader in walks (94) and hit-by-pitches (32).
Get Out of the Way: Senior Michelle Graner has been hit by seven pitches this year to top the MVC, while CU's 27 hit-batters this year ranks second in the league. Graner has been hit by a pitch a school-record 32 times in her career. In each of Graner's four seasons at CU, she has ranked in the top-10 in single-season history in hit by pitches. Michelle Koch ranks third in CU history, getting hit by 21 pitches, Renae Sinkler ranks fifth with 12 HBPs and Liz McKewon is tied for ninth, getting hit by 11 pitches in her career.
Bluejays Can Run Too: Against UMKC (Feb. 27), Creighton had six stolen bases. The six steals were three shy of the school record and rank as the third-highest steals total in game in school history. It was the most stolen bases in a game by the Jays since swiping seven against Bradley on March 31, 2001.
Strange Happenings: Creighton's recent struggles have brought to light just how dominant it has been in recent years, see below:
• CU's seven-game losing streak was its longest since losing seven straight in 2003.
• The Jays had not lost more than four straight games since losing five in a row in 2005.
• CU lost five straight home games for the first time since 2003.
• CU lost consecutive games in MVC play for the first time since 2007 and had not lost three straight Valley games since 2006.
• CU lost five straight MVC games for the first time since dropping six straight in 2003.
• CU was swept in an MVC doubleheader for the first time since 2006.
• CU was swept in a home doubleheader for the first time since 2004.
This Never Happens: Creighton has won three straight MVC regular-season titles by dominating league opponents. When the Bluejays were swept by Southern Illinois in a doubleheader on March 28, it marked the first time they had lost consecutive games in league play since April 6 & 15, 2007. No Bluejay on this year's roster had ever experienced getting swept in an MVC doubleheader before this season, as the last team to take a twinbill from the Bluejays was Illinois State on March 18, 2006.
Reigns at CF and SS End: Four different players have started a game in center field for the Bluejays this season. That is three more than started for the Jays in center from 2006-09. Jessica Wakasugi started 216 straight games for CU in center field over the previous four seasons. Christa Ruf, Sara Loeffelholz, Danai Martin and Emily Perry have each started in center this year, with Ruf's 26 starts leading the way.
While Bailey Dawson did miss a few games during her four-year career, she was a four-year starter at shortstop from 2006-09. Four players have also started at short for CU already this season. Liz McKewon, Danie Brinkmann, Jennifer Bohle and Michelle Koch has all started at short, led by Koch and McKewon's 11 starts each.
Oltman's Honors: Senior pitcher Tara Oltman is on two impressive preseason lists this year. Oltman is one of 50 players to be named to the preseason USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year Watch List. The right-hander from Cortland, Neb., is the only MVC student-athlete on the list which features players from 35 schools and 14 conferences.
Oltman was also one of 30 candidates on the initial list for the 2010 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award. The 30 student-athletes excel on and off the field and 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.
Leftovers: CU is 91-20 (.820) when hitting a home run since 2007 – with seven of the 20 losses coming this year – and just 46-44-1 (.511) when not homering in that same span ... Michelle Koch hit her first career grand slam and drove in a career-high five runs against North Dakota State (April 5) ... Koch made her first 173 career starts at second base before starting at shortstop in the second game of CU's doubleheader against Iowa State (March 23), she has now made 11 starts at short this year ... Michelle Graner is not only the CU record-holder with 94 career walks and 32 hit-by-pitches, she also leads all active Bluejays with a .421 career on-base percentage, 99 runs scored and 17 stolen bases ... Graner is one run shy of becoming the 12th player in school history to score 100 runs, while Renae Sinkler is three runs shy of the mark ... Creighton swept a three-game series in Wichita for the first time since 2002, out-scoring the Shockers 25-7 in the sweep ... CU's 12 runs at Wichita State on April 11 were its most scored in Valley play since a 12-5 win at Drake on April 15, 2008 and the 12-run margin of victory in MVC play was its largest since a 13-0 win over Indiana State on April 3, 2004 ... The 12-0 win at WSU was CU's largest winning margin on the road since winning at Nebraska 13-1 on April 9, 2008.
Players Mentioned
IF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
OF/1B
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
IF
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P
/ Softball
OF
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OF
/ 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
