Softball Resumes BIG EAST Play With Final Road Weekend Of Season At Providence

Game #48-50: Creighton Bluejays (20-27, 4-14 BIG EAST) at Providence Friars (13-28, 4-14 BIG EAST)
Friday, April 28, 2023 • 1 p.m. • 3:30 p.m. • Sunday, April 30, 2023 • 11 a.m.
Providence, R.I. • Glay Field
LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO | CU NOTES

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Creighton (20-27, 4-14 BIG EAST) hits the road for the final time this season, traveling to Providence (13-28, 4-14 BE) for a pivotal three-game series with postseason aspirations on the line.

Due to severe weather in the forecast for Saturday, Creighton and Providence will now play a doubleheader on Friday begin at 1 p.m. CT, with game two to follow at roughly 3:30 p.m. CT. The Bluejays and Friars will wrap up the series on Sunday with a single game beginning at 11 a.m. CT.

Follow The Games

This weekend's three-game series with Providence will have live stats and live video for all three contests. The live stream will be featured on Flosports, while live stats will be available via SIDEARM Sports.

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

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 (20-27, 4-14 BE)

Looking to gain ground in the BIG EAST standings, the Bluejays enter this weekend's three game-series with Providence with a 20-27 overall record after sweeping South Dakota in a doubleheader on Tuesday.

Creighton travels to Providence sporting a 4-14 record in league play and sits in a three-way tie for seventh in the league standing with six games to go.

Offensively, Creighton is hitting .287 with 67 doubles, 39 home runs and 218 runs scored. Junior leadoff hitter Cayla Nielsen leads five Bluejays with a batting average over .300 with a .378 average. She ranks second on the team with 51 hits, while her 32 runs scored pace the Bluejays. She also ranks third on the team with 10 doubles and seven home runs this season.

Freshman Lily West has continued her hot hitting ranking second on the team with a .342 batting average. The Choctaw, Okla. native leads the team with 52 base knocks and nine sacrifice hits, including seven sac bunts.

Senior Saren Croker and junior Madeline Vejvoda follow closely behind with .314 and .312 batting averages respectfully. Senior Kailey Wilson also holds a .303 batting average and leads the team with 30 RBI, while ranking second on the team with 11 doubles and nine home runs.

Junior Alyssa Gappa has also contributed at the plate this season, pacing the team with a with 10 home runs and 12 doubles while hitting at a .286 clip.

In the circle, Creighton owns a 3.97 ERA with 229 strikeouts in 299.2 innings of work.

Freshman Natalia Puchino (12-13) has been the driving force in the circle for the Bluejays this season. Puchino paces the pitching staff with a 3.52 ERA with 102 strikeouts in 139.1 innings of work. Junior Payton Akers has also pitched significant innings, holding a 4.02 ERA with 59 strikeouts in 62.2 innings pitched. Junior Jena Lawrence is another arm out of the pen that has addition time in the circle as of late. Lawrence owns a 4.29 ERA with 17 strikeouts in 32.2 innings of work.

The Bluejays return 12 letterwinners from last year's squad, while 10 newcomers enter the program with first year head coach Krista Wood.

Scouting Providence (13-28, 4-14 BE)

The Friars enter this weekend's pivotal series with an 13-28 overall record and are coming off a 3-2 win over Brown on Wednesday.

Providence currently sits in a three-way tie for seventh in the BIG EAST Conference with a 4-14 record in league play, having dropped their six of their last seventh conference contests.

Junior Jacque Harrington continues to pace the Friars lineup, as she is hitting a team-high .362 batting average. She also leads the team in hits (46), doubles, (7), home runs (9), RBI (30) and runs scored (24).

Freshman Geanice Morales has also provided a solid bat for the Friars this season, as she holds a .333 batting average. Fellow freshman Gabriella Lee follows closely behind with a .297 average with 22 hits and 18 runs scored.

As a team, Providence is hitting .235 with 35 doubles, 23 home runs and 145 runs scored. In the circle, the Friars hold a 5.74 ERA with 163 strikeouts in 256 innings of work.

Senior Elysia Cunnigan and freshman Riley Quirk have been the pitchers of record for the Friars as of late. Cunnigan owns a 6.29 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 55.2 innings of work, while Quirk holds a 6.40 ERA with 34 strikeouts in 77.2 innings pitched. Junior Tori Grifone has also been a force in the circle this season, owning a 3.99 ERA with 83 strikeouts in 73.2 innings of work.

Head coach Jill Karwoski is in her fifth season at the helm of Providence.

Series History Against Providence

Creighton and Providence have met 23 times in program history, with all 23 meetings happening since the Bluejays joined the BIG EAST in 2014.

Creighton holds a slim 12-11 lead in the all-time series after the Bluejays took two of three from the Friars in Omaha last season. The Bluejays are just 3-9 all-time in games played at Providence but won two of three in the last meeting in Rhode Island.

Head coach Krista Wood owns an 2-1 record as a head coach against Providence.

50/50 Club

Freshman Lily West and junior Cayla Nielsen pace the Bluejays in hits this season with 52 and 51 base hits respectfully. It is the first time since 2017 and the 19th time in program history that two Bluejays recorded at least 50 hits apiece in the same season.

West is also just the 10th Bluejay in program history and the first Bluejay since Sam Dellinger in 2017 to record at least 50 hits in her freshman season.

Name Hits Season

Wendy Moon 64 1991

Allie Mathewson 60 2012

Jody Jenison 56 1980

Christy Lunceford 55 1994

Lily West 52 2023

Sam Dellinger 52 2017

Jody Schwartz 52 1985

Amy Baker 51 2010

Heidi Geier 50 1996

Angie Rajtora 50 1981

Lawrence Shines In First Start

Junior Jena Lawrence earned the starting nod in the circle for the first time this season in the opening game of the doubleheader against South Dakota on Tuesday. Lawrence shined bright with a three-hit complete-game performance, while the Albia, Iowa native struck out a career-high eight batter to earn her first win of the season.

Bluejays Steal Home For First Time Since 2011

Freshman Ella Dalton helped the Bluejays secure a 7-1 victory over South Dakota in game one of a doubleheader on Tuesday by stealing home in the top of the fifth inning. By stealing home Dalton became the first Bluejay to steal home in a game since Christa Ruf stole home against Indiana State on April 30, 2011.

Puchino Becomes Fifth Bluejay Freshman to Reach 100 K'S

With nine strikeouts in the three-game series against Connecticut, freshman Natalia Puchino became just the fifth Bluejay in program history to record 100 strikeouts in their freshman season.

Puchino's 102 strikeouts this season are the most by a Bluejay freshman since Kiele Miller posted 138 strikeouts during her freshman season in 2018.

Strikeouts Pitcher Year

212 Tara Oltman 2007

175 Becca Changstrom 2011

138 Kiele Miller 2018

116 Marcia Jacobsen 1981

102 Natalia Puchino 2023

98 Cassidy Nee 2006

98 Shelli Mellegaard 1999

Gappa Earns Spot on Single-Season Hit-by-Pitch Top 10 List, While Eyeing Spot on Single-Season Doubles List

With nine hit-by-pitches this season, junior Alyssa Gappa moved into a tie for sixth on Creighton's single season hit-by-pitch record list. Gappa's nine hit-by-pitches are also the most by a Bluejay since Mileah McKelvy was hit by nine pitches in the 2019 season.

Gappa has also hit 12 doubles this season, which is the second most by a Bluejay since joining the BIG EAST in 2014, trailing only Sam Dellinger's 13 doubles in 2017.

Gappa enters this weekend's series at Providence one double shy of entering the Bluejays single-season top-10 list in doubles.

DOUBLES

No. Name 2B Year

1. Frenchy Nix 23 1999

2. Christy Lunceford 19 1997

3. Temple Windhorst 17 1999

4. Renae Sinkler 15 2008

Julie Woodley 15 1993

Kelly Brookhart 15 1991

7. Stacey Rybar 14 2004

DeAnn Kaster 14 2002

Jody Ream 14 1989

10. Sam Dellinger 13 2017

Amy Baker 13 2010

Abby Johnson 13 2005

Sami Herbster 13 2001 Christy Lunceford 13 1996

Erin Fraser 13 1995

Karyn Rice 13 1990

-- Alyssa Gappa 12 2023

HIT?BY?PITCH

No. Name HBP Year

1. Alexis Cantu 15 2013 2. Jen Daro 12 2014 3. Jen Daro 10 2017

Jen Daro 10 2015 Michelle Graner 10 2008

6. Alyssa Gappa 9 2023

Mileah McKelvy 9 2019

Sam Crowley 9 2018

Michelle Graner 9 2010

Renae Sinkler 9 2010

Michelle Graner 9 2009

Michelle Koch 9 2008

Lauren Cisneros 9 2004

On The Double

Through the first 47 games of the season, Creighton has hit 67 total doubles. That figure currently leads the BIG EAST and ranks fifth all-time on Creighton's single-season double list.

The Bluejays 67 doubles this season are the most by a Creighton team since the Bluejays hit 71 doubles in the 2004 season.

Doubles

1. 79 1993

2. 74 2001

3. 73 1999

4. 71 2004

5. 67 2023

6. 65 1997

65 1989

8. 64 2005

9. 63 1994

10. 62 2008

Magic Number 5

Creighton is 16-6 this season when scoring five runs or more, outscoring their opponents 169-80 during those 22 games.

In the last 21 seasons, Creighton is 350-52 when scoring five or more runs. In the same time span Creighton is 229-387-3 when scoring four runs or fever.

Creighton is also 138-34 when scoring five or more runs in a game since joining the BIG EAST in 2014.

In that same time frame the Bluejays are 78-4 when scoring eight or more runs, including a perfect 9-0 this season.

Wilson's Among The BIG EAST Best

Not only is graduate student Kailey Wilson one of the most dynamic hitters in Creighton softball history, but she is also one of the greatest hitters in BIG EAST history.

Entering this week, Wilson ranks sixth all-time in BIG EAST history with a .432 career batting average in BIG EAST games.

Over the course of 70 career games, Wilson owns 89 hits (89-of-206), including 18 doubles, 18 home runs, 36 walks and 51 RBI.

BATTING?AVERAGE (minimum 50 at-bats)

No. Avg. Name Years

1. .518 Meghan Murray, ND 1996-97

2. .443 Amber Patton, DPU 2007-09

3. .440 Shari Blackman, UConn 1992-94

4. .437 Lacy Wood, UL 2006

5. .435 Juliette Brooks, RU 1996-99

6. .432 Kailey Wilson, CU 2019-Pr.

7. .427 Stephanie Brown, ND 2004-07

8. .427 Katie Marten, ND 1996-97

9. .420 Ricci Lugo, VU 2003-04

10. .418 Melissa Roth, VU 2009-10

The Bluejays are Always On Base

This season five different Bluejays have posted on-base streaks of 11 consecutive games or more. Junior Cayla Nielsen leads the way having reached base safely in 39 of the Bluejays 47 games this season. She recently had reached base in a career-long 17 straight contests, before having her streak snapped during the Bluejay's 5-3 win over Omaha on April 11. Earlier this season, Nielsen also had a 13-game on-base streak from Feb. 12 - March 4.

Additionally, Nielsen had recorded at least one hit in 10 consecutive games before going hitless against Drake on March 29. During Nielsen's 10-game hit streak, she racked up a .516 (16-of-31) batting average with two doubles, three home runs and nine runs batted in.

Her 10-game hit streak was also a career-long hit streak, surpassing a nine-game hit streak she had from Feb. 18 to March 4th earlier this season.

Senior Kailey Wilson had a 13-game on-base streak snapped during the first game of the Bluejays series against DePaul, while junior Madeline Vejvoda had an on-base streak snapped in March after reaching safely in 11 straight contests. Classmate Alyssa Gappa also had her 13-game on-base streak snapped during the series against Butler.

Freshman Lily West currently leads the team having reached base in 13 straight contest, dating back to Creighton's 9-1 win over Butler on April 2.

Freshman Phenom Delivering

Freshman Lily West has been dominant at the plate during her first season as a Bluejay. The Choctaw, Okla. native leads Creighton with 52 hits and holds the second-best batting average on the team at .342.

West has produced 14 multi-hit games this season, becoming the eighth freshman since 2003 to record at least 10 multi-hit games in a season. Allie Mathewson recorded 18 multi-hit games during her freshman season in 2012, the most in the past 20 seasons by a freshman.

Below is a list of Freshman with at least 10 multi-hit games in a season.

Name Year Multi-Hit Games

Allie Mathewson 2012 18

Ellen Homan 2011 15

Lily West 2023 14

Kiara Mills 2019 13

Sam Dellinger 2017 13

Ashley Cantu 2017 13

Amy Baker 2010 12

Dawson Bailey 2006 11

Walk This Way

With a BIG EAST-best 26 walks this season, senior Kailey Wilson etched her name on Creighton's all-time top-10 list for career walks.

Wilson recorded a trio of walks in the second game of a three-game series against Connecticut on April 22 to move into the top-4 all-time with 88 career walks.

Kailey led the 2022 squad with 24 walks, while a total of four other players earned double-digit walks a season ago.

WALKS

No. Name BB Years

1. Michelle Graner 111 2007-10

2. Alexis Cantu 110 2012-14

3. Amy Baker 104 2010-13

4. Kailey Wilson 88 2019-pr.

5. Abby Johnson 85 2002-05

6. Renae Sinkler 81 2007-10

7. Jen Daro 80 2014-17

8. Jody Schwartz 78 1985-88

9. Ashley Cantu 70 2017-21

10. Karla Hughes 69 1979-82

On The Double

With 11 doubles this season, senior Kailey Wilson has entered the top-10 for career doubles. The Aurora, Colorado native ranked tied for eighth with 34 career doubles and is just two doubles away from entering the top-5 all-time.

In the opening weekend of the season, Wilson hit .500 on six hits, including four doubles, a home run and five RBI.

Her four doubles were the most by a Bluejay in the opening weekend of a season since Amy Baker hits four doubles in a four-game series against Arkansas-Pine Bluff to open the 2012 season.

The four doubles also ranked tied for third nationally, behind Clemson's Valerie Cagle's five doubles and Wichita State's Lauren Lucas' six doubles during opening weekend.

DOUBLES

No. Name 2B Years

1. Christy Lunceford 51 1994-97

2. Frenchy Nix 47 1998-01

3. Stacey Rybar 43 2001-04 4. Kelly Brookhart 40 1988-91

5. Abby Johnson 36 2002-05

Jody Schwartz 36 1985-88

7. Bailey Dawson 35 2006-09

8. Kailey Wilson 34 2019-pr.

Erin Fraser 34 1995-98 Dede Pendleton 34 1991-95

Wilson's Rewriting Record Book

Senior Kailey Wilson entered her fifth year with the Bluejays as one of the most dominant hitters in school history.

Wilson currently ranks fifth in Bluejay history with a .351 career batting average, while ranking sixth in home runs with 35, fourth in walks with 88, seventh in RBI with 117 and tied for eighth with 34 career doubles.

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. .358 Heidi Geier 243-678 1996-99

5. .351 Kailey Wilson 161-459 2019-pr.

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. Kailey Wilson 35 2019-pr.

7. Alexis Cantu 33 2012-14

8. Bailey?Dawson 30 2006-09

Abby Johnson 30 2002-05

10. Michelle Graner 27 2007-10

TJ?Eadus 27 2007-08

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. Kailey Wilson 117 2019-pr.

8. Jody Schwartz 113 1985-88

9. Christy Lunceford 110 1994-97

10. Lauren Cisneros 107 2003-06

Krista vs. The BIG EAST

Throughout her career at South Dakota State, head coach Krista Wood's teams were at their best against BIG EAST competition.

In her eight seasons with the Jackrabbits, Wood's compiled a 21-5 overall record against the BIG EAST, including a 17-1 mark in the past six seasons that featured an 11 straight victories.

In her first season with the Bluejays, Wood's is 4-14, picking up victories over Butler (April 2), DePaul (April 7, twice) and Georgetown (April 16).

Below is a breakdown of Wood's record against every BIG EAST team.

Opponent SDSU CU

Butler 3-0 1-2

Creighton 10-4 0-0

DePaul 2-0 1-2

Georgetown 0-0 1-2

Providence 2-1 0-0

Seton Hall 1-0 0-3

St. John's 1-0 0-0

Connecticut 0-0 0-3

Villanova 2-0 0-3

Totals 21-5 4-15

Softball Resumes BIG EAST Play With Final Road Weekend Of Season At Providence

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Players Mentioned

Payton Akers

Ashley Cantu

Saren Croker

Ella Dalton

Alyssa Gappa

Jena Lawrence

Kiara Mills

Cayla Nielsen

Natalia Puchino

Madeline Vejvoda

Lily West

Kailey Wilson

Softball Resumes BIG EAST Play With Final Road Weekend Of Season At Providence

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Next Event

Players Mentioned

Payton Akers

Ashley Cantu

Saren Croker

Ella Dalton

Alyssa Gappa

Jena Lawrence

Kiara Mills

Cayla Nielsen

Natalia Puchino

Madeline Vejvoda

Lily West

Kailey Wilson

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