Creighton University
4-4
Akron
8-10
Softball Splits Opening Pair of Contests at Rebel Spring Games
3/8/2015 5:09:00 PM | Softball
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – The Creighton softball team split its opening pair of contests at the Rebel Spring Games by dropping a 5-3 decision to Akron before a 3-0 shutout victory over Presbyterian in Winter Haven on Sunday afternoon.
Creighton (5-4), coming off of a game drought of just over two weeks, began a 10-game set in central Florida on Sunday morning. Akron (8-10) came from behind to knock off the Bluejays in game one. In the second contest, Presbyterian (7-9) could not muster a run against CU pitcher Sydnee Eck.
Senior Liz Dike batted in all six of the Bluejay runs on Sunday. The shortstop connected on her first home run of the year with a three-run shot over the fence against Akron. Later Dike utilized a sacrifice fly and her fourth triple of the year to push across three more runs against Presbyterian. Dike, fellow senior Bri McMahon and junior Kelsey Allender posted a pair of hits on the day.
Junior Micaela Whitney earned the start for CU in game one.
Creighton's offense struggled early in the game as Akron scored in each of the first three innings.
The Zips scored on a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the first frame for a 1-0 lead. Akron added another RBI single in the second to make it 2-0.
Junior Erin McGonigal walked to open the CU third. A single by Allender put runners on first and second when Dike stepped up to the plate and gave the Bluejays a brief lead by blasting a three-run shot over the right center fence. It marked Dike's first homer of the season.
Akron quickly climbed back in front in the bottom of the third. Three singles and a Bluejay error led to a pair of scores by the Zips to build a 4-3 lead. Akron completed the scoring in the bottom of the fifth with a single, double and another CU error to yield the final result.
Creighton only managed one more hit in the game, a one-out single by McMahon in the top of the seventh.
With the loss Whitney dropped to 4-2 on the year.
Eck started game two for Creighton in the circle against Presbyterian.
After two scoreless innings the Bluejays plated a run in the bottom of the third frame. Allender hit an infield single to open the inning. Junior Michelle Trulin then reached on an error to put runners on first and second. Dike then hit a long sac fly to center field to drive in the first run of the game.
McMahon opened the fourth frame with a double but the Blue Hose converted a double play with a hard line drive to third to end the Bluejays' threat.
In the CU fifth, McGonigal opened with a single followed by an Allender walk. Trulin reached on a fielder's choice as PC put out the lead runner at third. Next up Dike tripled to left center to bring across a pair of runs for the Jays in the 3-0 victory.
Eck earned her first career victory at Creighton with the five-hit shutout. The sophomore struck out seven of the 26 batters she faced to improve to 1-1 in her third appearance of the season.
Creighton returns to action Monday morning against former conference rival Southern Illinois and later battles Lehigh at the Rebel Spring Games.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: SEILER, Erin (8-5)
L: Whitney, Micaela (4-2)
Batting:
HR: Dike, Liz 1
RBI: Dike, Liz 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Allender, Kelsey 1 ; Dike, Liz 1 ; McGonigal, Erin 1
Batting:
2B: NICHOLAS, Alyssa 1
RBI: ROUDABUSH, Kellie 1 ; NICHOLAS, Alyssa 3 ; RICHARDS, Lena 1
SH: ROUDABUSH, Kellie 1 ; RHODES, McKenzi 1 ; ALLMON, Taryn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: FRUIN, Savannah 2 ; ROUDABUSH, Kellie 2 ; GAMBONE, Caitlin 1
SB: FRUIN, Savannah 2 ; NICHOLAS, Alyssa 1
CS: RICHARDS, Lena 1
