Friday, February 16
DeLand, Fla.
8:30 A.M.
Creighton University
4-2
2
vs
0
Bethune-Cookman
1-5
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Creighton
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
8
0
Bethune-Cookman
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
Photo by: Aaron Meullion
Dominant Pitching Guides Bluejays to Pair of Shutout Wins Over Bethune-Cookman and Stetson
2/16/2024 5:21:00 PM | Softball
DELAND, Fla. – Sophomore Natalia Puchino and senior Jena Lawrence dominated in the circle as the Creighton softball team opened the Hatter Classic with a pair of 2-0 shutout victories over Bethune-Cookman and Stetson on Friday in DeLand, Fla.
Creighton improved to 5-2 on the year with the pair of victories, while Bethune-Cookman and Stetson fell to 1-5 and 0-6 overall.
Game 1: Creighton 2, Bethune-Cookman 0
In game one Creighton scored two runs in the first inning and Jena Lawrence, Alexis Wiggins and Natalia Puchino combined for a one-hit shutout as the Bluejays took down Bethune-Cookman, 2-0.
Creighton soared out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning as senior Alyssa Gappa blasted the Bluejays first home run of the season over the left field wall. Fellow classmate Cayla Nielsen got Creighton started with a double off the left field wall to open the game but was thrown out at home as sophomore Lily West lined a single into center. Following a flyout to right center by Kaelan Schultz, Gappa launched her first home run of the season to left to give the Bluejays a 2-0 advantage.
From there on both teams settled in defensively as neither team was able to push a run across. Creighton threatened to extend their lead in both the fifth and sixth innings, placing runners in scoring position but both times were unsuccessful in driving in an insurance run.
Bethune-Cookman also had a chance to get on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth, using back-to-back walks and a sacrifice bunt to put runners on second and third. Puchino, however, closed the door with a ground ball to escape the threat before firing a scoreless seventh to secure the Bluejay victory.
Gappa led the Bluejays offensively with a pair of hits, including a double and home run, while Nielsen and West each recorded two hits apiece. As a team, Creighton collected eight hits, including three doubles and one walk in the victory.
Game 2: Creighton 2, Stetson 0
In game two, Puchino struck out five and allowed just four hits while the Bluejays scored two in the fifth to claim a 2-0 shutout victory over Stetson.
Creighton managed to load the bases in the top of the first inning on a single by Nielsen, a Stetson throwing error and a walk, but the Bluejays were unable to capitalize as the Matters' turned a double play to keep the Jays off the scoreboard.
Puchino then went to work, striking out five batters in the first four innings of play.
Still scoreless entering the fifth inning, Creighton once again loaded the bases as Mikayla Chairez opened things up with an infield single, before Ella Dalton and Ashten Pierson each reached on a pair of Stetson errors. Following a lineout, West delivered a groundball to the right side where a muffed throw by the second baseman allowed two Bluejay runs to score.
Puchino would take over from there, working her way out of a pair of jams in the sixth and seventh innings to secure her third win of the season. Overall, Puchino tossed nine scoreless innings with eight strikeouts while allowing just one walk and four hits in the Bluejays two win on Friday.
The Bluejays managed just three hits in the game, while reaching on five Stetson errors. Nielsen, Chairez and Dalton each recorded one hit in the victory.
Creighton returns to action on Saturday during day two of the Hatter Classic with a pair of contests against Colgate (11 a.m.) and Stetson (4:30 p.m.).
Creighton improved to 5-2 on the year with the pair of victories, while Bethune-Cookman and Stetson fell to 1-5 and 0-6 overall.
Game 1: Creighton 2, Bethune-Cookman 0
In game one Creighton scored two runs in the first inning and Jena Lawrence, Alexis Wiggins and Natalia Puchino combined for a one-hit shutout as the Bluejays took down Bethune-Cookman, 2-0.
Creighton soared out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning as senior Alyssa Gappa blasted the Bluejays first home run of the season over the left field wall. Fellow classmate Cayla Nielsen got Creighton started with a double off the left field wall to open the game but was thrown out at home as sophomore Lily West lined a single into center. Following a flyout to right center by Kaelan Schultz, Gappa launched her first home run of the season to left to give the Bluejays a 2-0 advantage.
From there on both teams settled in defensively as neither team was able to push a run across. Creighton threatened to extend their lead in both the fifth and sixth innings, placing runners in scoring position but both times were unsuccessful in driving in an insurance run.
Bethune-Cookman also had a chance to get on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth, using back-to-back walks and a sacrifice bunt to put runners on second and third. Puchino, however, closed the door with a ground ball to escape the threat before firing a scoreless seventh to secure the Bluejay victory.
Gappa led the Bluejays offensively with a pair of hits, including a double and home run, while Nielsen and West each recorded two hits apiece. As a team, Creighton collected eight hits, including three doubles and one walk in the victory.
Game 2: Creighton 2, Stetson 0
In game two, Puchino struck out five and allowed just four hits while the Bluejays scored two in the fifth to claim a 2-0 shutout victory over Stetson.
Creighton managed to load the bases in the top of the first inning on a single by Nielsen, a Stetson throwing error and a walk, but the Bluejays were unable to capitalize as the Matters' turned a double play to keep the Jays off the scoreboard.
Puchino then went to work, striking out five batters in the first four innings of play.
Still scoreless entering the fifth inning, Creighton once again loaded the bases as Mikayla Chairez opened things up with an infield single, before Ella Dalton and Ashten Pierson each reached on a pair of Stetson errors. Following a lineout, West delivered a groundball to the right side where a muffed throw by the second baseman allowed two Bluejay runs to score.
Puchino would take over from there, working her way out of a pair of jams in the sixth and seventh innings to secure her third win of the season. Overall, Puchino tossed nine scoreless innings with eight strikeouts while allowing just one walk and four hits in the Bluejays two win on Friday.
The Bluejays managed just three hits in the game, while reaching on five Stetson errors. Nielsen, Chairez and Dalton each recorded one hit in the victory.
Creighton returns to action on Saturday during day two of the Hatter Classic with a pair of contests against Colgate (11 a.m.) and Stetson (4:30 p.m.).
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Lawrence, Jena (1-0)
L: Gonzalez, H. (1-3)
S: Puchino, Natalia (1)
Batting:
2B: Nielsen, Cayla 1 ; West, Lily 1 ; Gappa, Alyssa 1
HR: Gappa, Alyssa 1
RBI: Gappa, Alyssa 2
Base Running:
RUNS: West, Lily 1 ; Gappa, Alyssa 1
Batting:
2B: Alaan, J. 1
SH: Alaan, J. 1
Base Running:
CS: Bloome, J. 1
HBP: Uyema, T. 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
P
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