Creighton University
12-7, 0
St. John's
8-11, 0
Strong Pitching and Timely Hitting Guides Bluejays to Pair of Wins Over St. John’s in BIG EAST Opener
3/8/2024 4:29:00 PM | Softball
QUEENS, N.Y. -- Junior Kenzie Schopfer tossed a complete game shutout in game one while a seven-run fifth innings in game two guided the Creighton softball team to a pair of victories over St. John's on Friday afternoon in the BIG EAST opener. The Bluejays defeated the Red Storm, 3-0, in game one and 8-2 in game two.
Creighton improved to 2-0 in BIG EAST play and 13-7 overall with the doubleheader sweep, while St. John's fell to 8-12 overall and 0-2 in league play.
Game 1: Creighton 3, St. John's 0
In the first game of the day, Creighton scored single runs in the second, third and fifth innings, while Schopfer recorded a career-high seven strikeouts in a two-hit shutout to record her first win of the season.
After a scoreless first, Creighton jumped out to an early 1-0 lead when freshman Sydney Potter came around to score on and RBI single by fellow classmate Ashten Pierson.
The Bluejays tacked on another run in the top of the third as sophomore Lily West lined a leadoff single through the right side and advanced to second on a wild pitch, before scoring on an RBI single to left by sophomore Ella Dalton to give Creighton a 2-0 lead.
Creighton then provided an insurance run in the top of the fifth, when senior Madeline Vejvoda crossed the plate on an RBI double into the right center field gap by Dalton.
Holding a 3-0 lead, Schopfer retired nine of the final 10 Red Storm batters to secure the Bluejays first BIG EAST conference opener shutout win since 2021.
The Bluejays recorded six hits in the contest, with West and Dalton paced the squad with two hits apiece, while Dalton recorded a pair of RBI.
Cassidy Stouffer and Natalie Casto collected the two hits for the Red Storm, while Ana Serafinko recorded a career-high eight strikeouts in the loss.
Game 2: Creighton 8, St. John's 2
Game two saw St. John's storm out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a sacrifice fly to right by Amy Mallah, after the Red Storm loaded the bases with a pair of walks and a single by London Jarrard.
The Bluejays answered with a run of their own in the top half of the second on back-to-back doubles by Dalton and Rosonke to knot thing up at 1-1.
Locked into a pitchers dual heading into the fifth, Creighton used a seven-run inning to gain momentum and control of the contest. The Bluejays claimed an 8-1 lead as Creighton had eight straight batters reach base on six hits, one hit-by-pitch and a Red Storm fielding error.
Frame started the rally with a single to left, while Pierson was hit-by-a pitch to place runners on first and second. Senior Cayla Nielsen then delivered a two-run double to left to give Creighton a 3-1 lead. Nielsen then scored on the following pitch as West reached on a fielding error. Following a double by Vejvoda that put runners on second and third, senior Alyssa Gappa lined an RBI single to left to extend the lead to 5-1. The very next pitch, Dalton blasted a single back up the middle to push the advantage to 6-1, while a two-run double by Rosonke gave Creighton an 8-1 edge in the game.
St. John's would add one in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI groundout by Mallah, before sophomore Natalia Puchino closed the game with a scoreless seventh to record her league-leading ninth win of the season.
Puchino improved to 9-1 in the circle this season, striking out a season-high tying seven batters in the complete game effort. Vejvoda led the Bluejays offense with a career-high tying three hits, while Rosonke collected three RBI on two doubles.
The Bluejays and Red Storm will complete their three-game series on Saturday with a single game set to begin at 11 a.m. CT.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Schopfer, Kenzie (1-3)
L: Serafinko (1-3)
Batting:
2B: Dalton, Ella 1
RBI: Dalton, Ella 2 ; Pierson, Ashten 1
Base Running:
RUNS: West, Lily 1 ; Vejvoda, Madeline 1 ; Potter, Sydney 1
SB: Nielsen, Cayla 1
Base Running:
HBP: Mallah 1
