Softball Seeks First BIG EAST Tournament Title Against Villanova on Saturday
5/11/2024 2:29:00 AM | Softball
Saturday, May 11 • 3 p.m. CT • Providence, R.I. • Glay Field
LIVE VIDEO | LIVE STATS | CU NOTES
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No. 3 seed Creighton (36-21, 16-8 BE) seeks its first BIG EAST Tournament title in program history on Saturday, May 11 when it faces top-seeded Villanova (30-22, 19-5 BE) for the league title.
First pitch in Providence, R.I. at Glay Field is scheduled for 3 p.m. Central and will be televised on FS2, while live stats will be available via SidearmStats.
Live stats and live video links for this week's BIG EAST Tournament can be found on the Creighton Softball schedule page on GoCreighton.com. Scoring updates and infographics will be provided via Twitter at @BluejaySoftball.
Series History Against the Villanova
Creighton and Villanova have met 28 times in program history with the Wildcats holding a slim 16-12 edge in the all-time series.
Earlier this season, Creighton took two-of-three from the Wildcats and are in fact one of only two BIG EAST teams (Butler) to win a series vs. Villanova this season. No one has beaten the Wildcats three times or more this year.
Head coach Krista Wood is 4-4 all-time against Villanova, which includes a 5-4 extra-inning win over the Wildcats in Wood's final win with South Dakota State in the 2022 NCAA Tournament.
Milestone Watch
- Cayla Nielsen is two doubles shy of tying Syacey Rybar (43) for third on Creighton's all-time career doubles list.
- Cayla Nielsen has recorded a BIG EAST-leading 17 doubles this season and is now two shy of moving moving into a tie for second on Creighton's single season doubles list.
- Cayla Nielsen needs just threewalks to tie Karla Hughes (69) for 10th on Creighton's all-time career walks list.
- Alyssa Gappa owns 23 career hit-by-pitches, two shy of moving into a tie with Michelle Koch and Lauren Cisneros (25) for fifth all-time for hit-by-pitches in a career.
- Emma Rosonke has driven in 106 runs over the course of her Bluejays career. She is just one RBI shy of tying Lauren Cisneros (107) for 10th on Creighton's all-time career Runs Batted In list.
- Natalia Puchino owns 280 career strikeouts as a sophomore. She is just two strikeouts away from moving into a tie with Sydnee Eck for tenth on Creighton's career strikeout record board.
- Natalia Puchino's currently ranks tied for third in the NCAA this season with 26 wins. With two wins on Saturday, Puchino will move into a tie with Bluejay Hall of Famer Tammy Nielsen (28) for fourth on Creighton's single season wins list.
CU in the BIG EAST Tourney
Creighton is making its second BIG EAST Tournament title game appearance, having lost in 2018 to DePaul (6-2).
The Bluejays are 4-3 all-time in the BIG EAST Tournament, after earning a pair of win over St. John's (2-1) and UConn (10-6) on elimination Friday.
Complete results and Creighton BIG EAST Tournament records can be found later in the notes packet.
Got to Win Two
Creighton is looking to become the first team to win the BIG EAST Tournament through the loser's bracket since Villanova did so in 2021. The Wildcats lost their 2021 opener to UConn, then bounced back to beat DePaul, Butler and UConn (twice) to win the title. Back then, the tournament was just four teams.
The last time a team beat the eventual runner-up twice on the final day to win a BIG EAST Tournament with more than four teams was on May 1, 1994, when Providence beat UConn twice.
Conference Tournament History
Creighton made their 30th postseason conference tournament appearance on Wednesday afternoon earning a 4-2 victory over Butler.
Friday's game vs. UConn was its 100th league tournament game in program history as CU improved to 64-36.
In the 30 conference tournament appearances the Bluejays have claimed nine league tournament titles.
Seeking the first BIG EAST Tournament Title in program history, the last time the Bluejays punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament was in 2010 when the Jays claimed their sixth Missouri Valley Conference Championship.
Each of the last two times (2005 and 2010) Creighton has been a No. 3 seed, it went on to win the league tournament.
Below is a breakdown of Creighton's postseason appearances and record by conference.
Conf. App. Record Titles
HCAC 5 16-6 3
WAC 2 6-4 -
MVC 20 38-23 6
BE 3 4-3 -
Creighton Athletics in the BIG EAST Tournament
Creighton owns 11 BIG EAST Tournament titles in 11 years as a league member. Baseball (2019) and Men's Soccer (2022) both have won one, while Volleyball (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023) has nine titles and is Creighton's only women's program to win a BIG EAST Tournament.
The Big Dance
A storied program, Creighton is looking to qualify for its 13th NCAA Tournament in program history, but its first automatic bid into the postseason tournament since 2010.
The Bluejays appeared in the 1982, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2010 NCAA Tournament. CU played in the Women's College World Series twice (1982 and 1986) and the AIAW World Series twice (1980 and 1981). The Bluejays are 12-24 all-time in the NCAA postseason.
Happy Anniversary
Saturday marks the 21st anniversary of two of the three longest games in NCAA history, both of which involved Creighton. On May 11, 1991, Creighton faced Utah in the Western Athletic Conference Tournament in Omaha.
In an era when pitching dominated, it's not surprising that Creighton won a 1-0 pitcher's duel. What makes that night so special is that it took 31 innings!
Star Creighton pitcher Kelly Brookhart, who had thrown a complete-game shutout earlier in the day, threw all 31 innings in the longest game in NCAA history. She threw the shutout despite allowing 25 hits and walking eight Utes (all intentional) while stranding an NCAA record 31. Brookhart was no slouch at the plate in that game either, going 6-for-11.
The 31 inning game took 6:24 to complete, and finished at 12:24 a.m. on May 12th.
Making the day even crazier was that the Bluejay win forced the "if necessary" game to be played, and that started just 21 minutes later at 12:45 a.m.
Game two turned out to be the third-longest game in NCAA history, as Utah won a 4-3 game in 25 innings after the teams agreed to go to the international tiebreaker rule and place a runner on second base to start the 25th inning.
Brookhart came on in relief in the nightcap and finished off the final 20.1 innings, part of her 58.1 innings of work in an 18-hour span.
Don't Call it a Comeback
Creighton trailed 4-0 in yesterday's eventual 10-6 win vs. UConn. CU's only other win this year after trailing by four runs or more came on April 5 vs. Villanova. The Jays trailed 7-2 after the top of the fifth inning, only to rally for an 8-7 win in eight innings.
In fact, Creighton has overcome deficits in all three of its victories at this week's BIG EAST Tournament. CU trailed 2-0 in the fourth inning vs. Butler, 1-0 in the fifth inning against St. John's and 4-0 in the third inning vs. UConn.
Puchino vs. Villanova
Natalia Puchino only started one of Creighton's three regular-season meetings vs. Villanova this year, but factored into all three decisions while throwing 11 combined innings. The Wildcat offense hit just 3-for-35 (.086) but did walk eight times and score three runs.
Creighton vs. Villanova Series Review
Earlier this season Creighton won the series over the Wildcats, claiming two-of-three in Omaha. Creighton outscored Villanova 22-14 in the three meetings this season. Ten of Creighton's 22 runs were unearned, as Villanova committed nine errors in 84 fielding chances (.893).
Gappa's Grand Day
Senior Alyssa Gappa carried the Bluejays to a 10-6 victory over UConn last night in the BIG EAST Tournament Semifinals, finishing the night a perfect 3-for-3 with a double, grand slam and six RBI.
Gappa's grand slam last night was CU's first of the year, and Gappa's first home run since April 5th vs. Villanova.
Last night's grand slam was Gappa's second of her career as she also blast a grand slam in the Bluejays' 7-4 win over Georgetown on April 16, 2023.
In addition to Gappa recording her second career grand slam against UConn, she also reached 100 career hits in Friday's win with her fifth inning RBI single that tied the game at 6-all.
Gappa's Driving in All the Runs
Alyssa Gappa's six RBI against UConn on Friday night set Creighton's single game BIG EAST Tournament record and were the second most RBI in a single game in BIG EAST Tournament History.
Gappa was one RBI shy of tying Shelby Smith's (Seton Hall) record of seven RBI set last year against Villanova.
Her six RBI vs. UConn were the most by a Bluejay since Cayla Nielsen had six vs. UConn on April 23, 2023.
Miscellaneous Stats
The team to score first is 36-21 in Creighton's games this season, but 0-4 at the BIG EAST Tournament. CU is 24-5 when scoring first (0-1 this weekend) but 12-16 when its opponent scores first (3-0 this weekend).
Creighton is 30-2 this season when leading (22-1) or tied (8-1) after exactly five innings this season.
Creighton is 6-1 in extra innings this season, including an 8-7 win in eight innings over Villanova on April 5th.
Creighton is 18-1 this season when it homers, and 23-0 when scoring five or more runs this season.
Seville Extends Hitting Streak to 14
Junior Sydra Seville, one of the hottest hitters in the BIG EAST, extended her hit streak to a team-leading 14 consecutive games, after collecting a pair of hits during the Bluejays elimination wins over St. John's and UConn on Friday.
During her 14-game hitting streak, the New Lenox, Ill. native is hitting a team-best .512 with 22 hits, six RBI, nine runs scored and three stolen bases. She has since risen her batting average to .369, which is the best mark on the team.
Seville's 14-game hitting streak is the teams longest hitting streak since Renae Sinkler-O'Gorman recorded a hit in 17 straight game during the 2008 season.
Below is a list of Creighton's top hitting streaks since 1999.
Hit Streak Player Year
17 Renae Sinkler-O'Gorman 2008
17 Jamie Reiss 2007
14 Sydra Seville 2024
14 Liz Dike 2015
14 Marie Gieron 2001
13 Ashley Cantu 2019
13 Jayci Foster 2018
13 Ellen Homan 2012
Changing it Up
Last night vs. UConn was the first time all year that Sydra Seville batted second. Previously she'd never hit higher than sixth in the order this year.
Well Earned Rest
After tossing three complete games to open the BIG EAST Tournament, sophomore Natalia Puchino got some much needed rest on Friday night against UConn.
Last night vs. UConn was Creighton's first game against a league opponent that Natalia Puchino did not pitch in since April 12th, also vs. UConn. Creighton's last win against a BIG EAST team that Puchino didn't pitch in was Kenzie Schopfer's perfect game to beat Georgetown on March 29th.
Brooke Shifflett Dealings
Before throwing three innings vs. UConn last night, Brooke Shifflett had thrown just 4.2 innings all year and hadn't pitched since April 13th (also vs. UConn). Her three strikeouts eclipsed her total for the year entering the day (2).
Sydney Clutch Potter
Freshman Sydney Potter has come up clutch for the Bluejays driving in a total of four runs on three hits during Creighton's two BIG EAST Tournament games this year.
On Wednesday, Potter went 2-for-2 with a Creighton Single Game BIG EAST Tournament Record three RBI in the Bluejays' 4-2 win over Butler. She then delivered an RBI single to left to score the Bluejays lone run in the Jay's 3-1 setback to UConn on Thursday.
Potter's four RBI in this week's BIG EAST Softball Championships are the most by a Bluejay in a single BIG EAST Tournament in program history.
Seville's Historic and Heroic Inside the Park Home Run
Junior Sydra Seville heroically created history on Wednesday night hitting an inside the park home run in the Bluejays' 4-2 win over Butler in the opening round of the 2024 BIG EAST Softball Championships.
Racing around the bases, the New Lenox, Ill. native not only recorded the first home run of the collegiate career, but she also became the first Bluejay to hit a home run in a BIG EAST Tournament game.
In fact, Seville's inside the parker was the Bluejays first postseason home run since Alexis Cantu blasted a two-run homer in the sixth innings of a 3-2 loss to Southern Illinois during the 2012 MVC Tournament.
Seville's inside the park home run was also the Bluejays inside the parker since Kiara Mills' hit a home run the non-traditional way in the series opener against Villanova on April 15, 2022.
Although unconfirmed, Seville's home run seems to be the first inside the park home run in the BIG EAST Tournament since at least 2005.
BIG EAST Tournament Milestones
The following Creighton Single BIG EAST Tournament Record have been or are in reach of being broken on Saturday.
- Games Played in a single BIG EAST Tournament (Multiple Bluejays)
- Games Started in a single BIG EAST Tournament (Multiple Bluejays)
- Sydra Seville and Madeline Vejvoda's six hits this postseason are tied with Ashley Cantu (6 in 2018) for the most in a single BIG EAST Tournament in program history.
- Sydra Seville owns 10 total bases in the 2024 BIG EAST Tournament, setting a new Creighton single BIG EAST Tournament record
- Alyssa Gappa established a new Creighton single BIG EAST Tournament record with six RBI.
- Sydra Seville beat out an inside the park home run for the Bluejays first home run in their three BIG EAST Tournament appearances.
- Ashten Pierson has set Creighton's Single BIG EAST Tournament record with 14 assists and can add to the program record on Saturday.
- Natalia Puchino's 2.10 ERA is the lowest by a Bluejay pitcher in a single BIG EAST Tournament in program history. Her 20.0 innings pitched this week surpassed Kiele Miller (12.0 IP) for the most innings pitched in a single BIG EAST Tournament in school history.
A full list of all the BIG EAST Tournament records that have been broken this year can be found on pages 9 through 11 of the notes packet.
On The Double
With two doubles on Friday night against UConn, Creighton has now hit 75 total doubles this season. That figure currently ranks second in the BIG EAST and third all-time on Creighton's single-season doubles list.
In head coach Krista Wood's first two seasons with Creighton, the Bluejays have recorded 152 doubles, including 77, the second most in a single season in program history, last season.
Doubles
1. 79 1993
2. 77 2023
3. 75 2024
4. 74 2001
5. 73 1999
6. 71 2004
7. 65 1997
65 1989
9. 64 2005
10. 63 1994
Puchino Eyes Spot in Career Strikeout Top-10
Sophomore pitcher Natalia Puchino enters Saturday's BIG EAST Tournament Championship game with 280 career strikeouts, sitting two shy of tying Sydnee Eck for tenth on Creighton's career strikeout record board.
Earlier this season, Puchino became just the eighth Bluejay in the last 25 years to record at least 250 career strikeouts. She is also the first Bluejay pitcher to record back-to-back 100 strikeout seasons since Sydnee Eck did so in the 2015-16 seasons.
Puchino's 280 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
No. Name Ks Years
1. Tara Oltman 1,086 2007-10
2. Tammy Nielsen 914 2003-05
3. Becca Changstrom 860 2011-14
4. Shelli Mellegaard 495 1999-02
5. Kandy Foust 458 1983-86
6. Kiele Miller 334 2018-20
7. Holly Hesse 308 1979-82
8. Marcia Jacobsen 294 1981-84
9. Kelly Brookhart 289 1988-91
10. Sydnee Eck 282 2015-16
- Natalia Puchino 280 2023-pr.
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 23-0 when scoring at least five runs in a game. In those 23 games, Creighton has outscored their opponents, 192-66.
Over the last 24 seasons, Creighton is 375-54 when scoring five or more runs. In the same time span Creighton is 241-409-3 when scoring four runs or fever.
Creighton is also 159-36 when scoring five or more runs in a game since joining the BIG EAST in 2014.
During that same time frame the Bluejays are 93-4 when scoring eight or more runs, which included a perfect 15-0 record this season. Including the Jays 15 wins this season, Creighton has now won 24 consecutive games when scoring eight or more runs dating back to a 9-8 loss at St. John's on April 2, 2022.
Additionally, Yesterday was Creighton's 33rd straight win when scoring 10+ runs. The last such loss was a 13-10 setback to South Dakota on April 27, 2017.
All Puchino Does is Win, Win, Win
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 26-7 with four saves in the circle for the Bluejays this season. She currently leads the BIG EAST with a 1.79 ERA and 167 strikeouts in a league-leading 199.2 innings of work this season.
Puchino's 26 victories in the circle this year are tied for the third most in the NCAA this season and are tied for the sixth most by a Bluejay pitcher in a single season in program history.
Puchino sits just two win shy of tying Tammy Nielsen for fourth on the all-time single-season wins list.
WINS
No. Name W Year
1. Tara Oltman 32 2010
2. Tara Oltman 31 2008
3. Tara Oltman 29 2009
4. Tammy Nielsen 28 2005
Tammy Nielsen 28 2004
6. Natalia Puchino 26 2024
Tara Oltman 26 2007
8. Kelly Brookhart 23 1990
9. Becca Changstrom 22 2013
10. Marcia Jacobsen 21 1981
Nielsen Cracks Career Hits Top-10
In her fifth year with the Bluejay softball program, outfielder Cayla Nielsen has turned into one of the most prolific hitters to ever wear a Bluejay uniform.
Owning 209 career hits, the Blair, Neb. native ranks tied for fifth all-time in career hits with Sue Frederick after collecting a trio of hits in Friday's two wins over St. John's and UConn.
Collecting her 200th career hit in the series opener against Providence on Friday, May 3rd, Nielsen became just the 10th Bluejay in program history to collect 200 career hits.
CAREER HITS
No. Name H Years
1. Christy Lunceford 245 1994-97
2. Heidi Geier 243 1996-99
3. Kelly Brookhart 218 1988-91
Ashley Cantu 218 2017-21
5. Cayla Nielsen 209 2020-Pr.
Sue Frederick 209 1986-89
7. Ellen Homan 203 2011-14
Wendy Moon 203 1991-94
9. Renae Sinkler 201 2007-10
Jean Tierney 201 1980-83
Nielsen Recorded Most Doubles in a Season since 1999
Recording her 17th double of the season in the Bluejays' 10-6 win over UConn on Friday night in the BIG EAST Tournament Semifinals, senior Cayla Nielsen moved into a tie for third on Creighton single season doubles list.
Her 17 doubles this season are the most by a Bluejay since 1999 and she is now just two double shy of moving into a tie for second in single season doubles, while her 41 career doubles currently ranks fourth all-time in school history.
DOUBLES
No. Name 2B Year
1. Frenchy Nix 23 1999
2. Christy Lunceford 19 1997
3. Cayla Nielsen 17 2024
Temple Windhorst 17 1999
5. Renae Sinkler 15 2008
Julie Woodley 15 1993
Kelly Brookhart 15 1991
8. Stacey Rybar 14 2004
DeAnn Kaster 14 2002
Jody Ream 14 1989
11. Sam Dellinger 13 2017
Amy Baker 13 2010
Abby Johnson 13 2005
Sami Herbster 13 2001
Christy Lunceford 13 1996
Erin Fraser 13 1995
Karyn Rice 13 1990
-- Madeline Vejvoda 12 2024
Emma's Keeping it 100
Senior Emma Rosonke recorded the 100th RBI of her Bluejay career delivering a walk-off RBI doubles in the Bluejays' 8-7 series opening win over Villanova on April 5 and collected her 100th career hit with a single to center in the Bluejays' 7-3 win over Omaha on April 23.
The Omaha native is just the 12th Bluejay in program history to ever record 100 hits and 100 RBI in their Creighton careers.
Rosonke is now just one RBI away from tying Lauren Cisneros for 10th on Creighton's all-time career Runs Batted In list.
RUNS BATTED IN
No. Name H RBI Years
1. Amy Baker 191 167 2010-13
2. Renae Sinkler 201 146 2007-10
3. Abby Johnson 172 144 2002-05
4. Kailey Wilson 168 125 2019-23
5. Bailey Dawson 183 121 2006-09
Stacey Rybar 194 121 2001-04
7. Liz Dike 180 119 2012-15
8. Jody Schwartz 179 113 1985-88
9. Christy Lunceford 245 110 1994-97
10. Lauren Cisneros 165 107 2003-06
11. Emma Rosonke 103 106 2021-Pr.
12. Dede Pendleton 184 103 1991-95
Dirty Thirty
Completing a series sweep over DePaul on April 28, Creighton recorded its 30th win of the season, capturing the Bluejays 24th 30-win season in program history.
The Bluejays have continued to rack up the wins, collecting the programs 15th 35-win season with a 2-1 win over St. John's on Friday afternoon in the BIG EAST Tournament.
Prior to this season, the last time the Bluejays collected 35-wins in a season was 2010, when the Jays captured their sixth MVC Tournament title, finishing the year in the NCAA Tournament with a 37-23 record.
Creighton's 30 Win Seasons
Total Wins How Often Last Time
51 1 time 1981
49 1 time 1989
46 1 time 1980
44 2 times 2005
43 2 time 2008
40 1 time 2007
39 2 times 1990
38 2 times 1991
37 1 time 2010
36 2 times 2024
35 1 time 2009
34 2 times 2000
33 1 time 1998
32 3 times 1997
31 1 times 1999
30 1 time 2001
