Softball Opens Home Slate With Wednesday Afternoon Doubleheader Against Rider

Game #22-23: Rider Broncs (5-9) vs. Creighton Bluejays (13-8)
Wednesday, March 13, 2023 • 1 p.m. • 3 p.m. • Omaha, Neb. • Creighton Sports Complex
| LIVE VIDEO | LIVE STATS | CU NOTES (PDF)

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After playing 22 straight games on the road, Creighton (13-8, 2-1 BIG EAST) is set to open the home portion of its schedule with a twinbill against Rider (5-9) on Wednesday afternoon.

Game one's first pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. with game two to followed afterwards from the Creighton Sports Complex.

Follow The Games

Live stats will be provided through StatBroadcast, while live video will be featured on FloSports.

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 (13-8, 2-1 BE)

Creighton enters Wednesday's matchup against Rider with an 13-8 overall record after opening BIG EAST Play with a pair of victories at St. John's last weekend.

Creighton has won six out of its last nine games, which included victories over Loyola Chicago, St. Thomas, Illinois State and St. John's

Offensively, Creighton is hitting .247 with 26 doubles and six home runs while pushing across 83 runs at the plate.

The Bluejays are led by fifth-year senior Madeline Vejvoda and her .295 batting average, while sophomore Lily West follows closely behind with a .290 average on a team-high 20 hits, including four doubles and 13 runs scored.

Senior Cayla Nielsen owns a .282 batting average on 20 hits, including four doubles and one triple. She is followed by freshman Sydney Potter, who has collected a team-high 13 RBI on three home runs and three doubles this season.

In the circle, Creighton has posted a 3.76 ERA with 109 strikeouts to just 63 walks, while holding opponents to .241 hitting in 137.2 innings of work.

Sophomore Natalia Puchino owns a 9-1 overall record with a 1.66 ERA and a league-leading 62 strikeouts in the circle thus far. Junior Kenzie Schopfer was named BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week earlier this week and owns a 4.88 ERA with 24 strikeouts in 28.2 innings pitched this season.

Senior Jena Lawrence has also posted a 2-2 record with a 5.00 ERA in 21.0 innings pitched, while junior Alexis Wiggins holds a 3.41 ERA with eight strikeouts in 12.1 innings of work.

Head coach Krista Wood is in her second season with the Bluejays and holds a 543-357 career record, including a 35-39 mark at Creighton.

Scouting Rider (5-9)

Coming off a 1-4 showing at the Connie Clausen Classic this past weekend, Rider enters Wednesday's contest sporting an 5-9 overall record.

The Broncs have dropped five of their last six games, with their lone win being a 6-0 shutout over Kansas City this past Sunday.

Rider offensively is hitting .257 as a team and averages 3.56 runs per game, while opponents are hitting .289 on the season with an average of 5.07 runs scored per game.

Senior Jessie Niegocki paces the Broncs offense with a .378 batting average on a team-high 17 hits, while freshman Kendall Reda-Fehsal (.368) is the only other player hitting better than .300. Reda Fehsal owns a team-best five doubles and 10 RBI, while recording a .579 slugging percentage.

In the circle, Rider has seen five different players pitch significant innings this season. Sophomore Fallyn Stoeckel (0-3), junior Kathryn Schierer (1-2) and senior Anna-Marie Groskritz (1-2) to handle a majority of the pitching duties this season. Stoeckel paces the Broncs with a 5.48 ERA with 13 strikeouts in 21.1 innings of work, while Schierer has also provided 19.1 innings and seven strikeouts for a 5.59 ERA. Groskritz has also tossed 19.2 innings this season, owning a 6.41 ERA with 12 strikeouts.

As a team, Rider holds a 4.94 ERA with 58 strikeouts in 85.2 innings pitched.

Head coach Davon Ortega is in her seventh season at the helm of Rider. The Broncs were picked to finish seventh in the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll.

Series History Against the Broncs

Creighton and Rider have met one time previously with the Bluejays claiming a 7-2 victory over the Broncs at the Tiger Classic in Nashville, Tenn. on Feb. 22, 2020.

Head coach Krista Wood has never coached against Rider in her career.

Milestone Watch

- Cayla Nielsen is two runs shy of passing Liz Dike (118) for ninth on Creighton's all-time runs scored list. With three more runs she could surpass Bailey Dawson (119) for eighth.

- Alyssa Gappa owns 18 career hit-by-pitches, one shy of moving into a tie with Mileah McKelvy for seventh all-time for hit-by-pitches in a career.

- Natalia Puchino (175) is 25 strikeouts shy of becoming just the 12th Bluejay to record 200 career strikeouts since 1999.

- Madeline Vejvoda has started 147 consecutive contests dating back to 2021. With starts in the next three games, Vejvoda will become the first Bluejays to start 150 straight since Kelsey Allender started 185 consecutive games from 2013-2016.

Schopfer Named BE Pitcher of the Week

Bluejay junior Kenzie Schopfer's dominant effort in the BIG EAST opener against St. John's on Friday, March 8th earned her BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week honors, the league announced on Monday, March 11.

This marks the first BIG EAST weekly honor of Schopfer's career, while she is the second Bluejay pitcher this season to claim BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week accolades, joining sophomore Natalia Puchino.

In her only appearance of the week, Schopfer fired a complete game shutout to earn her first win of the season. The Savannah, Mo. native, struck out a career-high six batters while allowing just two hits and a walk as the Bluejays claimed a 3-0 win over the Red Storm in the BIG EAST Opener on Friday afternoon.

Home Opener History

Creighton owns a 31-15 record (.667) in home openers, including wins in 14 of the last 17 home openers (does not include 2020 when Creighton did not play a home game). Last season the Bluejays claimed a 10-1 win over Kansas City in the home opener on March 15.

Head coach Krista Wood owns an 12-4 overall record in home openers as a head coach, including a 4-3 record at South Dakota State and a 7-1 record at Wayne State College.

The Bluejays are slated to play 20 home games this season, including BIG EAST series against Georgetown, Villanova, DePaul and Providence.

Creighton At Home

Since joining the BIG EAST in 2014, the Bluejays own a 58-64 record at home.

The Bluejays finished 5-11 at the Creighton Sports Complex last season, which included a pair of wins over Kansas City, and single victories over Butler, Omaha and St. John's.

Last season, Creighton hit .283 at home with 18 doubles, two triples and 22 home runs. Senior Cayla Nielsen paced the Bluejay returners with a .362 batting average with one doubles, one triple and six home runs and a team-high 16 RBI, while Lily West (.333) led the team with three doubles.

Opponents finished the year hitting .318 with 19 home runs and 16 doubles at the Creighton Sports Complex.

A total of 41 home runs (22 by CU, 19 by opponents) were hit during 102 innings of action.

The Bluejays did not play a home game in 2020 because of the season ending on March 12, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Creighton posted 13 wins at home in 2018, the most in a single season since claiming 19 home victories in 2008.

Year-by-year home records since 2014:

2023: 5-11

2022: 3-10

2021: 8-3

2020: No home games

2019: 5-6

2018: 13-6

2017: 6-6

2016: 7-8

2015: 4-9

2014: 9-6

HRs Hit At CU Sports Complex By Year

HRs (CU HRs) Number of Games Year

41 (22) 16 2023

41 (19) 13 2022

34 (16) 11 2021

-- No home games 2020

33 (15) 11 2019

47 (25) 19 2018

29 (13) 12 2017

26 (9) 15 2016

41 (16) 13 2015

29 (17) 15 2014

Bluejays Keeping it Close

Through the first 21 games of the season, Creighton has already played eight games decided by two or less runs, including five one-run contests.

The Bluejays are 7-1 overall during games decided by two runs or less this season. CU's lone setback was a 5-4 loss to Texas State on Feb. 11.

Last season, Creighton played 20 games decided by two or less runs, posting a 7-13 overall record, while recording a 4-9 record in one-run contests.

Magic Number 5

Since the turn of the century, Creighton has had tremendous success when scoring five or more runs. The Bluejays have continued that success this season, improving to 7-0 when scoring at least five runs in a game. In those seven games, Creighton has outscored their opponents, 60-22.

Over the last 24 seasons, Creighton is 359-54 when scoring five or more runs. In the same time span Creighton is 235-396-3 when scoring four runs or fever.

Creighton is also 144-36 when scoring five or more runs in a game since joining the BIG EAST in 2014.

During that same time frame the Bluejays are 82-4 when scoring eight or more runs, which included a perfect 9-0 record last season.

Durable Vejvoda

Senior infielder Madeline Vejvoda continues to be a fixture in the Creighton starting lineup. Not only has she started every game this season, but she's reaching uncharted territory as she has now started in each of Creighton's last 136 consecutive games dating back to March 7, 2021.

Her 136 straight starts is the longest streak by a Bluejay since Kelsey Allender started 185 consecutive games from 2013-2016.

Over the course of her Bluejay career, Vejvoda has started 147 of the 160 games she has played in.

Puchino Off To Dominate 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 9-1 with two saves in the circle already this season. She currently leads the BIG EAST with 62 total strikeouts, while her 1.66 ranks second overall in the league.

Lead Generally Safe

Creighton has done an excellent job protecting leads this season. In fact, there's only been one game that Creighton has led at an point in which it hasn't won, a Feb 11. game at Texas State when CU couldn't hold onto a 4-2 seventh inning lead.

Creighton is 7-1 when leading after four innings, 11-1 when leading after five innings and 11-1 when leading after six innings this season.

Hit Me With Your Best Shot

Senior Alyssa Gappa continued her climb up the Bluejay ranks when she was hit by a pitch twice in the Bluejays' 13-1 victory over Loyola Chicago on March 2.

With the pair of hit-by-pitches, Gappa moved into a tie with Liz McKewon for eighth on Creighton's all-time career hit-by-pitch record list with 18 career hit-by-pitches.

CREIGHTON CAREER HIT BY PITCH LIST

No. Name HBP Years

1. Jen Daro 39 2014-17

2. Michelle Graner 34 2007-10

3. Alexis Cantu 29 2012-14 4. Michelle Koch 25 2007-10

Lauren Cisneros 25 2003-06

6. Sami Herbster 21 2000-03

7. Mileah McKelvy 19 2016-20

8. Alyssa Gappa 18 2021-pr.

Liz McKewon 18 2008-11

10 Renae Sinkler 16 2007-10

Nielsen Etches Name In CU Record Book

Senior Cayla Nielsen has been a fixture in the Bluejays lineup since arriving on campus in 2020.On March 2 against St. Thomas, Nielsen scored three runs to etch her name in Creighton history recording her 115th career runs scored.

The Blair, Neb. native surpassed Lauren Cisneros for 10th on Creighton all-time career runs scored list after crossing the plate three time in the Bluejays' 16-8 win over St. Thomas on March 2.

Nielsen is also currently on the verge of entering the Top-10 list for career batting average (.323) and doubles (six 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 Christine Fukumoto 110-337 2004-05

10. .325 Mary Yori 176-542 1980-82

11. .323 Cayla Nielsen 162-502 2020-pr.

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. Cayla Nielsen 116 2020-pr.

Scoring BIG

So far this season Creighton has manufactured some big scoring innings to help secure victories.

The Bluejays did it once again in the second game of a doubleheader at St. John's on March 8 when they scored a season-high seven runs in the fifth inning.

It was the fifth time this season the Bluejays scored five or more runs in an innings. Below is a list of BIG scoring innings for the Bluejays this season.

Date Opponents Runs Inn.

2/10 vs. UTSA 5 5th

3/2 vs. Loyola Chicago 6 7th

3/2 vs. St. Thomas 5 2nd

3/2 vs. St. Thomas 5 6th

3/8 at St. John's 7 5th

Scoring BIG Part 2

Creighton scored 16 runs against St. Thomas on Saturday, March 2, recording the most runs in a single game single the Bluejays established a new program record with 24 runs scored against Toledo on Feb. 8, 2020.

Including the 13 runs scored against Loyola Chicago to open the Cougar Invite, the Bluejays combined for 29 runs scored on March 2.

The Bluejays 29 combined runs scored are the most runs scored on the same day since the Bluejays scored 32 runs against in a doubleheader against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on the opening day of the 2012 season.

Creighton Single-Game High for Runs

Rk Runs Opponent Date

1. 24 vs. Toledo 2/8/20

2. 20 vs. College of Saint Mary 2/9/00

3. 19 vs. Howard 3/4/12

4. 18 at Arkansas-Pine Bluff 2/11/12

18 vs. Saint Louis 2/20/09

18 at Nebraska Wesleyan 5/1/78

18 at Peru State 4/12/77

8. 17 vs. Detroit 2/26/99

17 Bellevue 3/28/78

17 College of St. Mary's 4/17/77

11. 16 vs. St. Thomas 3/2/24

Softball Opens Home Slate With Wednesday Afternoon Doubleheader Against Rider

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Ashley Cantu

Alyssa Gappa

Jena Lawrence

Kiara Mills

Cayla Nielsen

Sydney Potter

Natalia Puchino

Kenzie Schopfer

Madeline Vejvoda

Lily West

Alexis Wiggins

Kailey Wilson

Softball Opens Home Slate With Wednesday Afternoon Doubleheader Against Rider

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Ashley Cantu

Alyssa Gappa

Jena Lawrence

Kiara Mills

Cayla Nielsen

Sydney Potter

Natalia Puchino

Kenzie Schopfer

Madeline Vejvoda

Lily West

Alexis Wiggins

Kailey Wilson

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