Sunday, February 26
El Paso, Texas
10:00 A.M.
Creighton University
6-8
2
vs
1
Tarleton State
11-7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
TARLETON STATE
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
5
0
CREIGHTON
0
0
0
2
0
0
X
2
4
0
Photo by: Steve Branscombe
Croker’s Two-Run Single Lifts Bluejays To 2-1 Win Over Tarleton State
2/26/2023 12:47:00 PM | Softball
EL PASO, Texas – Senior Saren Croker laced a two-run single in the fourth inning to lift the Creighton softball team to a 2-1 win over Tarleton State in the finale of the UTEP Invitational on Sunday morning in El Paso, Texas.
The victory moved the Bluejays to 6-8 on the season, while Tarleton State fell to 11-7 with the loss.
The Bluejays got a lift from freshman starter Natalia Puchino as the Colorado native allowed just one run on five hits in six innings of work to earn her third win of the season.
Tarleton State jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second as Austin Germain hit a double down the left field line to get the Texans started. Brady Rowland then singled to center moving Germain over to third before Tristyn Trull delivered an RBI single to center for the first run of the game.
Trailing 1-0 headed into the bottom of the fourth inning, the Bluejays quickly seized momentum with a two-out, two-run single to left center by Croker. Freshman Lily West got the Bluejays started with a walk to open the frame and advanced to third on a SAC bunt from junior Madeline Vejvoda and a single from senior Kailey Wilson. Junior Alyssa Gappa then drew a walk to load the bases before Croker gave the Bluejays their first lead of the game at 2-1.
Puchino would allow just one base runner over the next two innings before junior Payton Akers induced a groundout, a flyout and a strikeout to earn her first save of the season.
Tarleton State's Tristan Bridges allowed two runs on four hits in the complete game loss, moving to 3-4 on the season.
Croker led the Bluejays offense with two hits and a pair of RBIs, while junior Cayla Nielsen and Wilson picked up the other two Bluejay hits.
Creighton returns to action for THE Spring Games in Florida. The Bluejays will spend the entirety of spring break in the Sunshine State, playing a total of eight games in five days, beginning with contests against Bethune-Cookman at 2 p.m. and UAlbany at 4:30 p.m. on March 4.
The victory moved the Bluejays to 6-8 on the season, while Tarleton State fell to 11-7 with the loss.
The Bluejays got a lift from freshman starter Natalia Puchino as the Colorado native allowed just one run on five hits in six innings of work to earn her third win of the season.
Tarleton State jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second as Austin Germain hit a double down the left field line to get the Texans started. Brady Rowland then singled to center moving Germain over to third before Tristyn Trull delivered an RBI single to center for the first run of the game.
Trailing 1-0 headed into the bottom of the fourth inning, the Bluejays quickly seized momentum with a two-out, two-run single to left center by Croker. Freshman Lily West got the Bluejays started with a walk to open the frame and advanced to third on a SAC bunt from junior Madeline Vejvoda and a single from senior Kailey Wilson. Junior Alyssa Gappa then drew a walk to load the bases before Croker gave the Bluejays their first lead of the game at 2-1.
Puchino would allow just one base runner over the next two innings before junior Payton Akers induced a groundout, a flyout and a strikeout to earn her first save of the season.
Tarleton State's Tristan Bridges allowed two runs on four hits in the complete game loss, moving to 3-4 on the season.
Croker led the Bluejays offense with two hits and a pair of RBIs, while junior Cayla Nielsen and Wilson picked up the other two Bluejay hits.
Creighton returns to action for THE Spring Games in Florida. The Bluejays will spend the entirety of spring break in the Sunshine State, playing a total of eight games in five days, beginning with contests against Bethune-Cookman at 2 p.m. and UAlbany at 4:30 p.m. on March 4.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Puchino, Natalia (3-3)
L: Bridges, T (3-4)
S: Akers, Payton (1)
Batting:
2B: Germain, A 1
RBI: Trull, T 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Germain, A 1
SB: Hernandez, B 1 ; Trull, T 1
Batting:
RBI: Croker, Saren 2
SH: West, Lily 1 ; Vejvoda, Madeline 1
Base Running:
RUNS: West, Lily 1 ; Smith, Elliot 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
2
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
P
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
IF
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