Saturday, February 27
Wichita, Kan.
1 PM
Creighton University
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Wichita State
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Creighton
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Wichita State
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Photo by: Andy Meng
Softball Run-Ruled Twice On Opening Day At Wichita State
2/27/2021 7:24:00 PM | Softball
Bluejays scored five runs combined during the first two games of the season
WICHITA, Kan. -- The Creighton softball team opened the 2021 season with a pair of run-rule losses against Wichita State on Saturday at Wilkins Stadium in Wichita, Kansas. The Bluejays fell 14-2 in five innings during the opening game and 13-3 in five innings during the second.
The Bluejays dropped their season record to 0-2, while the Shockers improved to 4-2.
Saturday's games marked the first contests for Creighton since March 12, 2020.
On a windy afternoon in southern Kansas, Wichita State belted a total of 11 home runs with five in the first game and six in the second.Â
Fifth-year senior Ashley Cantu started the afternoon with a single up the middle, marking the fourth time in the last five seasons that Cantu reached base during Creighton's first plate appearance of the year.Â
The Frisco, Texas native stole second base but did not score during the Bluejays' first time at-bat during the 2021 season.
Wichita State jumped out to an early 4-0 lead with a pair of two-run home runs in the bottom of the first inning.
The Shockers added to their advantage with a three-run homer in the second and four more runs in the third off a solo home run, two-RBI double and RBI single.
Creighton cracked into the scoring column with a run in the top of the fourth. Kiara Mills led off the inning with a double to right center before Sam Alm singled to right field and advanced Mills to third base. Following a strikeout, Ryann Glenn recorded the Bluejays' first RBI of the season with a ground out to first base, allowing Mills to score the first run as Creighton cut its deficit to 11-1 after three and a half innings.Â
Wichita State answered with an RBI ground out and two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth to gain a 14-1 edge.
Pinch-hitter Brittney Manthie singled to third base to open the top of the fifth and later scored on a RBI single to center field from Madeline Vejvoda. A ground out and strikeout ended the first game of the day.
Cantu paced the Creighton offense going 2-for-2.Â
Mikayla Santa Cruz, Kate Mullally and Jena Lawrence each appeared in the circle for the Bluejays.
Creighton built a 3-0 lead to start the second game of Saturday's doubleheader. Jacey Sawyer and Madeline Vejvoda each scored on errors in the second inning and Kailey Wilson tallied the first Bluejay home run of the year with a homer to right-center field in the top of the third.
The Shockers responded with five home runs in the bottom of the third. Addison Barnard and Madison Perrigan went back-to-back twice during the inning before Wichita State ended the frame with 10 runs and a seven-run lead -- 10-3.
Creighton put a pair of runners on base during the top of the fourth but did not score and the Shockers hit a three-run homer in the bottom half to push their lead to 13-3.Â
The Bluejays went down in order during the top of the fifth to end the game.Â
Wilson's home run proved to be the lone Creighton hit during the second contest of the day. The Bluejays drew three walks, including the 65th of Cantu's career to push her into a tie with Traci Fitsimones (1983-86) for 10th on Creighton's career walks list.Â
Graduate transfer Parker Boyd started the night cap and Lawrence appeared in relief for the second time.Â
Creighton and Wichita State conclude their weekend series with a single game on Sunday. First pitch between the Bluejays and Shockers is scheduled for noon.
Â
The Bluejays dropped their season record to 0-2, while the Shockers improved to 4-2.
Saturday's games marked the first contests for Creighton since March 12, 2020.
On a windy afternoon in southern Kansas, Wichita State belted a total of 11 home runs with five in the first game and six in the second.Â
Fifth-year senior Ashley Cantu started the afternoon with a single up the middle, marking the fourth time in the last five seasons that Cantu reached base during Creighton's first plate appearance of the year.Â
The Frisco, Texas native stole second base but did not score during the Bluejays' first time at-bat during the 2021 season.
Wichita State jumped out to an early 4-0 lead with a pair of two-run home runs in the bottom of the first inning.
The Shockers added to their advantage with a three-run homer in the second and four more runs in the third off a solo home run, two-RBI double and RBI single.
Creighton cracked into the scoring column with a run in the top of the fourth. Kiara Mills led off the inning with a double to right center before Sam Alm singled to right field and advanced Mills to third base. Following a strikeout, Ryann Glenn recorded the Bluejays' first RBI of the season with a ground out to first base, allowing Mills to score the first run as Creighton cut its deficit to 11-1 after three and a half innings.Â
Wichita State answered with an RBI ground out and two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth to gain a 14-1 edge.
Pinch-hitter Brittney Manthie singled to third base to open the top of the fifth and later scored on a RBI single to center field from Madeline Vejvoda. A ground out and strikeout ended the first game of the day.
Cantu paced the Creighton offense going 2-for-2.Â
Mikayla Santa Cruz, Kate Mullally and Jena Lawrence each appeared in the circle for the Bluejays.
Creighton built a 3-0 lead to start the second game of Saturday's doubleheader. Jacey Sawyer and Madeline Vejvoda each scored on errors in the second inning and Kailey Wilson tallied the first Bluejay home run of the year with a homer to right-center field in the top of the third.
The Shockers responded with five home runs in the bottom of the third. Addison Barnard and Madison Perrigan went back-to-back twice during the inning before Wichita State ended the frame with 10 runs and a seven-run lead -- 10-3.
Creighton put a pair of runners on base during the top of the fourth but did not score and the Shockers hit a three-run homer in the bottom half to push their lead to 13-3.Â
The Bluejays went down in order during the top of the fifth to end the game.Â
Wilson's home run proved to be the lone Creighton hit during the second contest of the day. The Bluejays drew three walks, including the 65th of Cantu's career to push her into a tie with Traci Fitsimones (1983-86) for 10th on Creighton's career walks list.Â
Graduate transfer Parker Boyd started the night cap and Lawrence appeared in relief for the second time.Â
Creighton and Wichita State conclude their weekend series with a single game on Sunday. First pitch between the Bluejays and Shockers is scheduled for noon.
Â
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: McDonald, Erin (2-1)
L: Santa Cruz, Mikayla (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Mills, Kiara 1
RBI: Vejvoda, Madeline 1 ; Glenn, Ryann 1
SH: Cantu, Ashley 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Mills, Kiara 1 ; Manthie, Brittney 1
SB: Cantu, Ashley 1
Batting:
2B: Urban, Bailey 1
HR: Barnard, Addison 1 ; Herring, Neleigh 1 ; Mills, Lauren 1 ; Nickerson, Bailee 1 ; Garcia, Jessica 1
RBI: McKinney, Sydney 1 ; Barnard, Addison 3 ; Herring, Neleigh 2 ; Mills, Lauren 1 ; Nickerson, Bailee 2 ; Lucas, Lauren 1 ; Urban, Bailey 2 ; Garcia, Jessica 2
Base Running:
RUNS: McKinney, Sydney 1 ; Barnard, Addison 1 ; Perrigan, Madison 1 ; Herring, Neleigh 1 ; Mills, Lauren 2 ; Long, Tatum 1 ; Nickerson, Bailee 2 ; Rocha, Paige 1 ; Lucas, Lauren 1 ; Urban, Bailey 1 ; Garcia, Jessica 1 ; Huecker, Kaylee 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
rf/lf
AB
2
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
1
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
UT
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
UT
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
IF
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