Creighton University
Nevada
Softball Heads West For Libby Matson Tournament
2/22/2024 5:00:00 PM | Softball
Creighton will play five games at Pacific in Stockton, Calif.
Libby Matson Tournament • Stockton, Calif. • Bill Simoni Field
Game #9: Creighton Bluejays vs. Nevada Wolf Pack
Friday, Feb. 23, 2024 • 2:15 p.m. || LIVE STATS
Game #10: Creighton Bluejays at Pacific Tigers
Friday, Feb. 23, 2024 • 6:45 p.m. || LIVE STATS | WATCH
Game #11: Creighton Bluejays vs. Nevada Wolf Pack
Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024 • 12 p.m. || LIVE STATS
Game #12: Creighton Bluejays at Pacific Tigers
Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024 • 2:15 p.m. || LIVE STATS | WATCH
Game #13: Creighton Bluejays vs. Stony Brook Seawolves
Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024 • 12 p.m. || LIVE STATS
Up Next
Creighton (6-2) heads out west to play five games at the Libby Matson Tournament in Stockton, Calif. this weekend.
Action begins on Friday at 2:15 p.m. when the Bluejays take on Nevada. The Jays will then battle host Pacific at 6:45 p.m. on ESPN+.
Creighton will return to the field on Saturday for a rematch against Nevada at 12 p.m. before meeting Pacific for a second time at 2:15 p.m.
The Bluejays will then wrap up their stay with a contest against Stony Brook at 12 p.m. on Sunday.
Follow The Games
Live stats for all five of Creighton's games this weekend in Stockton, Calif. will be provided via Sidearm Stats.
Creighton's two games against Pacific on Friday and Saturday will be broadcasted on ESPN+.
Links to live stats and live video can be found on the Creighton Softball schedule page.
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 (6-2)
Winner in six of their last seven games, Creighton owns a three-game winnings streak heading into this weekend's tournament.
The Bluejays posted a perfect 3-0 record at the Hatter Classic in DeLand, Fla. this past weekend, recording wins over Bethune-Cookman, Stetson and Colgate.
Offensively, Creighton is hitting .197 with seven doubles, 19 RBI and 20 runs scored, led by fifth-year senior Madeline Vevjoda with a .333 batting average on seven hits, four RBI and three runs scored.
Classmate Cayla Nielsen also owns a .286 average with a team-high eight hits, including two doubles, while five other Bluejays own batting averages of .200 or better.
Creighton has been dominant in the circle this season, posting a BIG EAST leading 1.56 ERA with 44 strikeouts, while holding opponents to .162 hitting.
Sophomore Natalia Puchino was named the BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week this past Monday after posting a 1-0 record with two saves in 11.1 scoreless innings last week. Overall, Puchino owns a BIG EAST leading 0.34 ERA and ranks second in the league with 24 strikeouts in 20.1 innings of work.
Jena Lawrence has also impressed over the first two weekends, posting 2-0 record with a 1.85 ERA in 11.1 innings pitched, while junior Alexis Wiggins holds a 0.84 ERA with five strikeouts in 8.1 innings of work.
Junior transfer Kenzie Schopfer also owns a 3.50 ERA with 12 strikeouts in 14.0 innings of action this season.
Head coach Krista Wood is in her second season with the Bluejays and holds a 536-351 career record, including a 28-33 mark at Creighton.
Scouting Nevada (8-3)
Redshirt sophomore Haley Painter earned D1Softball National Player of the Week honors after the Wolf Pack posted a 5-1 record at the Silicon Valley Classic last weekend.
Painter finished the weekend 12-for-22 with four doubles, a triple, two home runs and 10 RBI at the plate. Overall, Painter is hitting .472 with five home runs while leading the team in on-base percentage (.568), slugging (1.083), doubles (5) and total bases (39).
Senior Gabby Herrera owns a team-best .500 batting average with 17 hits, including five doubles, three home runs and 14 RBI, while graduate student Chelie Senini owns a .487 batting average on a team-high 19 hits.
As a team, the Wolf Pack is hitting .341 with 19 doubles, five triples, 14 home runs, 57 RBI and 63 runs scored in 11 games.
In addition to a hot offense, the Nevada pitching staff has also been red hot in the circle. The Wolf Pack owns a 2.81 ERA with 55 strikeouts in 55 innings pitched.
Senior Blake Craft owns a perfect 3-0 record with a 1.85 ERA and a team-high 23 strikeouts in 22.2 innings of work. Classmate Tyra Clary has added 11 strikeouts and a 1.79 ERA in 15.2 innings pitched, while fifth-year senior Carley Brown owns a 2.28 ERA with 16 punch outs in 30.2 innings of work.
Interim head coach Marina Demore is in her first season at the helm of the Nevada program, after taking over after the departure of Linda Garza. The Wolf Pack was picked fifth in the Mountain West Preseason Coaches' Poll.
Series History Against Wolf Pack
Friday and Saturday will mark the first meetings between Creighton and Nevada in program history.
Head Coach Krista Wood has never coached against Nevada in her coaching career.
Scouting Pacific (1-8)
The Tigers enter the third week of the season with a 1-8 overall record. Since capturing a 7-6 win over UIC in the season opener, Pacific has dropped their last eight contests.
Offensively, Pacific is hitting .216 with 46 hits, including seven doubles and two home runs, while scoring 19 total runs.
Redshirt sophomore Olivia Silvestre guides the Tiger offense with a .417 batting average on 10 hits, including three doubles, while senior Reagan Hamilton has recorded a team-high six RBI on three doubles and a home run.
In the circle, the Tigers own a 5.67 ERA with 35 strikeouts in 54.1 innings of work.
Senior Avery Croxall leads the way with a 1.95 ERA with a team-high 17 strikeouts in 14.1 innings of relief, while graduate Vanessa Strong has posted a 5.02 ERA with seven punch outs in 15.1 innings of work.
Pacific was picked to finish fifth in the WCC Preseason Coaches' Poll as head coach Brian Kolze is in his 32nd season at the helm of Tigers. Kolze is the all-time winningest coach in Pacific softball history and ranks in the top-30 amongst active NCAA Division I coaches.
Series History Against the Tigers
Creighton is 2-7 all-time against Pacific in program history.
The Bluejays won the series opener against the Tigers 1-0 on March 2, 1986. Pacific then won seven straight contests before Creighton claimed a 2-0 shutout victory in the 2015 season-opener at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz.
Head Coach Krista Wood is 0-1 all-time against Pacific in her coaching career.
Scouting Stony Brook (1-4)
The Seawolves opened the 2024 season with a 1-4 showing at the Felsberg Invitational in in Florida, securing a 7-5 victory over Ohio State for its lone win of opening weekend.
Stony Brook's four games at the UMBC Round Robin last weekend was canceled due to inclement weather.
Offensively, Stony Brook managed 21 hits and 16 runs during their first five games with senior Kyra McFarland leading the way with four hits.
Junior Alicia Orsco and senior Catherine Anne Kupinski added three additional hits, while graduate student Corinne Badger recorded the Seawolves only extra-base hits with a triple and home run.
In the circle, the Seawolves lean on seniors Gabrielle Maday and Mia Haynes for the majority of their innings. Maday owns a 4.11 ERA with four strikeouts in 15.1 innings of work, while Haynes holds a 10.08 ERA with four strikeouts in 8.1 innings pitched.
As a team, Stony Brook is hitting .188, while holding a 7.66 ERA with nine strikeouts over five games.
The all-time winningest coach in program history, head coach Megan T. Bryant is in her 24th year at the helm of Stony Brook. The Seawolves were picked seventh in the CAA Preseason Coaches' Poll.
Series History Against the Seawolves
Sunday will mark the first meetings between Creighton and Stone Brook in program history.
Head Coach Krista Wood has never coached against Stone Brook in her coaching career.
Puchino Nabs BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week
Sophomore Natalia Puchino dominated in the circle once again for the Bluejays, earning BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week honors on Feb. 19.
Puchino is the first Bluejay pitcher to secure BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week honors since Mikayla Santa Cruz earned the honor on Feb. 14, 2022. This week's accolade also marks the second BIG EAST weekly honor for Puchino in her career, as she earned BIG EAST Freshman of the Week honors once last season.
The Milliken, Colo. native was impressive in the circle for the Bluejays last week, posting a 1-0 record and two saves in 11.1 scoreless innings. She recorded 11 strikeouts while limiting her opponents to just four hits and three walks in her three appearances.
Overall, Puchino leads the BIG EAST with a 0.34 ERA, allowing just one run in 20.1 innings pitched. She also ranks tied for second in the BIG EAST with 24 total strikeouts.
Nielsen Reaches 150 Hit Milestone
Fifth-year senior outfielder Cayla Nielsen reached the 150-hit plateau last Saturday against Colgate at the Hatter Classic in Florida.
The Blair, Neb. native recorded her 150th hit with an RBI single down the left field line during the bottom of the fourth inning in the Jays' 3-2 win over the Radiers.
Nielsen became the 15th Bluejay player since 1999 to record 150 hits in their career.
Bluejay Pitchers Dominate
Natalia Puchino, Jena Lawrence, Alexis Wiggins and Kenzie Schofer have been lights out in the circle for the Bluejays to begin the season.
The Bluejay pitching staff currently leads the BIG EAST with a 1.56 ERA and a .162 opponent hitting percentage through the first two weekends of the season. The Bluejays also ranked fourth in the league with 44 total strikeouts.
During last weekend's Hatter Classic, Puchino, Lawrence and Wiggins combined to allowed only two earned runs during Creighton's three games, posting a 0.67 ERA with a pair of shutouts.
Puchino Off To Lights Out Start
After guiding the Bluejays pitching staff to 13 wins in the circle last season, sophomore Natalia Puchino is off to a sizzling start for the Bluejays in 2024.
The Milliken, Colo. native is off to a perfect 3-0 start with two saves in the circle this season. She currently owns a BIG EAST leading 0.34 ERA and ranks tied for second in the league with 24 total strikeouts.
Over her last 11.2 innings, Puchino has not allowed a single run to score. That is the second last streak in her career as she recorded 15.0 consecutive shutout innings from March 7 to March 17 last season.
Durable Vejvoda
After starting all eight games to start the 2024 season, senior infielder Madeline Vejvoda is reaching uncharted territory as she has now started in each of Creighton's last 123 consecutive games dating back to March 7, 2021.
Her 123 straight starts is the longest streak by a Bluejay since Jen Daro started 129 consecutive games from 2015-2017.
Over the course of her Bluejay career, Vejvoda has started 134 of the 147 games she has played in.
Shining Bright In The Sunshine State
Having some fun in the sun, Creighton posted a 3-0 record in the Sunshine State last weekend at the Hatter Classic. Over the years Creighton has played some of its best softball of the season while in the state of Florida, and that continue last week.
Making their 13th trip to the Sunshine State in program history, the Bluejays improved its overall record in Florida to 94-28 overall. In those 122 games, Creighton has outscored its opponents 624-202, which included a 7-2 advantage in three games this season.
Below is a breakdown of the Creighton's year by year trip to Florida.
Year W-L R RA
1991 11-6 71 28
1995 8-2 42 13
1996 7-3 44 28
2004 14-0 78 8
2005 8-0 56 2
2006 8-5 71 29
2013 6-2 29 10
2014 11-1 47 12
2015 9-1 63 11
2016 9-1 45 13
2020 5-4 34 31
2023 5-3 37 15
2024 3-0 7 2
Totals 94-28 624 202
See You On The Bases
Since joining the Bluejays in 2020, senior Cayla Nielsen has been a fixture on the bases. In her five years at Creighton, Nielsen has reached base safely in 116 of her 156 career games recording a .402 on-base percentage, which ranks as the 13th-best percentage by a Bluejays since 1999.
Last season, Nielsen reached base in 44-of-53 games played and lead Creighton with a .489 on-base percentage, a figure that ranked sixth-best in Creighton history for one season.
Three of the four marks above her were accomplished by former Bluejay players and assistant coaches Alexis Cantu and Renae Sinkler, while Kailey Wilson holds two of the top-10 marks in program history.
Already this season we have seen Nielsen reach base safely in six out of the first eight games, while recording a team-high eight hits.
Best On-Base Percentage, CU History, Season
Rk. OBP% Name Year
1. .547 Alexis Cantu 2012
2. .541 Kailey Wilson 2022
3. .514 Renae Sinkler 2010
4. .492 Renae Sinkler 2009
5. .490 Christy Lunceford 1996
6. .486 Cayla Nielsen 2023
7. .482 Tash Coffiel 2016
8. .479 Kailey Wilson 2021
.479 Ashley Cantu 2018
10. .477 Liz Dike 2015
Nielsen On Quest To Top-10
Entering her final season with the Bluejays, senior Cayla Nielsen looked to climb the Bluejay ranks in several career stat categories.
After the first two weekends of play, Nielsen currently ranks tied for ninth all-time with a .326 career batting average. She is also on the verge of entering the Top-10 list for runs scored (four shy) and doubles (eight shy).
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. .353 Kailey Wilson 168-476 2019-23
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 Cayla Nielsen 150-459 2020-pr.
9. .326 Christine Fukumoto 110-337 2004-05
RUNS SCORED
No. Name R Years
1. Stacey Rybar 132 2001-04
2. Jean Tierney 130 1980-83
3. Heidi Geier 129 1996-99
Ashley Cantu 129 2017-21
5. Sue Frederick 128 1986-89
6. Christy Lunceford 122 1994-97
7. Renae Sinkler 120 2007-10
8. Bailey Dawson 119 2006-09
9. Liz Dike 118 2012-15
10. Lauren Cisneros 113 2003-06
