Bluejay Softball Travels To Drake Before Three-Game Home Series Against Georgetown

Game #32: Creighton Bluejays (18-13) at Drake Bulldogs (11-13)
Wednesday, March 27, 2024 • 5 p.m. • Des Moines, Iowa • Buel Field
LIVE VIDEO | LIVE STATS | CU NOTES (PDF)

Game #33-35: Georgetown Hoyas (10-19, 1-8 BE) at Creighton Bluejays (18-13, 3-3 BE)
Thursday, March 28, 2024 • 6 p.m. • Friday, March 29, 2024 • 4 a.m. • Saturday, March 30, 2024 • 12 p.m. • Omaha, Neb. • Creighton Sports Complex
LIVE VIDEO | LIVE STATS | CU NOTES (PDF)

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Creighton (18-13, 3-3 BE) closes out a five-game road trip with a midweek contest at Drake (11-13), before returning home for a three-game series against Georgetown (10-19, 1-8 BE).

All the action begins on Wednesday, March 27 at 5 p.m. when the Bluejays visit former Missouri Valley Conference rival Drake at Buel Field in Des Moines, Iowa.

The Bluejays will then return home to play under the lights as the Bluejays begin a three-game BIG EAST series against Georgetown Thursday, March 28 at 6 p.m.

The two teams will then meet on Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. before wrapping up the series with an 12 p.m. contest on Sunday at the Creighton Sports Complex.

Follow The Games

Live stats for all four of Creighton's contests this week will be provided through StatBroadcast.

Live video for Wednesday's match at Drake will be available on ESPN+, while the three-game series against Georgetown 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 (18-13, 3-3 BE)

Creighton enters Wednesday's matchup at Drake with a 18-13 overall record and a 3-3 mark in the BIG EAST after suffering a pair of one-run contests at Kansas City and Seton Hall last week.

Offensively, Creighton is hitting .259 with 39 doubles, four triples and 13 home runs while pushing across 120 runs at the plate.

The Bluejays are led by fifth-year senior Cayla Nielsen and her .311 batting average, which includes team-highs 32 hits and eight doubles. Fellow senior Madeline Vejvoda follows closely behind with a .308 batting average on 28 hits and 15 runs scored.

Sophomore Lily West adds a .297 batting average with seven doubles and a team-high 18 runs scored, while senior Emma Rosonke is right behind with .273 average on 18 base hits, including two doubles, a triple and two home runs.

Freshman Sydney Potter has also provided some power to the Bluejay lineup this season. Potter has collected a team-high 22 RBI on a team-best six home runs, while sophomore Ella Dalton has provided a .288 batting average at the plate and a team-high four stolen bases.

In the circle, Creighton has posted a 3.44 ERA with 155 strikeouts to just 91 walks in 172.2 innings of work.

Sophomore Natalia Puchino has thrown a team-high 89.2 innings for the Bluejays this season, while owning a 12-2 overall record with three saves. The Colorado native has been dominant, owning a BIG EAST leading 1.87 ERA and 86 strikeouts in the circle thus far.

Meanwhile, junior Kenzie Schopfer has logged a respectable 3.85 ERA with 38 strikeouts in 52.2 innings pitched, while senior Jena Lawrence has also posted a 2-3 record with a 4.14 ERA in 25.1 innings pitched, while junior Alexis Wiggins holds a 4.10 ERA with nine strikeouts in 13.2 innings of work.

Head coach Krista Wood is in her second season with the Bluejays and holds a 548-363 career record, including a 40-44 mark at Creighton.

Scouting Drake (11-13)

Returning to action for the first time in a week and a half, Drake enters Wednesday's midweek contest with an 11-13 overall record.

The Bulldogs have lost five of their last six contests, claiming a 2-1 victory over Western Illinois their last time out.

Drake offensively is hitting .279 as a team, but averages just 3.88 runs per game, while opponents are hitting .334 on the season with 46 doubles and 21 home runs while scoring an average of 5.96 runs scored per game.

Junior Emma Dighton (.333) leads a trio of Bulldogs hitters over .300 with a .333 batting average on a team-leading 25 base hits, including six doubles and three home runs. Senior MaKayla Rice and sophomore Abby Martin also hold .327 and .316 batting averages respectfully, with Rice also owning a team-high five triples.

Senior Addie Lightner follows closely behind with a .296 batting average with a team-best 14 RBI, while leadoff hitter junior Carey Koenig has scored a team-high 15 runs this season.

Drake has seen five different Bulldogs throw in the circle this season. Junior Molly Hoekstra has been the most consistent, recording a 4-1 overall record with a 4.88 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 37.1 innings of work. She is followed by sophomore Jayme Scheck with a 5.85 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 26.1 innings pitched, while Dighton has recorded a 6.39 ERA with 13 punchouts in 46.0 innings this season.

As a staff, the Bulldogs own a 5.45 ERA with 61 strikeouts in 146.1 innings of work.

Drake was picked to finish eighth in the Missouri Valley Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll as head coach Lindsay Diehl is in her first season with the Bulldogs.

Series History Against Bulldogs

Creighton leads the all-time series against Drake, 60-32.

The Bluejays and Bulldogs met annually from 1993 to 2013 as members of the Missouri Valley Conference.

Drake and Creighton met for the first time since 2018 last season in Omaha, with Drake earning a 9-0 win over the Bluejays.

The Bluejays own a 25-12 record in games played in Des Moines, Iowa, but have not made the trip across I-80 since 2016.

Head Coach Krista Wood is 4-8 all-time against Drake.

Scouting Georgetown (10-19, 1-8 BE)

Struggling as of late, Georgetown enters this weekend's series against Creighton with a 10-19 overall record and a 1-8 mark in BIG EAST play.

The Hoyas have lost their last eight games, getting swept by Seton Hall and Villanova each of the last two weekends.

Georgetown currently is hitting .241 as a team with 37 doubles, six triples and 14 home runs with 113 runs scored.

Sophomore Dayanara Campos paces the Hoyas offense with a .342 batting average on a team-high 26 hits, including eight doubles and six home runs, while classmate Gabby Park is the only other Hoya hitting over .300, following closely behind with a .318 average on 21 hits.

In the circle Georgetown owns a 4.62 ERA with 114 strikeouts in 194.0 innings of work. Junior Kayla Dunn and senior Julia Parker have handled the majority of the pitching duties for the Hoyas this season. Dunn owns a team-best 3.93 ERA with 72 strikeouts in 87.1 innings of work, while Parker is not too far behind with a 4.00 ERA with 31 punchouts in 77.0 innings pitched this season.

Georgetown was picked to finish eighth in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll as head coach Pat Conlan enters her 19th season with the Hoyas.

Series History Against Hoyas

Creighton and Georgetown have met 20 times previously, with the all-time series all tied up at 10 wins apiece.

The Hoyas have won the five out of the last six meetings, including a pair of wins in the nation's capital last season.

Creighton is 5-5 all-time against the Hoyas in games played in Omaha but has not won since claiming a 5-2 victory back on April 29, 2018, at the CU Sports Complex.

Milestone Watch

- Cayla Nielsen is six runs shy of tying Sue Frederick (128) for fifth on Creighton's all-time runs scored list. Nielsen is also just 10 runs shy of becoming Creighton's all-time runs scored leader in program history.

- Nielsen owns 32 career doubles and is two doubles shy of tying Erin Fraser and Dede Pendleton (34) for ninth on Creighton's all-time career doubles list.

- Alyssa Gappa owns 19 career hit-by-pitches, two shy of moving into a tie with Sami Herbster for sixth all-time for hit-by-pitches in a career.

- Natalia Puchino (199) is one strikeout shy of becoming just the 12th Bluejay to record at least 200 career strikeouts since 1999.

Saving the Day

Not only is sophomore Natalia Puchino a dominant starting pitcher, she also has been a force in relief for the Bluejay pitching staff this season.

On Friday, March 22, Puchino recorded her third save of the season, tossing 1.1 innings of scoreless relief to becoming the first Bluejay to record at least three saves in a single season since Tara Oltamn also recorded three saves in 2010.

Puchino's three saves are also tied for the sixth most in a single season in program history.

SAVES

No. Name SV Year

1. Candi Letts 9 1982

2. Tara Oltman 7 2008

3. Candi Letts 6 1981

Holly Hesse 6 1981

5. April Trupp 4 1987

6. 13 Times 3

last by Natalia Puchino 2024

Puchino Nearing 200 Career Strikeouts

Sophomore Natalia Puchino enters Wednesday's contests at Drake needing just one strikeout to become the 12th Bluejays in the last 25 years to record at least 200 career strikeouts.

Puchino's 199 career strikeouts are the most since Kiele Miller recorded 334 punchouts from 2018-2020. Last season, Puchino became just the fifth Bluejay to record 100 strikeouts in their freshman season.

Career Strikeouts Since 1999

Strikeouts Pitcher Year

1086 Tara Oltman 2007-10

914 Tammy Nielsen 2003-05

860 Becca Changstrom 2011-14

495 Shelli Mellegaard 1999-02

334 Kiele Miller 2018-20

282 Sydnee Eck 2015-16

278 Kristan Melton 2000-03

249 Stephanie Cortese 2003-06

243 Abby Johnson 2002-05

234 Micaela Whitney 2015-16

211 Amanda Hess 2007-08

199 Natalia Puchino 2023-Pr.

Free Softball

Creighton has played two extra-inning games this season, recording a 5-4 10-inning win over Pacific on Feb. 23 in the Libby Matson Tournament, before suffering a 4-3 loss in 8-innings last weekend at Seton Hall

Senior Cayla Nielsen lifted the Bluejays to the victory over Pacific, launching a two-run home run to straight away center in the top of the 10th innings to give Creighton a 5-3 lead.

The 10-inning game was the Bluejays longest game by innings since dropping a 3-2 10-inning contest to Omaha on April 21, 2021.

Overall, Creighton is 90-96-2 all-time in extra innings games, including a 14-14 mark since joining the BIG EAST in 2014. Amongst the extra-inning games is the Bluejays NCAA record 31-inning contests against Utah on May 11, 1991, as well as the third longest game in NCAA History in the 25-inning affair against Utah just 21-minutes later on May 12, 1991.

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, surpassing Lauren Cisneros for 10th on Creighton all-time career runs scored list with 115 career runs scored.

The Blair, Neb. native has since climbed into sixth, passing Liz Dike, Bailey Dawson and Renae Sinkler-O'Gorman, to up her total runs scored to 122. The fifth-year senior is just 10 runs away from becoming the all-time runs scored leader in Creighton Softball history.

Nielsen also ranks tied for ninth on Creighton's all-time career batting average list with a .326 average, while sitting just two doubles shy of becoming the newest member of the Top-10 club for 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. .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 174-534 2020-Pr.

.326 Christine Fukumoto 110-337 2004-05

11. .325 Mary Yori 176-542 1980-82

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. Cayla Nielsen 122 2020-pr.

Christy Lunceford 122 1994-97

8. Renae Sinkler 120 2007-10

9. Bailey Dawson 119 2006-09

10. Liz Dike 118 2012-15

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. Kailey Wilson 35 2019-23

Bailey Dawson 35 2006-09

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

- Cayla Nielsen 32 2020-pr.

Leadoff Power

Senior Cayla Nielsen has batted leadoff for the Bluejays in every single game this season, providing a big bat for the Bluejays at the top of the order.

The Blair, Neb. native leads the Bluejays with 32 hits this season, which includes a team-high eight doubles and three home runs.

In CU's home opener against Rider, Nielsen opened the bottom of the first with a solo shot to deep center, becoming the first Bluejay since Ashley Cantu in 2021 to lead off a game with a home run.

Just two days later, Nielsen did it again, launching a leadoff home run over the right center field wall in the Bluejays 2-1 win over Northern Colorado.

Puchino Off To Dominate Start

After guiding the Bluejays pitching staff to 13 wins in the circle last season, sophomore Natalia Puchino has been red hot for the Bluejays in 2024.

The Milliken, Colo. native is 12-2 with three saves in the circle for the Bluejays this season. She currently leads the BIG EAST with a 1.87 ERA and 86 total strikeouts in 89.2 innings of work this season.

In Creighton's home opener against Rider on March 13, Puchino recorded a season-high nine strikeouts, while allowing just three hits in the complete game effort to secure her third shutout of the 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 146 consecutive games dating back to March 7, 2021.

Her 146 straight starts are 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 157 of the 170 games she has played in.

Hit Me With Your Best Shot

Senior Alyssa Gappa continued her climb up the Bluejay ranks when she was hit by a pitch in the Bluejays' 9-1 victory over North Dakota on March 17.

With the hit-by-pitches, Gappa moved into a tie with Mileah McKelvy for seventh on Creighton's all-time career hit-by-pitch record list with 19 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. Alyssa Gappa 19 2021-pr.

Mileah McKelvy 19 2016-20

9. Liz McKewon 18 2008-11

10 Renae Sinkler 16 2007-10

Bluejays Keeping it Close

Through the first 31 games of the season, Creighton has played 13 games decided by two or less runs, including nine one-run contests.

The Bluejays are 9-4 overall during games decided by two runs or less this season. CU has posted one-run victories over Northwestern State (2-1), Kennesaw State (2-1), Colgate (3-2), Pacific (5-4), Northern Colorado (2-1) and Seton Hall (3-2).

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 10-0 when scoring at least five runs in a game. In those 10 games, Creighton has outscored their opponents, 84-25.

Over the last 24 seasons, Creighton is 362-54 when scoring five or more runs. In the same time span Creighton is 237-401-3 when scoring four runs or fever.

Creighton is also 147-36 when scoring five or more runs in a game since joining the BIG EAST in 2014.

During that same time frame the Bluejays are 84-4 when scoring eight or more runs, which included a perfect 6-0 record this season.

Lead Generally Safe

Creighton has done an excellent job protecting leads this season, recording a 15-3 record when scoring first. The Bluejays had won 13 straight games when scoring first before suffering a 9-3 loss at Seton Hall last Sunday in South Orange, N.J.

Creighton is 11-1 when leading after four innings, 13-1 when leading after five innings and 14-1 when leading after six innings this season.

CU Sports Complex Turns Into Launching Pad

Creighton has also produced some big hitters throughout its powerful lineup over the years and that trend continues this season for the Bluejays. CU has blasted 13 home runs this season, with seven of those coming from within the confines of the CU Sports Complex.

Freshman Sydney Potter leads the way with three home runs this season at home, while both Cayla Nielsen and Emma Rosonke have each recorded two homers at home this season.

In 2023, a total of 41 home runs were hit during 16 Creighton home games at the Creighton Sports Complex. Through the first two home games in 2024, Creighton is on pace to shatter this figure after hitting five Bluejay bombs in a doubleheader against Rider on March 13.

Since joining the BIG EAST in 2014, the most home runs a Creighton team has hit during a single season at home is 25 (2018).

Here's a look at the home runs totals at the CU Sports Complex since joining the BIG EAST.

HRs Hit At CU Sports Complex By Year

HRs (CU HRs) Number of Games Year

8 (7) 5 2024

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

Creighton At Home

Since joining the BIG EAST in 2014, the Bluejays own a 62-65 record at home.

The Bluejays are 4-1 this season, which includes a pair of victories over Rider and single wins over Northern Colorado and North Dakota. Through the first five home games, Creighton is hitting .301 with 11 doubles, two triples, seven home runs and 23 RBI, while the Bluejay pitching staff owns a 1.13 ERA with 30 strikeouts and is hold opponents to a .182 batting average.

Last season Creighton finished 5-11 at the Creighton Sports Complex last season, with 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 double, 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:

2024: 4-1

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

Bluejay Softball Travels To Drake Before Three-Game Home Series Against Georgetown

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Ashley Cantu

Ella Dalton

Alyssa Gappa

Jena Lawrence

Kiara Mills

Cayla Nielsen

Sydney Potter

Natalia Puchino

Emma Rosonke

Kenzie Schopfer

Madeline Vejvoda

Lily West

Alexis Wiggins

Kailey Wilson

Bluejay Softball Travels To Drake Before Three-Game Home Series Against Georgetown

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Ashley Cantu

Ella Dalton

Alyssa Gappa

Jena Lawrence

Kiara Mills

Cayla Nielsen

Sydney Potter

Natalia Puchino

Emma Rosonke

Kenzie Schopfer

Madeline Vejvoda

Lily West

Alexis Wiggins

Kailey Wilson

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