Creighton University
21-18
Drake
29-19
Softball Drops Doubleheader to Drake
4/29/2015 10:47:00 PM | Softball
OMAHA, Neb. – The Creighton softball team suffered two setbacks in the seventh inning in a doubleheader against Drake by scores of 1-0 and 5-1 in the Bluejays' home series finale at the CU Sports Complex.
Creighton (21-19) found itself tied entering the seventh frame of both games but Drake (30-19) put together late-game rallies to break ties in both contests and held on to secure both wins. The Bulldogs broke a 0-0 tie in game one on a solo home run by Rebekah Schmidt. In game two DU scored four runs in the top of the seventh to break a 1-all tie.
Junior Kelsey Allender led the Bluejay offense, going 3-for-7 (.429) at the plate. Six other jays produced a single hit on the day including sophomore Jen Daro who brought in a run with an RBI double deep down the left field line in game two.
In game one, sophomore Sydnee Eck earned the start in the circle for Creighton.
The opener was a pitcher's duel as Eck and Drake starter Nicole Newman combined for 27 K's in the game as both hurlers posted career high strikeout totals. Eck racked up a career-high 10 strikeouts in a Bluejay uniform, while allowing just one run on three hits. Newman posted a career-high strikeout total of 17 against CU and allowed just two hits to the Jays.
Schmidt's solo shot in the top of the seventh inning proved to be the difference in the game as Drake held on to win 1-0 in game one.
Eck dropped to 10-9 on the year with the loss.
CU junior Micaela Whitney started game two in the circle for the Bluejays.
Junior Blake Ringle started the scoring rally for CU in the bottom of the second inning. Ringle singled to left field and freshman Allie Webb came on to pinch run at first base. A sacrifice bunt from junior Anna O'Gorman moved Webb to second base before Daro's RBI-double scored Webb for an early 1-0 CU lead.
Drake responded in the next half inning with a run in the top of the third. A hit-by-pitch, single, wild pitch, walk and a bases-loaded ground out scored the Bulldog run to knot the game at 1-1.
DU broke the tie in the top of the seventh after a trio of scoreless innings. The Bulldogs opened the frame with a walk but CU quickly posted two outs before DU rallied for four runs. Another walk and a CU error helped Drake score the go-ahead run. Then the Bulldogs added three more scores on a three-run homer to yield the final score.
Creighton put its first two batters on and moved them into scoring position but could not bring any runs across in the bottom of the seventh.
Whitney dropped to 9-9 on the season with the loss.
The Bluejays end the week in their final BIG EAST series at Providence. The Jays are in a tie for sixth-place in the standings with the Friars, just one game out of the fourth and final spot that qualifies for the BIG EAST Softball Championship in two weeks.
Creighton begins its series Saturday at 11 a.m. CT with a doubleheader at Providence and will play its regular-season finale on Sunday at 10 a.m. CT.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Newman, Nicole (12-4)
L: Eck, Sydnee (10-9)
Batting:
HR: Schmidt, Rebekah 1
RBI: Schmidt, Rebekah 1
SH: Alexander, Tasha 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Schmidt, Rebekah 1
