Softball Hosts South Dakota For Midweek Clash on Tuesday Night

Game #40: South Dakota Coyotes (18-22) at Creighton Bluejays (23-16)
Tuesday, April 9, 2024 • 5 p.m. • Omaha, Neb. • Creighton Sports Complex
LIVE VIDEO | LIVE STATS | CU NOTES (PDF)

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Creighton (23-16, 8-4 BIG EAST) once again steps away from league play for a midweek clash with South Dakota (18-22) on Tuesday night. First pitch between the Bluejays and Coyotes is scheduled for 5 p.m. from the CU Sports Complex.

Follow The Games

Tuesday's midweek contest against South Dakota will feature live video and live stats.

Live video will be provided through FloSports, while live stats will be available via StatBroadcast. Tuesday's broadcast team will feature Jake Ryan and Jon Schriner on the call.

Links to 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 (23-16, 8-4 BE)

Creighton enters Tuesday's midweek contest against South Dakota with a 23-16 overall record and a 8-4 mark in the BIG EAST.

The Bluejays as coming off its second BIG EAST series win in a row, taking two of three from BIG EAST front runner Villanova last weekend.

Offensively, Creighton is hitting .276 with 56 doubles, four triples and 21 home runs while pushing across 171 runs at the plate for an average of 4.38 runs per contest.

The Bluejays are led by fifth-year senior Madeline Vejvoda and her .348 batting average on 40 hits, which includes a team-high 10 doubles. She has also drove in 24 runs while scoring 21 on her own.

Fellow senior Cayla Nielsen follows closely behind with a .344 batting average on a team-best 44 hits, including a team-high 10 doubles and .413 on-base percentage.

Sophomore Ella Dalton is also hitting better than .300 with a .318 batting average with six doubles and 22 runs scored, while sophomore Lily West has also provided a .315 batting average at the plate on 39 hits, including eight doubles and a team-best 24 runs scored.

Senior Emma Rosonke is right behind with .267 average on 24 base hits, including three doubles, a triple and two home runs, while freshman Sydney Potter has also provided some power to the Bluejay lineup this season. Potter has collected a team-high 28 RBI on a team-best nine home runs and seven doubles.

In the circle, Creighton has posted a 3.55 ERA with 196 strikeouts in 246.2 innings of work.

Sophomore Natalia Puchino has thrown a team-high 112.2 innings for the Bluejays this season, while owning a 16-4 overall record with three saves. The Colorado native has been dominant, ranking second in the BIG EAST with a 1.99 ERA and 105 strikeouts in the circle thus far.

Meanwhile, junior Kenzie Schopfer has logged a respectable 3.62 ERA with 51 strikeouts in 69.2 innings pitched this season.

Senior Jena Lawrence has also posted a 2-3 record with a 4.41 ERA in 27.0 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 553-366 career record, including a 45-47 mark at Creighton.

Scouting South Dakota (18-22)

The Coyotes enter Tuesday's contest sporting a 18-22 overall record after taking two of three from North Dakota last weekend.

Senior Alivia Conte leads the Coyotes with a team-best .306 batting average on 19 hits, while fellow senior Gabby Moser is hitting at a .302 clip with 38 hits, including team-highs in doubles (8), home runs (7) and 33 RBI).

Junior Tatum Villotta follows closely behind with a .299 batting average on a team-best 43 hits with five doubles and 19 runs scored.

As a team, South Dakota is hitting .239 with 40 doubles, three triples and 18 home runs while scoring 127 runs this season.

In the circle, junior Clara Edwards paces the Coyotes pitching staff with a 2.35 ERA in 122.1 innings of work. The Kansas native has struck out a team-high 96 batters while allowing 41earned runs on 130 hits.

Kori Wedeking has also provided significant innings, holding a 3.81 ERA with 68 strikeouts in 86.1 innings of work.

The South Dakota pitching staff owns a 3.09 ERA with 215 strikeouts in 264.2 innings of work.

Head coach Robert Wagner is in his eighth season at the helm of South Dakota.

Series History Against Coyotes

Creighton leads the all-time series against South Dakota, 19-8.

The Bluejays have won six out of the last seven meetings, including sweeping a doubleheader last year in Vermillion, S.D.

Creighton owns a 9-2 overall mark in contests played in Omaha, which includes victories in each of the last three contests.

Head coach Krista Wood owns an 20-13 record as a head coach against South Dakota.

Milestone Watch

- Cayla Nielsen is one run shy of tying Heidi Geier and Ashley Cantu (129) for fifth on Creighton's all-time runs scored list.

- Cayla Nielsen is also just five runs shy of becoming Creighton's all-time runs scored leader in program history.

- Cayla Nielsen owns 186 career hits and is 12 base hits shy of moving into a tie with Melanie Dorsey for 10th on Creighton's all-time career hits list.

- Nielsen owns 34 career doubles and is two doubles shy of tying Abby Johnson and Jody Schwartz (36) for fifth on Creighton's all-time career doubles list.

- Nielsen needs just seven walks to tie Karla Hughes (69) for 10th on Creighton's all-time career walks list.

- Alyssa Gappa owns 20 career hit-by-pitches, one shy of moving into a tie with Sami Herbster for sixth all-time for hit-by-pitches in a career.

- Emma Rosonke has driving in 101 runs over the course of her Bluejays career. She is just six RBI shy of tying Lauren Cisneros (107) for 10th on Creighton's all-time career Runs Batted In list.

- Emma Rosonke owns 96 career hits and is four hits shy of recording her 100th career hit.

- Sophomore Lily West is three hits shy of 100 hits for her Bluejay career.

Madeline Vejvoda Named BE Player of the Week

Fifth-year senior Madeline Vejvoda was named BIG EAST Player of the Week after guiding the Bluejays to a series win over BIG EAST front runner Villanova last weekend in Omaha.

This marked the first BIG EAST weekly honor of Vejvoda's career as she becomes the first Bluejays to earn BIG EAST Player of the Week honors since Kailey Wilson nabbed the final weekly honor of the 2022 season.

Vejvoda, a Papillion, Neb. native, started all four games for Creighton at second base, pacing the Bluejays with a .500 (7-of-14) batting average with three doubles, three RBI, two hit-by-pitches and two runs scored.

After opening the week with a 1-for-3 showing in a midweek contest against Omaha, Vejvoda started the Bluejays weekend series against BIG EAST front-runner Villanova, delivered a pair of singles, including a game-tying two-run single in the bottom of the fifth inning to help the Jays to an 8-7 walk-off win over the Wildcats.

Vejvoda followed with a 2-for-3 performance in game two of Friday's doubleheader, lining a pair of doubles and scoring a run as the Bluejays came up just short of another walk-off victory. She then closed out the series with another multi-hit game, delivering an RBI double and scoring a run of her own in a 12-4 run-rule victory on Saturday afternoon.

This season Vejvoda has started all 39 games for the Bluejays and currently leads the team with a .348 batting average and 10 doubles. Dating back to 2021, Vejvoda has started in 154 consecutive contests, which is the longest streak since Kelsey Allender started 185 consecutive games from 2013-16.

Nielsen Chasing Runs Scored Record

Senior Cayla Nielsen is not only etching her name in etching her name as one of the greatest Bluejays to wear a Creighton uniform, but she is also chasing Creighton history.

Nielsen, a Blair, Neb. native, is just five runs shy of becoming the all-time runs scored record holder in Creighton softball history. The fifth-year senior has currently scored 128 career runs, sitting in a tie for fifth with Sue Frederick on the Bluejays career runs scored record list.

Throughout the season, Nielsen has surpassed the greats of Liz Dike, Bailey Dawson, Renae Sinkler-O'Gorman and Christy Lunceford.

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. Cayla Nielsen 128 2020-pr.

Sue Frederick 128 1986-89

7. Christy Lunceford 122 1994-97

8. Renae Sinkler 120 2007-10

9. Bailey Dawson 119 2006-09

10. Liz Dike 118 2012-15

Nielsen Etches Name In CU Record Book

A staple in the Bluejays starting lineup since arriving on campus in 2020, senior Cayla Nielsen continues to etch her name in the Creighton record books.

Nielsen currently ranks seventh on Creighton's all-time career batting average list with a .333 average.

She also moved into a tie for ninth on Creighton's all-time career doubles list with Erin Fraser and Dede Pendleton lining her 34th double of her career in the setback to Villanova last weekend. With just two more doubles, Nielsen will move into the top five in Creighton history for 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. .333 Cayla Nielsen 186-559 2020-Pr.

8. .331 Kiara Mills 123-372 2019-22

9. .328 Melanie Dorsey 198-604 2002-05

10. .326 Christine Fukumoto 110-337 2004-05

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

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. Cayla Nielsen 34 2020-pr.

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

Don't Call it A Comeback

Creighton trailed 7-2 entering the bottom of the fifth innings in the series opener against Villanova on April 6, before scoring six unanswered runs to claim an 8-7 walk-off win over the Wildcats.

The come-from-behind win was the Bluejays first victory when trailing by five or more runs since overcoming a 10-5 deficit to defeat Wichita State, 12-11, on March 17, 2018.

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 spring, improving to 15-0 when scoring at least five runs in a game. In those 15 games, Creighton has outscored their opponents, 131-38.

Over the last 24 seasons, Creighton is 367-54 when scoring five or more runs. In the same time span Creighton is 237-404-3 when scoring four runs or fever.

Creighton is also 152-36 when scoring five or more runs in a game since joining the BIG EAST in 2014.

During that same time frame the Bluejays are 89-4 when scoring eight or more runs, which included a perfect 11-0 record this season.

Free Softball

Creighton has played three extra-inning games this season, recording a 5-4 10-inning win over Pacific on Feb. 23 in the Libby Matson Tournament and a 8-7 come-from-behind win over Villanova on April 5. The Bluejays did suffer a 4-3 loss in 8-innings at Seton Hall on March 22.

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.

Fellow senior Emma Rosonke delivered the game-winning walk-off RBI double in the bottom of the eighth of last weekend's win over Villanova.

Overall, Creighton is 91-96-2 all-time in extra innings games, including a 15-14 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.

Puchino Surpasses 200 Career Strikeouts

With a strikeout in the first inning against Georgetown on Thursday, sophomore Natalia Puchino become just the 12th Bluejays in the last 25 years to record at least 200 career strikeouts.

Puchino is also the first Bluejay pitcher to record back-to-back 100 strikeout season's since Sydnee Eck do so in the 2015-16 seasons.

Puchino's 218 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

218 Natalia Puchino 2023-Pr.

211 Amanda Hess 2007-08

Scoring BIG

Creighton has manufactured some big scoring innings to help secure victories this season and it once again provided to be the difference maker that past weekend against Villanova.

The Bluejays have scored five or more runs in a single inning seven times this year, including five runs in the fifth inning of the Bluejays 8-7 come-from-behind victory over the Wildcats in the series opener on Friday. The Jays then closed out the series by scoring five runs in the third frame in route to a 12-4 run-rule win on Saturday.

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

4/5 vs. Villanova 5 5th

4/6 vs. VIllanova 5 3rd

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 Circle Dominance

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 16-4 with three saves in the circle for the Bluejays this season. She currently ranks second in the BIG EAST with a 1.99 ERA and 105 total strikeouts in 112.2 innings of work this season.

Puchino's 16 victories in the circle this season are the second most by a Bluejays pitcher in a single season since joining the BIG EAST in 2014 and is one shy of tying Becca Changstrom for the most (17).

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 154 consecutive games dating back to March 7, 2021.

Her 154 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 165 of the 178 games she has played in.

Lead Generally Safe

Creighton has done an excellent job protecting leads this season, recording a 19-4 record when scoring first. The Bluejays had won 13 straight games when scoring first before suffering a 9-3 loss at Seton Hall on March 24 in South Orange, N.J.

Creighton is 15-1 when leading after four innings, 14-1 when leading after five innings and 14-1 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 in the Bluejays' 12-4 victory over Villanova on April 6.

With her 20 career hit-by-pitched, Gappa moved pass Mileah McKelvy for seventh on Creighton's all-time career hit-by-pitch record list. She is now just one HBP shy of tying Sami Herbster for sixth on the leader board.

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 20 2021-pr.

8. Mileah McKelvy 19 2016-20

9. Liz McKewon 18 2008-11

10 Renae Sinkler 16 2007-10

Bluejays Keeping it Close

In 39 games this season Creighton has played 15 games decided by two or less runs, including 11 one-run contests.

The Bluejays are 10-5 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), Seton Hall (3-2) and Villanova (8-7).

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

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 21 home runs this season, with 14 of those coming from within the confines of the CU Sports Complex.

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

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

21 (14) 11 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 67-66 record at home.

The Bluejays are 9-2 this season at the CU Sports Complex, which includes victories over Rider, Northern Colorado, North Dakota, and Villanova, as well as a BIG EAST series sweep over Georgetown.

Through 11 home games this season, Creighton is hitting .359 with 27 doubles, two triples, 14 home runs and 68 RBI, while the Bluejay pitching staff owns a 2.09 ERA with 61 strikeouts and is hold opponents to a .167 batting average.

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

The Bluejays 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: 9-2

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

Leadoff Power

Senior Cayla Nielsen has batted leadoff for the Bluejays in 33-of-the-39 game this season, providing a big bat for the Bluejays at the top of the order.

The Blair, Neb. native leads the Bluejays with 44 hits this season, which includes a team-high tying 10 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.

Sophomore Lily West took over the leadoff spot in the series against Georgetown. In her first plate appearance against the Hoyas, West blasted a leadoff home run to left center to put the Jays out in front 1-0.

It was the third time this season Creighton has led off a game with a home run.

Softball Hosts South Dakota For Midweek Clash on Tuesday Night

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

Softball Hosts South Dakota For Midweek Clash on Tuesday Night

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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