Creighton University
Detroit Mercy
Bluejay Softball To Open Krista Wood Era On Saturday At DePaul Dome Tournament
2/9/2023 11:30:00 AM | Softball
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On Deck
Creighton opens the 2023 season with four games in two days at the DePaul Dome Invitational, hosted by DePaul in Chicago, Ill.
The Bluejays open the season against Detroit Mercy at 9:30 a.m. before facing off against St. Thomas at 12 p.m. on Saturday.
Creighton will return to the field on Sunday, matching up with Eastern Kentucky at 9 a.m. before meeting St. Thomas once more at 11:30 a.m.Â
Game Schedule
Game #1 • Feb. 11 • Creighton vs. Detroit Mercy • 9:30 a.m. • Live Stats
Game #2 • Feb. 11 • Creighton vs. St. Thomas • 12:00 p.m. • Live Stats
Game #3 • Feb. 12 • Creighton vs. Eastern Kentucky • 9:00 a.m. • Live Stats
Game #4 • Feb. 11 • Creighton vs. St. Thomas • 11:30 a.m. • Live Stats
*All times listed are Central Standard Time
Follow The Games
Saturday and Sunday's games of the DePaul Dome Tournament will feature only live stats via Statbroadcast.
Links to live stats can be found on the Creighton Softball schedule page or by visiting http://creighton.statbroadcast.com.Â
Scoring updates and infographics will be provided via Twitter at @BluejaySoftball.
Bluejays not Blue Jays
Creighton's mascot is the Bluejays or Bluejay, one word. Conversely the MLB Toronto team is the Blue Jays.
Scouting Creighton
The 2023 Creighton softball team enters its 10th year in the BIG EAST with new coaches, new energy, and new aspirations.Â
Entering her first season with the Bluejays, head coach Krista Wood looks to rebuild a Creighton team that finished the 2022 season with a 15-27 record.
With five returning starters boasting a wealth of experience, the core is in place for Wood's leadership to continue Creighton's storied history with another postseason run.Â
The Bluejays return 12 letterwinners from last year squad, led by the 2022 BIG EAST Player of the Year and unanimous All-BIG EAST First Team selection, Kailey Wilson.Â
Wilson, Creighton's only returning All-BIG EAST selection, led the Bluejays and the BIG EAST with a .436 batting average, the second highest single-season batting average in school history, an .812 slugging percentage and a .541 on-base percentage. The Aurora, Colo., native started all 42 games pacing the Bluejays with 51 hits, including team-highs with 11 doubles, 11 home runs and 24 walks last season.
Other returning starters include Cayla Nielsen (.296 BA, 10 doubles), Emma Rosonke (.288 BA, 43 RBI), Madeline Vejvoda (.261 BA) and Alyssa Gappa (.277 BA).
In the circle, Creighton returns Jena Lawrence and Alexis Wiggins to anchor the Bluejays 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.Â
The Bluejays welcome in 10 newcomers to the team this season, which includes nine true freshman and one junior college transfer.Â
Creighton was picked fifth in the preseason BIG EAST Coaches poll.Â
Scouting Detroit Mercy
The Titans enter the season following a 10th place finish in the Horizon League last season.Â
Senior Jordyn Chapman is the team's top returning offensive player after recording a .202 batting average last spring.Â
Also back is sophomore Jaiden Lara (.176 BA) and seniors Jordan Hazel (.171 BA) and Renee Trotman (.169 BA) from a team that finished last year 6-36.Â
Among the new faces on the team is former Bluejays Ryann Glenn. Last season, Glenn appeared in 29 contests for the Bluejays, recording a .125 batting average mainly as a pinch hitter.Â
Head coach Marc Gillis is in his fourth season at the helm of Detroit Mercy.
Series History Against Titans
Creighton leads the all-time series against Detroit Mercy, 7-0.Â
The two teams first met in 1986 at the Westerwind Invitational in Macomb, Ill. with the Bluejays claiming a 3-1 victory.Â
The Titans and Bluejays last met in 2009 at the Corpus Christi Invitational in Texas with Creighton picking up an 8-0 win.
Head coach Krista Wood is 1-0 all-time as a head coach against Detroit Mercy, claiming a 10-7 win over the Titans on March 6, 2019, while with SDSU.
Scouting St. Thomas
Located in St. Paul, Minn., St. Thomas enters its second season in Division I after posting a 14-36 overall record in 2022.Â
The Tommies return 17 letterwinners from last year's team, Including All-Summit League First Team performer Brooke Ellestad.Â
Ellestad led the Summit League with a .425 batting average last spring, while also leading the Tommies with a .604 slugging and .455 on-base percentage on a team-best 57 hits and 27 RBI.Â
Classmate Kaitlyn Raymond also returns to the diamond after posting a .324 average at the leadoff spot last season.Â
In the circle, St. Thomas returns three pitchers who saw action last year, including top-returner Isabelle True. True lead the Tommie with a 4.15 ERA in 55.2 innings of work last spring.Â
Head Coach Jennifer Bagley Trotter is in her second season with the Tommies.Â
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Series History Against Tommies
Saturday and Sunday will mark the first meetings between Creighton and St. Thomas in program history.Â
Head Coach Krista Wood is 3-0 all-time, outscoring the Tommies 25-1 in those three contests.Â
Scouting Eastern Kentucky
Eastern Kentucky returns five players that started at least half of last season's game and welcomes nine newcomers, including four pitchers to a team that closed 2022 with a 13-36 overall record.
Among the starters returning is senior Lou Bowers, who was one of just two Colonels to record above a .300 batting average (.303).Â
Jasmine Miller returns to the field for her junior season after hitting a team-high eight home runs in 2022. She is accompanied by sophomore Maggie Pertee, who earned ASUN All-Freshman Team honors last season after hitting .256 with a team-high 28 runs scored and 14 RBI.Â
Sophomore Lauren Narvaez is the only returning pitcher from last year's squad. She earned a team-high seven victories with a 3.41 ERA in 30 appearances and 117 innings while in the circle.
Eastern Kentucky is coached by Jane Worthington. She enters the year with an 840-723 career record in 31 seasons with the Colonels.
Series History Against the Colonels
Sunday will mark the first meetings between Creighton and Eastern Kentucky in program history.Â
Head Coach Krista Wood is 1-0 all-time against the Colonels, picking up an 8-6 win on May 16, 2019, in the NISC Regional while at SDSU.
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Season Opener History
The Bluejays are 21-25 all-time in season-openers, including last year's 6-2 win vs. Idaho State at the UTEP Invitational in El Paso, Texas.
Since joining the BIG EAST, Creighton is just 2-7 in season-openers.Â
The Bluejays, however, have outscored foes by an average of 4.28 to 4.15 runs per game in the 46 season-openers.Â
Head coach Krista Wood is 12-4 all-time in lid-lifters, including a 5-3 mark at the Division I level. Wood's also sported a 7-1 record in season-openers at Wayne State.Â
Date   School   Opponent   Result
3/4/07   Wayne St.   Dominican College   W, 6-1
3/3/08   Wayne St.   St. Anselm (N.Y.)   W, 2-0
2/20/09   Wayne St.   Colorado Mines   W, 3-2
2/26/10   Wayne St.   Washburn   L, 2-3 (8)
2/18/11   Wayne St.   Regis   W, 8-0
3/3/12   Wayne St.   Gannon   W, 6-4
3/3/13   Wayne St.   W. Virgina Wesleyan   W, 5-4
2/21/14   Wayne St.   Nebraska-Kearney   W, 11-2
2/7/15   SDSU   Utah State   W, 6-4
2/12/16   SDSU   Green Bay   L, 7-10
2/10/17   SDSU   Montana   L, 5-6
2/9/18   SDSU   Kansas City   W, 5-3
2/8/19   SDSU   Saint Louis   W, 6-0
2/7/20   SDSU   DePaul   W, 4-1
2/12/21   SDSU   Iowa State   L, 2-4
2/11/22   SDSU   Northern Iowa   W, 2-1 (9)
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Big Shoes To Fill
Creighton's Krista Wood replaces the school's all-time wins leader Brent Vigness, who departed the school following last season.Â
The winningest coach in school history, Vigness was 819-637-3 in 33 years at Creighton, leading the program to seven NCAA Tournaments and conference regular-season championships, as well as six conference tournament titles.Â
Fresh New Faces
When a new year and new coach comes around its bound to bring changes to the roster. This season, the Creighton's roster features 10 newcomers, including nine freshman and one junior college transfer.Â
It is the most newcomers on a Creighton roster since the Bluejays had 11 newcomers join the program in 2018.Â
Making an Entrance
Creighton has 10 players that could make their Bluejay debuts this weekend at the DePaul Dome Tournament; Payton Akers, Maddox Boston, Mikayla Chairez, Ella Dalton, Ensley Frame, Jordyn Meyer, Erika Perez, Natalia Puchino, Elliot Smith and Lily West.Â
Since joining the BIG EAST 10 years ago, Creighton has only had eight true freshmen start the season opener. The last time Creighton had a true freshman start the season-opener was in 2019 when Sam Alm and Kailey Wilson got the starting nod against UTEP.
Below is a look at how Creighton's Current players have done in their Creighton debuts.Â
Name   AB   H   R   2B   HR   RBI
Beeson   0   0   1   0   0   0
Seville   1   0   0   0   0   0
Miklesh   0   0   0   0   0   0
Gappa   1   0   0   0   0   0
Rosonke   1   0   0   0   0   0
Mason   1   0   0   0   0   0
Wilson*Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 1
Croker   1   1   1   0   0   0
Vejvoda*Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 1Â Â Â 1Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 0
Nielsen*Â Â Â 3Â Â Â 1Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 0
Name   IP   H   R   ER   K   BB
Wiggins   3.2   3   0   0   8   1
Lawrence   1.0   4   3   3   1   0
Wilson On Quest To Top-10
Senior Kailey Wilson enters her fifth year with the Bluejays as one of the most dominant hitters in school history.Â
Wilson currently ranks fourth all-time with a .370 career batting average. She is also on the verge of entering the Top-10 list for home runs (1 shy), walks (5 shy) and RBI (17 shy).Â
BATTING?AVERAGE (minimum 250 at-bats)
   No.   Avg.   Name   H-AB   Years
   1.   .404   Anne Timmermann   116-287   1977-79
   2.   .382   Ashley Cantu   218-570   2017-21
   3.   .379   Christy Lunceford   245-646   1994-97
   4.   .370   Kailey Wilson   121-327   2019-pr.
   5.   .358   Heidi Geier   243-678   1996-99
   6.   .336   Renae Sinkler   201-599   2007-10
   7.   .331   Kiara Mills   123-372   2019-22
   8.   .328   Melanie Dorsey   198-604   2002-05
   9.   .326   Christine Fukumoto   110-337   2004-05
   10.   .325   Mary Yori   176-542   1980-82
HOME?RUNS
   No.   Name   HR   Years
   1.   Amy Baker   58   2010-13
   2.   Renae Sinkler   50   2007-10
   3.   Liz Dike   39   2012-15
   4.   Lauren Cisneros    37   2003-06
      Stacey Rybar   37   2001-04
   6.   Alexis Cantu   33   2012-14
   7.   Bailey?Dawson   30   2006-09
      Abby Johnson   30   2002-05
   9.   Michelle Graner   27   2007-10
      TJ?Eadus   27   2007-08
   -   Kailey Wilson   26   2019-pr.
WALKS
   No.   Name   BB   Years
   1.   Michelle Graner   111   2007-10
   2.   Alexis Cantu   110   2012-14
   3.   Amy Baker   104   2010-13
   4.   Abby Johnson   85   2002-05
   5.   Renae Sinkler   81   2007-10
   6.   Jen Daro   80   2014-17
   7.   Jody Schwartz   78   1985-88
   8.   Ashley Cantu   70   2017-21
   9.   Karla Hughes   69   1979-82
   10.   Stacey Rybar   67   2001-04
   -   Kailey Wilson   62   2019-pr.
RUNS?BATTED?IN
   No.   Name   RBI   Years
   1.   Amy Baker   167   2010-13
   2.   Renae Sinkler   146   2007-10
   3.   Abby Johnson   144   2002-05
   4.   Bailey?Dawson   121   2006-09
      Stacey Rybar   121   2001-04
   6.   Liz Dike   119   2012-15
   7.   Jody Schwartz   113   1985-88
   8.   Christy Lunceford   110   1994-97
   9.   Lauren Cisneros   107   2003-06
   10.   Dede Pendleton   103   1991-95
   -   Kailey Wilson   86   2019-pr.
Production Returns
Creighton returns five players who started half of the games from last spring's team that finished 15-27 and 5-17 in the BIG EAST Conference.Â
All told, CU returns 60.6 percent of its starts, 64.6 percent of its hits, 65.3 percent of its runs, 76.8 percent of its doubles, 69.2 percent of its home runs, and 66.5 percent of its RBI off last year's squad.
The downside is that the Bluejays only return 33.3 percent of its innings pitched, 34.4 percent of its strikeouts, 33.3 percent of its pitching wins and 32.8 percent of its putouts from last year's squad.Â
Below is a breakdown of the production that is back:
Stat   Returners   Departures
Starts   229 (60.6%)   149 (39.4%)
Hits   197 (64.6%)   108 (35.4%)
Runs   130 (65.3%)   69 (34.7%)
Doubles   43 (76.8%)   13 (23.3%)
Home Runs   27 (69.2%)   12 (30.8%)
RBIÂ Â Â 121 (66.5%)Â Â Â 61 (33.5%)
Walks   70 (59.3%)   48 (40.7%)
IPÂ Â Â 89.0 (33.3%)Â Â Â 178.1 (66.7%)
K's   73 (34.4%)   139 (65.6%)
Wins   5 (33.3%)   10 (66.7%)
POÂ Â Â 263 (32.8%)Â Â Â 539 (67.2%)
Starting On The Right Foot
Since joining the BIG EAST in 2014, Creighton has finished the first weekend of the season with more than one win just five times.
Creighton has finished 3-2 in each of the five years they have opened the first weekend of the season with more than one win.
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.Â
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.
Bluejays Picked 4th In Preseason Poll
The Creighton softball team was picked fifth in the 2023 BIG EAST Softball Coaches' Poll.Â
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.Â
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.
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.
Creighton opens the 2023 season at the DePaul Dome Tournament in Chicago, Ill. on Feb 11-12. The Bluejays play Detroit Mercy 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
