Saturday, February 22
Nashville, Tenn.
11:15 AM
Creighton University
6-4
7
vs
2
Rider
0-2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Creighton
0
0
0
0
2
4
1
7
12
2
Rider
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
2
7
2
Photo by: Mark Kuhlmann
Softball Scores During Each Of Final Three Innings To Down Rider, 7-2, At Tiger Classic
2/22/2020 2:31:00 PM | Softball
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Creighton softball team scored seven runs during the final three innings to post a 7-2 victory over Rider on Saturday at the Tiger Classic in Nashville, Tennessee.
The Bluejays improved to 6-4, while the Broncs moved to 0-2.
Saturday's game started two hours after the originally scheduled time because of unplayable field conditions.
Creighton and Rider held each other scoreless during the first four innings before the Bluejays scored two runs in the fifth, four in the sixth and one in the seventh.
Kiara Mills pushed across the first run of the game with a squeeze play in the top of the fifth. The sophomore laid a bunt down the third-base line and Cayla Nielsen sprinted home from third base to give Creighton a 1-0 edge. After Rider dropped a pop up in foul territory, Mileah McKelvy lifted a fly ball to center field to drive in Sam Alm from third base as McKelvy recorded her team-leading third sacrifice fly of the season.
Rider responded with a two runs in the bottom of the fifth frame. The Broncs used a pair of RBI singles down the opposite lines of the diamond to tie the game at 2-2.
Creighton quickly responded with four runs in the top of the sixth. Kailey Wilson led off the inning with an infield single before pinch-runner Mikayla Paulson advanced to second on a ground out. Pinch-hitter Ryann Glenn walked and Nielsen earned a free pass to load the bases. Alm delivered the go-ahead hit with a single to left field and drove in Paulson and Hunt. Mills reloaded the bases with a single through the left side and McKelvy produced her second and third RBIs of the day to push Creighton's edge to 6-2. McKelvy lifted a fly ball towards the wall in center field. The ball bounced off the wall and allowed two runs to score while McKelvy settled for a long single as Mills stayed near first base in anticipation of tagging up on the play. A double play ended the inning, but not before the Bluejays produced four runs on four hits.
Mikaela Pechar scored the final run of the game in the top of the seventh. Pechar doubled, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a passed ball.
Haley Gatica started Saturday's game for the Bluejays and allowed only one hit during the first four innings before running into trouble in the fifth. The freshman allowed a double and RBI single before Creighton went to its bullpen. Mikayla Santa Cruz entered the game and did allow the inherited runner to score, but ended the inning by stranding runners at second and third with the game tied after recording a strikeout.
Santa Cruz also wiggled out of trouble in each of the final two innings. Rider put a runner at second base with one out in the sixth before Sydney Jenkins recorded an outfield assist for the second out. A ground out to second base ended the sixth. Rider threatened again in the last of the seventh with runners two runners on and only one out, but Santa Cruz responded with consecutive strikeouts to end the game.
Santa Cruz finished with four strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings pitched to record her team-leading third victory.
The Bluejays recorded 12 hits against the Broncs. Nielsen and Alm each finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored, while Alm also had two RBIs and a sacrifice. McKelvy went 2-for-2 with three RBIs, a walk and a sacrifice fly and Pechar finished 2-for-3 as eight different players tallied at least one hit.
Creighton's second game of the day was canceled because of schedule adjustments. The Bluejays will return to action on Sunday morning.
The Bluejays improved to 6-4, while the Broncs moved to 0-2.
Saturday's game started two hours after the originally scheduled time because of unplayable field conditions.
Creighton and Rider held each other scoreless during the first four innings before the Bluejays scored two runs in the fifth, four in the sixth and one in the seventh.
Kiara Mills pushed across the first run of the game with a squeeze play in the top of the fifth. The sophomore laid a bunt down the third-base line and Cayla Nielsen sprinted home from third base to give Creighton a 1-0 edge. After Rider dropped a pop up in foul territory, Mileah McKelvy lifted a fly ball to center field to drive in Sam Alm from third base as McKelvy recorded her team-leading third sacrifice fly of the season.
Rider responded with a two runs in the bottom of the fifth frame. The Broncs used a pair of RBI singles down the opposite lines of the diamond to tie the game at 2-2.
Creighton quickly responded with four runs in the top of the sixth. Kailey Wilson led off the inning with an infield single before pinch-runner Mikayla Paulson advanced to second on a ground out. Pinch-hitter Ryann Glenn walked and Nielsen earned a free pass to load the bases. Alm delivered the go-ahead hit with a single to left field and drove in Paulson and Hunt. Mills reloaded the bases with a single through the left side and McKelvy produced her second and third RBIs of the day to push Creighton's edge to 6-2. McKelvy lifted a fly ball towards the wall in center field. The ball bounced off the wall and allowed two runs to score while McKelvy settled for a long single as Mills stayed near first base in anticipation of tagging up on the play. A double play ended the inning, but not before the Bluejays produced four runs on four hits.
Mikaela Pechar scored the final run of the game in the top of the seventh. Pechar doubled, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a passed ball.
Haley Gatica started Saturday's game for the Bluejays and allowed only one hit during the first four innings before running into trouble in the fifth. The freshman allowed a double and RBI single before Creighton went to its bullpen. Mikayla Santa Cruz entered the game and did allow the inherited runner to score, but ended the inning by stranding runners at second and third with the game tied after recording a strikeout.
Santa Cruz also wiggled out of trouble in each of the final two innings. Rider put a runner at second base with one out in the sixth before Sydney Jenkins recorded an outfield assist for the second out. A ground out to second base ended the sixth. Rider threatened again in the last of the seventh with runners two runners on and only one out, but Santa Cruz responded with consecutive strikeouts to end the game.
Santa Cruz finished with four strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings pitched to record her team-leading third victory.
The Bluejays recorded 12 hits against the Broncs. Nielsen and Alm each finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored, while Alm also had two RBIs and a sacrifice. McKelvy went 2-for-2 with three RBIs, a walk and a sacrifice fly and Pechar finished 2-for-3 as eight different players tallied at least one hit.
Creighton's second game of the day was canceled because of schedule adjustments. The Bluejays will return to action on Sunday morning.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Santa Cruz, Mikayla (3-1)
L: Jones, D. (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Nielsen, Cayla 1 ; Pechar, Mikaela 1
RBI: Alm, Sam 2 ; Mills, Kiara 1 ; McKelvy, Mileah 3
SH: Alm, Sam 1 ; Mills, Kiara 1 ; Paulson, Mikayla 1
SF: McKelvy, Mileah 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Nielsen, Cayla 2 ; Alm, Sam 2 ; Pechar, Mikaela 1 ; Paulson, Mikayla 1 ; Hunt, Kaitlynn 1
SB: Alm, Sam 1 ; Sawyer, Jacey 1 ; Alvarez, Victoria 1 ; Manthie, Brittney 1
CS: Hunt, Kaitlynn 1
HBP: Hunt, Kaitlynn 1
Batting:
2B: Marigliano, 1 ; Moreno, L. 1
RBI: Marigliano, 1 ; Zeides, R. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Moreno, L. 1 ; Zeides, R. 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
2
RBI
3
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
P
/ Softball
UT
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
UT
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
UT
/ SoftballC
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
IF
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