Photo by: Creighton Athletics
Bluejay Softball Picked Fifth In BIG EAST Preseason Coaches’ Poll
1/17/2023 2:00:00 PM | Softball
OMAHA, Neb. – The Creighton softball team was picked fifth in the 2023 BIG EAST Softball Coaches' Poll, the league announced on Tuesday afternoon.
Creighton received 34 points, three points behind Butler (37) who was picked fourth. DePaul held the top spot with 58 points and three first-place votes, while the defending BIG EAST Tournament champion Villanova received 57 points and four first-place votes for the second position.
The defending BIG EAST regular-season champion Connecticut checked in at third with 56 points and two first-place votes. Providence (30), Seton Hall (28), Georgetown (14) and St. John's (10) rounded out the poll in sixth through ninth positions.
Creighton returns 12 letterwinners, including a bulk of its 2022 starting lineup, led by two-time unanimous All-BIG EAST First Team selection and the 2022 BIG EAST Player of the Year, Kailey Wilson. Wilson returns to the Bluejays lineup after leading the BIG EAST with a .436 batting average, the second highest single season batting average in school history, last season. Additionally, Wilson paced the BIG EAST with a .812 slugging percentage and .541 on-base percentage, while recording a team-high 51 hits, including 11 doubles, 11 home runs and 24 walks.
Junior Emma Rosonke also returns to the Bluejays lineup this season. The Omaha native saw action is 40 games during her sophomore campaign, leading the Bluejays and ranking second in the BIG EAST with 43 RBI. Rosonke recorded a team-best 11 multi-RBI games, including six games with four RBI. The lefty power hitter ranked second on the team with nine home runs, hitting the Bluejays lone grand slam of the season against Providence.
In the circle, the Bluejays return Jena Lawrence and Alexis Wiggins to anchor the rotation. Wiggins is Creighton's leading returner with a 3-5 record in 57.1 innings. She closed the 2022 season with a 5.01 ERA, making 12 starts and appearing in 16 contests. Kirkwood Community College transfer Payton Akers, Sophomore Alyssa Bostley and freshman Natalia Puchino will be expected to contribute in the circle this season.
The 2023 season marks head coach Krista Wood's first at the helm of the Bluejays after spending eight years as head coach at South Dakota State. While with the Jackrabbits, Wood's recorded a 238-164 overall record and earned Summit League Coach of the Year three times (2018, 2021 and 2022).
Creighton opens the 2023 season at the DePaul Dome Tournament in Chicago, Ill. on Feb 11-12. The Bluejays play St. Thomas on Feb. 11 at 9:30 a.m. to begin the new campaign. The home portion of the schedule begins on March 14 against Kansas City.
BIG EAST play begins March 17, as Creighton plays at Villanova. The top six finishers in the BIG EAST regular-season standings will qualify for the BIG EAST Championship presented by Jeep, with the winner receiving the conference's automatic bid into the NCAA Regionals.
2023 BIG EAST Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll
Creighton received 34 points, three points behind Butler (37) who was picked fourth. DePaul held the top spot with 58 points and three first-place votes, while the defending BIG EAST Tournament champion Villanova received 57 points and four first-place votes for the second position.
The defending BIG EAST regular-season champion Connecticut checked in at third with 56 points and two first-place votes. Providence (30), Seton Hall (28), Georgetown (14) and St. John's (10) rounded out the poll in sixth through ninth positions.
Creighton returns 12 letterwinners, including a bulk of its 2022 starting lineup, led by two-time unanimous All-BIG EAST First Team selection and the 2022 BIG EAST Player of the Year, Kailey Wilson. Wilson returns to the Bluejays lineup after leading the BIG EAST with a .436 batting average, the second highest single season batting average in school history, last season. Additionally, Wilson paced the BIG EAST with a .812 slugging percentage and .541 on-base percentage, while recording a team-high 51 hits, including 11 doubles, 11 home runs and 24 walks.
Junior Emma Rosonke also returns to the Bluejays lineup this season. The Omaha native saw action is 40 games during her sophomore campaign, leading the Bluejays and ranking second in the BIG EAST with 43 RBI. Rosonke recorded a team-best 11 multi-RBI games, including six games with four RBI. The lefty power hitter ranked second on the team with nine home runs, hitting the Bluejays lone grand slam of the season against Providence.
In the circle, the Bluejays return Jena Lawrence and Alexis Wiggins to anchor the rotation. Wiggins is Creighton's leading returner with a 3-5 record in 57.1 innings. She closed the 2022 season with a 5.01 ERA, making 12 starts and appearing in 16 contests. Kirkwood Community College transfer Payton Akers, Sophomore Alyssa Bostley and freshman Natalia Puchino will be expected to contribute in the circle this season.
The 2023 season marks head coach Krista Wood's first at the helm of the Bluejays after spending eight years as head coach at South Dakota State. While with the Jackrabbits, Wood's recorded a 238-164 overall record and earned Summit League Coach of the Year three times (2018, 2021 and 2022).
Creighton opens the 2023 season at the DePaul Dome Tournament in Chicago, Ill. on Feb 11-12. The Bluejays play St. Thomas on Feb. 11 at 9:30 a.m. to begin the new campaign. The home portion of the schedule begins on March 14 against Kansas City.
BIG EAST play begins March 17, as Creighton plays at Villanova. The top six finishers in the BIG EAST regular-season standings will qualify for the BIG EAST Championship presented by Jeep, with the winner receiving the conference's automatic bid into the NCAA Regionals.
2023 BIG EAST Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll
- DePaul (3) - 58
- Villanova (4) - 57
- Connecticut (2) - 56
- Butler - 37
- Creighton - 34
- Providence - 30
- Seton Hall – 28
- Georgetown – 14
- St. John's - 10
Players Mentioned
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