Creighton University
Missouri State
Softball Splits Doubleheader at Missouri State
4/9/2011 2:26:00 PM | Softball
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - The Creighton softball team captured a 4-1 win at Missouri State in game one of Saturday's doubleheader at Killian Softball Stadium, before falling 3-2 in the night cap. The Bluejays tied a season-high with five stolen bases in the opener, including the first two steals of Amy Baker's career. After battling back from a 2-0 deficit in game two, the Jays lost on a squeeze play in the bottom of the seventh inning to split the twin bill.
The split puts the Bluejays at 15-17 overall and 5-3 in Missouri Valley Conference play, while the Bears are 15-16 and 5-5 in league action.
In the opener, freshman pitcher Becca Changstrom improved to 3-0 in Valley road games, carrying a shutout into the seventh inning.
Changstrom helped her cause in the third inning, by leading off with her first collegiate hit. Sammy Snygg, CU's starting first baseman, entered the game to run for Changstrom and moved to third base on Ellen Homan's bunt single and throwing error by MSU third baseman Jenna Schwark. Baker, the MVC's leading home run hitter, then surprised everyone by dropping down a perfect bunt, driving in the game's first run and reaching base on a single.
The Bluejays added two more runs in the fifth, with Homan and Baker starting the rally. Homan and Baker started the inning with back-to-back singles. Baker swiped second base to put two runners in scoring position for Christa Ruf. Ruf drove home Homan with a ground out to second base and Baker scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Emily Perry to make the score 3-0 in favor of the Bluejays.
Creighton tacked on an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning. Ruf led off the frame with a single and moved to second base on a wild pitch and on to third on a sacrifice bunt. She then scored on a sac bunt from Ashley Frutos to give the Jays a four-run lead.
Missouri State scored its only run of the game in the seventh inning, as Lauren Eisenriech led off the inning with a solo home run to make the final 4-1.
Changstrom improved to 11-7 in her 12th complete game of the season. The right-hander allowed just four hits, walked three and struck out five in the win.
Natalie Rose took the loss for the Bears, as she allowed six hits and two earned runs in five innings of work.
Homan and Baker, Creighton's top two hitters in the lineup, each had two hits and two stolen bases in the win. Baker entered the game with no stolen base attempts in her first 88 career games.
In the night cap, the Bears went ahead 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning, taking advantage of a passed ball by Baker with two outs to score the first run of the game. MSU went ahead 2-0 in the third inning on a sacrifice fly ball.
Creighton put together four singles in the fifth inning to pull even. Jennifer Bohle and Liz McKewon singled to start the inning and both moved into scoring position on a Danai Martin sac bunt. Frutos and Homan then followed with RBI singles to tie the game at two.
The game remained tied until the bottom of the seventh inning, after the Jays stranded two runners in the top of the inning.
Ashley Brentz started the seventh with a single for MSU and Kirstin Cutter reached on an error by Frutos at second. Both runners were in scoring position with one out when Jenna Schwark dropped down a bunt to score Brentz with the winning run.
After starting and taking the loss in game, Rose (10-13) bounced back to throw a complete game and pick up the win in game two. She scattered seven hits and struck out nine in her second start of the day.
Freshman Brittany Telecky suffered her first collegiate defeat, dropping to 2-1 on the spring. The rookie entered in relief of junior Kylie Hovinga in the third inning and threw four full innings, allowing one run and four hits, while striking out three in the loss. She was lifted after the first two hitters in the seventh inning reached, but was responsible for the winning run which Changstrom allowed to cross the plate. Hovinga lasted two-plus innings in the no decision.
Homan collected two hits in each game, extending her hitting streak to seven games. The freshman left fielder went 4-for-7 in the twin bill. Frutos finished the second game 2-for-2 with a sac and a walk.
The Bluejays will look to capture their third MVC series win in as many series when they play the rubber game against the Bears on Sunday at noon. Fans can follow that game via live video provided by Missouri State at this link.
