Friday, May 10
Providence, R.I.
5:00 PM
Creighton University
36-21
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Connecticut
31-24
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UConn
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Creighton
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Photo by: BIG EAST Conference
Alyssa Gappa Carries Softball to Upset Win Over Second-Seeded UConn, Advances Bluejays to BIG EAST Title Game
5/10/2024 8:36:00 PM | Softball
The Bluejays will be seeking their first BIG EAST Tournament Title in Program History
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Senior Alyssa Gappa went a perfect 3-for-3 with a Creighton single-game BIG EAST Tournament record six RBI to propel the third-seeded Creighton Softball team to a 10-6 win over second-seeded UConn on Friday night in the semifinals of the BIG EAST Tournament presented by Jeep.
Creighton (36-21) advances to Saturday's 3:00 p.m. Central final against top-seeded Villanova in a game that will air of FS2. Creighton will need to take down the Wildcats twice to advance to the programs 13th NCAA Tournament in program history.
Trailing 4-0 after two complete innings, the Bluejays mounted a monumental comeback taking their first lead of the game on one swing of the bat from Gappa. Following a four-pitch walk by junior Sydra Seville and a wild pitch that advanced her to second, senior Madeline Vejvoda drove in the Bluejays first run of the game with an RBI single to right center. CU would then load the bases on a single to right by sophomore Lily West and a four-pitch walk to senior Emma Rosonke. Gappa then blasted the team's first grand slam of the season over the left field wall to give the Bluejays a 5-4 lead as momentum shifted into the Bluejays favor.
The Huskies, however, responded quickly regaining a 6-5 lead with two runs in the top of the fourth inning. A one-out single and a wild pitch put Grace Jenkins on second, where she would come around to score on an RBI double down the right field line by Rosie Garcia. Garcia would then score on an RBI double to right center by Jana Sanden to take a 6-5 lead.
After retiring the side in the top half of the fifth, the Bluejays got back to work, tying the contest at 6-6 on an RBI single down the left field line by Gappa.
Following another scoreless inning from junior Kenzie Schopfer in the circle, the Bluejays used five hits and a UConn error to plate four runs to open up a 10-6 lead. Senior Cayla Nielsen opened the frame with her 41stdouble of her career before Seville beat out a bunt single to extend her hitting streak to 14 straight contests. Vejvoda then delivered a go-ahead RBI single double the left field line to give Creighton a 7-6 lead. Following a sacrifice bunt from West that moved the runners to second and third, Dalton lined a two-run single to center to extend the lead to 9-6. Gappa continued to stay hot, rocketing an RBI double down the right field line to secure the Bluejays 10-6 victory.
The Bluejays finished the contest with 10 combined hits, led by Gappa with three, including the Bluejays first grand slam of the season. Gappa finished with a Creighton single -BIG EAST Tournament game record six RBI while senior Madeline Vejvoda and sophomore Lily West each closed the contest with a pair of base knocks.
Junior Kenzie Schopfer picked up the victory in the circle, improving to 6-7 on the year after firing 3.0 hitless innings with three strikeouts.
UConn finished their season with a 31-24 overall record as Payton Kinney was the hard luck loser falling to 12-5 this season. Rosie Garcia paced the Huskies with two hits, while Hope Jenkins collected a trio of RBI in the loss.
Creighton (36-21) advances to Saturday's 3:00 p.m. Central final against top-seeded Villanova in a game that will air of FS2. Creighton will need to take down the Wildcats twice to advance to the programs 13th NCAA Tournament in program history.
Trailing 4-0 after two complete innings, the Bluejays mounted a monumental comeback taking their first lead of the game on one swing of the bat from Gappa. Following a four-pitch walk by junior Sydra Seville and a wild pitch that advanced her to second, senior Madeline Vejvoda drove in the Bluejays first run of the game with an RBI single to right center. CU would then load the bases on a single to right by sophomore Lily West and a four-pitch walk to senior Emma Rosonke. Gappa then blasted the team's first grand slam of the season over the left field wall to give the Bluejays a 5-4 lead as momentum shifted into the Bluejays favor.
The Huskies, however, responded quickly regaining a 6-5 lead with two runs in the top of the fourth inning. A one-out single and a wild pitch put Grace Jenkins on second, where she would come around to score on an RBI double down the right field line by Rosie Garcia. Garcia would then score on an RBI double to right center by Jana Sanden to take a 6-5 lead.
After retiring the side in the top half of the fifth, the Bluejays got back to work, tying the contest at 6-6 on an RBI single down the left field line by Gappa.
Following another scoreless inning from junior Kenzie Schopfer in the circle, the Bluejays used five hits and a UConn error to plate four runs to open up a 10-6 lead. Senior Cayla Nielsen opened the frame with her 41stdouble of her career before Seville beat out a bunt single to extend her hitting streak to 14 straight contests. Vejvoda then delivered a go-ahead RBI single double the left field line to give Creighton a 7-6 lead. Following a sacrifice bunt from West that moved the runners to second and third, Dalton lined a two-run single to center to extend the lead to 9-6. Gappa continued to stay hot, rocketing an RBI double down the right field line to secure the Bluejays 10-6 victory.
The Bluejays finished the contest with 10 combined hits, led by Gappa with three, including the Bluejays first grand slam of the season. Gappa finished with a Creighton single -BIG EAST Tournament game record six RBI while senior Madeline Vejvoda and sophomore Lily West each closed the contest with a pair of base knocks.
Junior Kenzie Schopfer picked up the victory in the circle, improving to 6-7 on the year after firing 3.0 hitless innings with three strikeouts.
UConn finished their season with a 31-24 overall record as Payton Kinney was the hard luck loser falling to 12-5 this season. Rosie Garcia paced the Huskies with two hits, while Hope Jenkins collected a trio of RBI in the loss.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Schopfer, Kenzie (6-7)
L: Kinney P (12-5)
Batting:
2B: Garcia R 1 ; Sanden J 1
HR: Jenkins H 1
RBI: Garcia R 2 ; Sanden J 1 ; Jenkins H 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Hastings L 1 ; Jenkins G 2 ; Garcia R 2 ; Jenkins H 1
HBP: Abruscato G 1
Batting:
2B: Nielsen, Cayla 1 ; Gappa, Alyssa 1
HR: Gappa, Alyssa 1
RBI: Vejvoda, Madeline 2 ; Dalton, Ella 2 ; Gappa, Alyssa 6
SH: West, Lily 1 ; Dalton, Ella 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Nielsen, Cayla 1 ; Seville, Sydra 2 ; Vejvoda, Madeline 2 ; West, Lily 1 ; Beeson, Elly 1 ; Dalton, Ella 1 ; Rosonke, Emma 1 ; Gappa, Alyssa 1
HBP: Gappa, Alyssa 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
1
H
3
RBI
6
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
UTL
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
IF
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