Softball Opens BIG EAST Play At Home Against Georgetown

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For the first time since 2016 Creighton (10-7, 0-0 BIG EAST) will opens BIG EAST Conference play at home when it takes on Georgetown (9-11, 0-0 BIG EAST) in a doubleheader on Sunday beginning at 10 a.m. at the Creighton Sports Cpmplex.

Matchup
Sunday, March 13 • Georgetown at Creighton • 10 a.m. (DH)

Follow The Games

Sunday's doubleheader against Georgetown will feature live video and live stats.

Live video will be provided through FloSports while live stats will be provided on StatBroadcast. Saturday's broadcast team will feature Alex Cohen and Ryan Piers, while Sunday's contests will have Jake Ryan and Ana Bellinghausen on the call.

Links to live video and live stats can be found on the Creighton Softball schedule page on GoCreighton.com.

A subscription is required to view the event on FloSports. More information can be found at GoCreighton.com/FloSports.

Scoring updates and infographics will be provided via Twitter at @BluejaySoftball.

Scouting Creighton (7-5)

The Bluejays enter BIG EAST Conference action sporting a 10-7 overall record. Creighton is coming off a 3-2 outing at the Evansville Softball Invitational, where all three of the Bluejays wins where in run-rule fashion.

The Bluejays currently have seven batters hitting over .300 lead by the reigning BIG EAST Player of the Week Cayla Nielsen

Creighton leads the league with a .314 batting average, while also holding the league-lead in on-base percentage (.402), Runs (98), RBI (90), triples (4) and sacrifice flies (7).

Nielsen paces the Bluejays with a .389 batting average while also posting a team-high 21 hits and scoring a team-best 23 runs.

Sophomore Emma Rosonke leads the Jays with four home runs and 17 RBI while holding a strong .378 batting average.

Kiara Mills (.346), Kailey Willson (.340), Brittney Manthie (.333), Madeline Vejvoda (.306) and Saren Croker (.304) are all batting above .300 while Shayna Dahlen (.286) and Alyssa Gappa (.282) are not far behind.

The Bluejays pitching staff owns a 4.07 ERA with 90 strikeouts while allowing 61 earned runs on 113 hits.

Mikayla Santa Cruz leads the Jays with 49 strikeouts in 51.0 innings pitched and a 3.43 ERA, while Alexis Wiggins has also tossed 36.1 innings and struck out 33 batters for a 3.66 ERA.

Head coach Brent Vigness is in his 29th season at the helm with 814 victories, the most of any coach across all sports in Creighton athletics history.

Scouting Georgetown (9-11)

The Hoyas carry a 9-11 record in to the first weekend of BIG EAST play after finishing last weekend with a 2-4 record at The Spring Game in Florida.

Alyssa Chavez leads Georgetown and ranks second in the BIG EAST with a .417 batting average, while pacing the Hoyas and leading the BIG EAST in hits (25), RBI (19) and home runs (5).

Catcher Mae Forshey owns a .309 batting average with 21 hits, six doubles and 13 RBI, while thrown five base runners out from behind the plate on defense.

As a team, Georgetown is hitting .257 with 141 hits and a league-best 22 home runs. The Hoyas also lead the BIG EAST in total bases (228), plate appearances (638), at-bats (541) and hit-by-pitches (20), while rankings second in runs scored (90), hits (141), RBI (82) and walks (59).

Kayla Dunn has struck out a league-best 69 batters and leads the team with a 3.33 ERA in 54.2 innings of work.

Julia Parker has also tossed 54.0 innings and has contributed 42 strikeouts while posting a 4.15 ERA.

As a pitching staff, Georgetown holds a 4.66 ERA with 135 strikeouts in 135.1 innings of work and has only allowed 90 earned runs on 152 hits.

Head coach Pat Conlan is in her 17th season at the helm of Georgetown.

Series History Against Hoyas

Creighton leads the all-time series against Georgetown, 9-7.

The Bluejays and Hoyas have not played each other since the 2019 season as Georgetown did not field a team due to COVID last season and the 2020 season being cancelled before conference play.

In the last meeting, the Hoyas took two out of the three game from the Bluejays in Washington, D.C. during the 2019 season.

Nielsen Named BIG EAST Player of the Week

Sophomore Cayla Nielsen earned BIG EAST Player of the Week honors, the league announced on Monday afternoon. The Blair, Nebraska native hit 9-of-18 (.500) from the plate with four RBI, two doubles and one home run to help the Bluejays to a 3-2 record at the Evansville Softball Invitational this past weekend.

Nielsen led the BIG EAST in runs scored and tied for the BIG EAST lead in hits this past week with nine, while extending her on-base streak out to 13-games.

The sophomore started all five games in centerfield for Creighton this past week. Nielsen scored the Bluejays lone run in the Evansville Softball Invitational opener against Bowling Green when she launched her third home run of the season over the left field wall.

She finished the opening day of the tournament by going 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored to help Creighton to a 11-2 win over Green Bay. She then went 2-for-5 and scored three runs in the Jays 14-6 triumph over Oakland on Saturday afternoon, before capping off the second day of competition by going 3-for-3 from the plate with three runs scored as the Bluejays run-ruled Green Bay 8-0 in five innings.

Nielsen has started all 17 games this season and currently leads the Bluejays in multiple offensive categories. The Nebraska native paces the team with a .389 batting average and a .468 on-base percentage, while also leading the Bluejays with 21 hits, 23 runs, five doubles and two triples.

League-Opener History

Creighton is 5-2 in BIG EAST openers and has won 12 of its last 15 conference opening-games , including wins in the final seven Missouri Valley Conference lid-lifters.

The last time Creighton opened conference play at home was in 2016 when they hosted Providence for a three-game set. The Bluejays won two games as the third was cancelled due to inclement weather in the Omaha area.

The Bluejays are 23-12 all-time in their first conference game of the season during stints in the HCAC (2-3), WAC (1-1), MVC (15-6) and BIG EAST (5-2).

Nielsen's On-Base Streak Reached 13

Sophomore Cayla Nielsen reached base in 13 consecutive games entering last weekends game against Evansville, which is the longest since Ashley Cantu reached base safely in 21 consecutive games in 2019.

During her 13-game on-base streak, Nielsen was hitting .457 (19-for-42) with four doubles, two triples, three home runs, 12 RBI and scored 19 runs.

Nielsen also had a seven game hit streak that was snapped this past weekend against South Dakota State.

The Nebraska native has started all 17 games in center field this season and owns a team-high 21 hits, 23 runs scored, eight walks and three stolen base, while collecting a team-best 39 total bases.

Offensive Outburst

The Creighton offense produced 11 runs on 13 hits during a six-inning victory over Green Bay (March 4).

Cayla Nielsen, Sam Alm and Emma Rosonke each scored a pair of runs, as Nielsen and Rosonke each went 3-for-4 from the plate.

Rosonke set new career-highs with three hits while also collecting four of the Bluejays 10 RBI.

Creighton followed their performance against Green Bay up with a slug-fest against Oakland on March 5.

The Bluejays set season-highs in hits (15), runs (14), RBI (13), doubles (5) and total bases (23).

Nielsen and Kiara Mill each crossed the plate three times, while Alm and Kailey Wilson each scored two runs.

Nine different Bluejays posted at least one hit while Mills and Shayna Dahlen led the Bluejays offense with three hits apeice.

Mills drove in a season-high three runs while launching her third home run of the season.

The Bluejays' output against the Golden Grizzles marked the most runs scored in a single game since February 8, 2020 when Creighton set the single-game record with 24 runs scored against Toledo.

Hit Parade

Creighton's 15 hits against Oakland (March 5) marked a new season-high and was the most hits in a single game by the Bluejays since February 8, 2020 when the Jays had 18 in their 24-1 win over Toledo.

Since joining the BIG EAST in 2014, Creighton has recorded 15 or more hits in a single game just four times.

Date Opponent Hits

3/5/22 vs. Oakland 15

2/8/20 vs. Toledo 18

4/17/18 Kansas City 15

3/23/16 Providence 16

Creighton At Home

Since joining the BIG EAST in 2014, the Bluejays own a 52-46 record at home.

The Bluejays were 8-3 at home last season, including a stretch of four consecutive wins and seven victories in eight games at the Creighton Sports Complex.

Creighton played 10 straight games at home (March 20-April 14) and posted a 7-3 mark during those contests.

The Bluejays finished the season hitting .301 at home with 31 extra-base hits, including 16 home runs.

Kailey Wilson hit .519 with 14 hits and owned a 1.037 slugging percentage which includes four home runs and two doubles, as well as 11 RBI. The Colorado native also walked 10 times and had a .658 on-base percentage during 10 games played at home last season.

Kiara Mills launched a team-best six home runs at home a season ago, while Madeline Vejvoda and Cayla Nielsen each scored a team-high eight times at home last season.

Opponents hit .291 with 18 home runs at the Creighton Sports Complex.

A total of 34 home runs (16 by CU, 18 by opponents) were hit during 77 innings of action last season at the Creighton Sports Complex.

The Bluejays did not play a home game in 2020 because of the season ending on March 12, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Creighton posted 13 wins at home in 2018, the most in a single season since claiming 19 home victories in 2008.

Year-by-year home records since 2014:

2022: 0-2

2021: 8-3

2020: No home games

2019: 5-6

2018: 13-6

2017: 6-6

2016: 7-8

2015: 4-9

2014: 9-6

HRs Hit At CU Sports Complex By Year

HRs (CU HRs) Number of Games Year

8 (0) 2 2022

34 (16) 11 2021

-- No home games 2020

33 (15) 11 2019

47 (25) 19 2018

29 (13) 12 2017

26 (9) 15 2016

41 (16) 13 2015

29 (17) 15 2014

Playing At Home In February

Creighton was originally scheduled to open play at home on March 11 against Georgetown, but due to inclement weather in Texas the Bluejays had to adjust their plans.

Those plans and above average temperatures in Omaha, brought South Dakota State to the CU Sports Complex for a rare February home contest for the Bluejays.

It was just the fourth time in Creighton softball history that the Bluejays played a home game in February.

Last Sunday's doubleheader with South Dakota State was also the first February home game since the Bluejays hosted Nebraska on February 24, 1996 in the season opener.

Creighton is 4-6 all-time in home games played in February.

Home Opener History

Creighton is 12-3 during its last 15 home-openers, and 17-11 overall under head coach Brent Vigness.

Creighton owns a 30-15 record (.667) in home openers, including wins in 12 of the last 16 years (includes 2020 when Creighton did not play a home game).

The Bluejays are slated to play 14 more home games this season, including BIG EAST series against Georgetown, Providence, Villanova and DePaul.

Rosonke Listed on BE Honor Roll

Sophomore Emma Rosonke earned a spot on the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll on Feb. 21 after her performances at the Cardinal Classic.

Rosonke tied for the most RBI in the BIG EAST with eight, while hitting .400 at the Cardinal Classic with two home runs and two doubles while amassing 14 total bases to help Creighton to a 4-1 weekend.

She led the Bluejays by going 2-for-4 with four RBI, a double and a towering 2-run home run over the left center field fence in the weekend opener against Ohio.

She followed the opening game performance by delivering an RBI double, a run and a walk in the Jays back-and-forth 8-7 win over host Lamar.

The Omaha native continued her well-rounded performance by going 2-for-4 with a three-run home run to straight away center field during Creighton 9-8 victory over Ohio.

Alm, Manthie, Santa Cruz and Wiggins Make UTEP Invitational All-Tournament Team

Sam Alm, Brittney Manthie, Mikayla Santa Cruz and Alexis Wiggins each earned spots on the UTEP Invitational All-Tournament Team.

Alm led the Bluejays with 10 RBI, while posting a .400 batting average with six hits. She also scored twice and stole a base.

Manthie led the Bluejays with nine hits, a .643 batting average and scored seven seven runs.

The junior went 3-for-3 with a run scored and a stolen base to lead the Bluejays to a 6-2 win over Idaho State on Feb. 11 before adding a pair of hits and another run scored in the night cap against UTEP to finish opening day with a .833 batting average (5-for-6).

Santa Cruz went 2-1 in the circle, tossing a pair of complete games with 17 strikeouts in 15.2 innings of work.

Wiggins also pitched 13.0 innings, posting a 0.69 ERA with 17 strikeouts.

The freshman collected her first win as a Bluejays, tossing all five innings in a 9-1 win over Abilene Christian on Feb. 13. Wiggins struck out five while allowing just three total hits in the win.

Santa Cruz Nabs BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week

Mikayla Santa Cruz was named the BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week for the first time in her career, the league announced on Feb. 14.

Santa Cruz tossed a pair of complete game to post a 1.15 ERA, while allowed just two earned runs in 15.2 innings of work and struck out 17 batters during three appearances to earn a spot on the UTEP Invitational All-Tournament team in El Paso, Texas.

The Tucson, Arizona native went the distance, allowing an earned run on five hits while notching six strikeouts in a 6-2 win over Idaho State to open the 2022 season.

The Bluejay junior returned to the circle in the afternoon of Feb 12 when she tossed her second complete game of the season. Santa Cruz gave up just one run on six hits and struck out nine as the Jays captured an eight-inning 3-1 victory over Abilene Christian.

Wiggins Secures First BIG EAST Freshman of the Week Honor

Alexis Wiggins captured the first BIG EAST Freshman of the Week award following her performance at the UTEP Invitational in El Paso, Texas.

Wiggins posted a BIG EAST-best 0.69 ERA over 13 innings of work while also striking out 17 batters.

The Nebraska native collected her first win as a Bluejays, tossing all five innings in the 9-1 win over Abilene Christian on Feb. 13. Wiggins struck out five while allowing just three total hits in the win.

She did not allow a run in 3.2 innings of work and struck out eight batters in her first collegiate appearance against UTEP on Feb. 11 before earning her first collegiate start on Feb. 12 against UTEP.

Wiggins struck out four and allowed just one earned run on six hits over 4.1 innings of work, before having to leave the game after taking a liner off her leg in the bottom half of the fifth inning.

Mathie Earns Spot on BIG EAST Honor Roll

Junior Brittney Manthie earned BIG EAST Honor Roll recognition after collecting a BIG EAST-best nine hits on 9-for-14 hitting (.643 batting average) and scoring seven runs to also earn All-Tournament honors at the UTEP Invitational.

The Annandale, Minnesota native started the weekend by going 3-for-3 with a run scored and a stolen base to lead the Bluejays to a 6-2 win over Idaho State. Manthie added a pair of hits and another run scored in the night cap to finished opening day with a .833 batting average (5-for-6).

Manthie continued her dominance at the plate by going 2-for-2 with two walks and two runs scored in a 3-1 win over Abilene Christian on Feb. 12. Manthie went just 1-for-4 in the night cap against UTEP but did draw another walk and added another run to her impressive performance.

She ended the weekend by going 1-for-2 and scored two more times as Creighton run-ruled Abilene Christian, 9-1, on Feb. 13. Manthie also drew her fourth walk of the weekend and reached base on a fielder's choice during her lone plate appearance without a hit.

Walking Off With Victories

The Bluejays ended their time at the UTEP Invitation in walk-off fashion to run-rule Abilene Christian, 9-1 (Feb. 13).

Sophomore Emma Rosonke belted her first home run and the Jays first walk-off of the season with a three-run home run over the right centerfield wall to give Creighton a 9-1 win over the Wildcats.

Junior Sam Alm added another walk-off hit on March 5 in the Bluejays 14-6 run-rule victory over Oakland at the Evansville Softball Invitational.

Alm laced a single into right field, which allowed Cayla Nielsen to score from third as the Bluejays captured the victory and their second walk-off win of the season.

The Bluejays owned five walk-off wins in 2021, including three walk-off home runs. Below is a list of Creighton's walk-off wins during the 2021 season.

Score Play (player) Date

10-2 (6) vs. UIC RBI-1B (Gappa) 3/5/21

4-3 vs. Northern Kentucky 2-RBI HR (Wilson) 3/6/21

6-5 vs. Seton Hall Reach on E (Rosonke) 4/3/21

4-3 vs. St. John's Solo HR (Mills) 4/10/21

12-9 vs. St. John's 3-RBI HR (Wilson) 4/11/21

Mills and Gappa Hit Back-to-back Triples

Kiara Mills and Alyssa Gappa hit back-to-back triples in the season-opener against Idaho State on Feb. 11.

It was the first time that two Bluejays hit consecutive triple since at least 1999.

The Bluejays have hit two triples in the same game just 11 times since the 1999 season. During those 11 game, only two other time have both triples came in the same inning.

Below is a list of all the times Creighton has hit two triples in a game since 1999.

No. Opponent Date

2* ! vs. Idaho State 2/11/22

2 vs. Niagara 3/11/20

2 vs. Kansas City 4/17/18

2* vs. Weber State 2/25/17

2 vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff 2/11/12

2 vs. Detroit 2/13/09

2 vs. Alcorn State 2/23/08

2 at Northern Colorado 3/10/07

2 vs. Texas-Arlington 2/22/04

2 at Kansas City 3/31/99

4* at Bellevue 2/8/99

* - Indicates happened in same inning

! - Indicates happened consecutively

Starting On The Right Foot

Creighton opened the season with a 3-2 record at the UTEP Invitational during the opening weekend for the fifth time since joining the BIG EAST in 2014.

The four other years the Jays posted a winning record during the opening weekend were in 2014, 2015, 2018 and 2020.

Creighton qualified for the BIG EAST Tournament during both the 2014 and 2018 season and were on pace to make their third BIG EAST Tournament before ending their season early due to Covid.

2022: 3-2 in El Paso, Texas

2021: 0-3 at Wichita State

2020: 3-2 in San Antonio, Texas

2019: 1-4 in Las Cruces, N.M.

2018: 3-2 in Las Vegas, Nev.

2017: 1-4 in Tempe, Ariz.

2016: 1-4 in Tempe, Ariz.

2015: 3-2 in Tempe, Ariz.

2014: 3-2 in Tempe, Ariz.

The last time Creighton finished with fewer than two losses in the opening weekend of the season was in 2012 when the Bluejays swept a four game series against Arkansas-Pine Bluff in Arkansas. Creighton started the 2012 season with seven consecutive
victories.

The last time Creighton opened the year with a perfect showing at a tournament was in 2007 when Creighton went 5-0 at the UCA Spring Clash in Conway, Arkansas.

This year marked the fourth time the Bluejays are in Texas for the opening weekend since 2004. Creighton opens the 2022 season with three straight five-game tournaments in Texas, the most tournaments in a single state to start the year in school history.

Vigness Reaches 800 Creighton Wins

Head coach Brent Vigness owns an 814-613-4 record at the helm of the Bluejays and is the only Creighton coach to reach the 800-win mark during a coaching tenure.

He earned his 800th win at Creighton last season with a 6-5 win over Seton Hall on April 3.

Vigness is one of five active Creighton coaches with more than 350 wins as a Bluejay head coach.

A Central College (Iowa) grad, Vigness took over for the Bluejays prior to the 1994 season after spending five years as head coach at Assumption College in Worchester, Massachusetts.

Coach, Sport Wins (as of 3/10/22)

Brent Vigness, Softball 814*

Ed Servais, Baseball 592*

Mary Higgins, Softball 564

Tom Lilly, Men's & Women's Tennis 491*

Kirsten Bernthal Booth, Volleyball 414*

Jim Flanery, Women's Basketball 376*

Ed Hubbs, Men's & Women's Tennis 347

Dana Altman, Men's Basketball 327

* still active coaching at Creighton

Bluejays Picked 4th In Preseason Poll

The Creighton softball team earned the fourth position with 41 points in the 2022 BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll, the league announced on January 20..

Villanova, the reigning BIG EAST champions, earned the top spot in the poll with 62 points, including six first-place votes. DePaul received the remaining three first-place votes and ranked second with 58 points.

UConn took the third spot with 48 points while Creighton came in behind the Huskies with 41. Butler (39), St. John's (26), Seton Hall (22), Providence (20) and Georgetown (8) rounded out the bottom half of the 2022 edition of the preseason coaches' poll.

Creighton finished 2021 with an 8-7 record in league play to place fourth (14-14 overall). A bulk of the Bluejays 2021 team, including All-BIG EAST First Team selection Kailey Wilson returns to the lineup this season.

Five true freshmen, one graduate transfer and a Division II transfer joined the program for the 2022 season.

For just the third time since Creighton joined the BIG EAST prior to the 2014 season, this year's conference schedule will include three-day weekend's with one game on each day. The Bluejays' first BIG EAST series is set for March 11-13 as Creighton hosts Georgetown in their home-opener.

2020 BIG EAST Softball

Preseason Coaches' Poll

1. Villanova (6) - 62

2. DePaul (3) - 58

3. UConn - 48

4. Creighton - 41

5. Butler - 39

6. St. John's -26

7. Seton Hall - 22

8. Providence - 20

9. Georgetown - 8

() - First-place votes

Softball Opens BIG EAST Play At Home Against Georgetown

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Players Mentioned

Sam Alm

Ashley Cantu

Saren Croker

Shayna Dahlen

Alyssa Gappa

Brittney Manthie

Kiara Mills

Cayla Nielsen

Emma Rosonke

Mikayla Santa Cruz

Madeline Vejvoda

Alexis Wiggins

Kailey Wilson

Softball Opens BIG EAST Play At Home Against Georgetown

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Sam Alm

Ashley Cantu

Saren Croker

Shayna Dahlen

Alyssa Gappa

Brittney Manthie

Kiara Mills

Cayla Nielsen

Emma Rosonke

Mikayla Santa Cruz

Madeline Vejvoda

Alexis Wiggins

Kailey Wilson

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