Creighton University
South Dakota State
Softball Goes 0-1-1 at South Dakota State on Tuesday
4/3/2012 5:40:00 PM | Softball
BROOKINGS, S.D. -- Creighton Softball's six-game winning streak came to an end on Tuesday as the Bluejay offense was slowed down by South Dakota State in two games in Brookings. SDSU won the first game, 1-0 in eight innings, before the teams played to a 1-1 tie in a game halted after nine innings due to darkness.
Creighton had plenty of baserunners in both games, but went 0-for-14 with runners in scoring position and stranded 22 runners on the day.
Creighton is now 17-14-1, while SDSU is 7-17-1.
Creighton returns home on Wednesday to host Iowa State in a single game beginning at 5 pm at the CU Sports Complex, a make-up for a contest rained out two weeks ago.
Game One (South Dakota State 1, Creighton 0; 8 innings)
South Dakota State snapped Creighton's six-game win streak with a 1-0 victory in eight innings in Tuesday's opener.
Both teams were hitless through three innings before SDSU threatened in the bottom of the fourth. Devon Reick singled to lead off the frame and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. She would try to score on Alex Landon's infield single with two outs, only to be gunned down on a relay by CU first baseman Amy Baker.
Creighton had scoring opportunities in both the seventh and eighth innings. In the seventh, CU loaded the bases with two outs before Baker struck out. In the eighth, CU had runners at second and third before Liz Dike struck out to end the inning.
SDSU scored the game's only run in the bottom of the eighth inning. Pinch-hitter Samantha Terry singled with one out, and was replaced on the bases by Sammy Bingham. Emily Weber followed with a single, and an error by CU loaded the bases with just one away. The Jacks then ended the game in walk-off fashion on a Reick single down the left-field line.
Becca Changstrom (9-8) was the tough-luck loser, giving up just one unearned run in 7.1 innings of work while striking out eight. SDSU's Kori Seidlitz (3-7) threw the eight-inning shutout to earn the win, allowing four hits and walking six while striking out 11.
Game Two (Creighton 1, South Dakota State 1; 9 innings, game called due to darkness)
Creighton played its first tie since 2007, and just the third in program history, in a 1-1 game called due to darkness after nine innings.
Just like their meeting earlier in the day, neither team could muster much offense early. SDSU broke through first in the bottom of the fifth frame. Sammy Bingham doubled and scored on a Emily Weber single.
Just three outs away from a second straight shutout, CU's offense finally broke through after 14 scoreless innings at Jackrabbit Softball Stadium. Christa Ruf was hit by a pitch and moved to second on Ellen Homan's bunt. A walk to Allie Mathewson preceded Amy Baker's hit-by-pitch that loaded the bases. Alexis Cantu lined out to left, but freshman Bri Lingl coaxed a bases-loaded walk to tie the score at 1-all. The Jays had a chance to take their first lead, but pinch-hitter Brittnie Kreiser popped up to end the threat.
Creighton had one final scoring opportunity in the top of the ninth. After Mathewson reached on a one-out error, she moved to second on a Baker single. Cantu walked to fill the bases, but Lingl struck out and Taylor Flodman grounded out to end the frame.
Cantu pitched around a one-out error in SDSU's final at-bat, getting a ground out and fly out before the game was called due to darkness. It was Creighton's third tie in program history, and first called due to darkness since a 2004 tie at Kansas (Creighton also tied in 2007 vs. Illinois State in a game shortened by rain).
Cantu threw a nine-inning complete game, allowing just three hits and three walks while striking out four. Liz Dike led CU's offense with a pair of singles, while Baker was 1-for-2 with two walks.
