Softball Continues BIG EAST Play On The Road At Villanova

Game #21-23: Creighton Bluejays (11-9, 1-2 BE) at Villanova Wildcats (9-13, 1-2 BE)
Friday, March 14, 2025 • 2 p.m. • Saturday, March 15, 2025 • 11 a.m. • Sunday, March 16, 2025 • 10 a.m. Villanova, Pa. • Villanova Softball Complex
LIVE VIDEO | LIVE STATS | CU NOTES (PDF)

This Weekend

Creighton (10-8, 1-2 BIG EAST) hits the road once again as they travel east to battle BIG EAST Preseason favorites Villanova (9-13, 1-2 BE) in a three-game series this weekend.

The series opens on Friday afternoon at 2 p.m. CT with game two scheduled for Saturday at 11 a.m. The Bluejays and Wildcats will then conclude their three-game set on Sunday at 10 a.m. at the Villanova Softball Complex in Villanova, Pa.

Live Stats Information

All of Creighton's games this season will have free live stats. Visit www.gocreighton.com and click on the small bar graph icon on the scoreboard at the top of the page for the event of your choosing. Stats to all home games can also be followed at www.gocreightonstats.com.

Scoring updates and infographics will be provided via Twitter at @BluejaySoftball.

Broadcast Information

This weekend's three-game series at Villanova will be broadcasted live on FloSports.

The Creighton Softball schedule page at gocreighton.com has direct links to each broadcast, which even more specifics provided at http://GoCreighton.com/flosports. If you sign up via a "@creighton.edu" address, it costs $6.99 per month. If you don't have one of those, click on the video webcast link on the Creighton Softball schedule page and it will cost (and automatically renew) at $14.99 per month.

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 (11-9, 1-2 BIG EAST)

Creighton is 11-9 this season after opening BIG EAST play with a 1-2 showing at Providence last weekend.

The Bluejays played their first 18 games away from home claiming victories over Purdue Fort Wayne, Northern Kentucky, Kennesaw State, Morehead State, UC Santa Barbara and Saint Mary's, before capturing the programs 500th home win with a 9-6 victory over Drake on Tuesday.

Offensively, Creighton is hitting .284 with 28 doubles, six triples, 13 home runs and 85 RBI, while scoring 93 runs on 34 stolen bases.

The Bluejays are led offensively by senior Sydra Seville who is hitting an impressive .406 on a team-high 28 hits, including three doubles, two triples and a home run, while driving in 11 RBI and scoring a team-best 14 runs of her own.

Junior Lily West is another top offensive weapon for the Jays this season. She is hitting .362 on 25 hits, including two double and one triple while scoring 10 total runs.

Senior Hannah Poole ranks third on the team with a .293 batting average, while sophomore Sydney Potter has posted a .277 batting average with a team-leading 16 RBI on five doubles and three home.

Junior Erika Perez follows closely behind with a .259 average, driving in 15 runs on a team-leading five doubles and four home runs.

Sophomore's Brooke Shifflett and Brooklyn Patchen have led the Bluejays pitching staff through the early portion of the schedule. Patchen owns a team-best 2.35 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 44.2 innings of work, while Shifflett owns a 6-2 overall record and has logged a 2.55 ERA with 37 punchout in 44.0 innings pitched this season.

Freshman Abby Rusher has also provided a spark in her relief outing this spring, collected a 2.55 ERA with 11 strikeouts during 22 innings, while Kenzie Schopfer has provided a 4.45 ERA with seven strikeouts in 22 innings of support.

As a staff, the Bluejays ranks third in the BIG EAST with a 2.80 ERA but have held its opponents to a league-low 108 hits so far this season.

Creighton returns six regular starters from last season's 36-22 squad that posted the programs first 35-win season since 2010 and finished runner-up in both the BIG EAST regular-season and tournament. The Bluejays were picked to finish fourth in the BIG EAST by the league coaches in 2025.

Head coach Krista Wood is in her third season with the Bluejays and holds a 577-380 career record, including a 69-62 mark at Creighton.

Scouting Villanova (9-13, 1-2 BE)

Villanova is 9-13 this season and 1-2 in BIG EAST play after opening league action with a series loss against UConn last weekend.

The BIG EAST Preseason favorites challenged themselves this preseason, batting four NFCA Top-25 opponents while earning victories over No. 15 Virginia Tech (7-6) and No. 25 Florida Atlantic (1-0).

Offensively, Villanova ranks eighth in the BIG EAST with a .245 batting average as five different Wildcats own a .250 batting average or better, led by sophomore Maranda Runco and All-BIG EAST infielder Ava Franz. Runco paces the Wildcats with a .385 batting average on six doubles, three home runs and a team-high 15 RBI, while Franz is hitting .303 with a team-leading 20 hits and 14 runs scored.

Senior Kelsey White follows closely behind with a .296 average on a team-best seven doubles and three home runs. Seniors Brooklyn Ostrowski (.291) and Elaina Wagner (.289) are also hitting over a .275 clip.

In the circle, Villanova holds a 5.01 ERA, the sixth-best ERA in the BIG EAST, with 85 strikeouts in 141.0 innings of work this season.

The Wildcats have mixed up the rotation over the course of the season, relying on the three-head monsters of White, Lexi Kobryn and Kat Gallant.

White paces the Wildcats with a 3.64 ERA with 16 strikeouts in 25 innings of work, while Kobryn owns a 4.67 ERA with 27 punchouts in 45 innings pitched. Gallant has also provided a team-high 35 strikeouts and a 4.83 ERA in 53.2 innings of work this season.

Villanova was picked to win the league in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll as head coach Bridget Orchard is in her seventh season with the Wildcats.

Series History Against the Wildcats

Villanova leads the all-time series against Creighton, 17-12.

Creighton won the first four meetings between the two school before dropping eight straight to the Wildcats from 2015 to 2017. The Bluejays, however, won six of the next seven meetings, before the Wildcats swept Creighton in three-game series each in both 2022 and 2023.

Last season the two teams split four-games, with Villanova claiming a 4-1 win in the BIG EAST Tournament Championship Game to advance to the NCAA Tournament.

Creighton is 3-9 all-time in games played in Villanova, with their last win at Villanova coming back on April 14, 2019.

Head coach Krista Wood is 3-5 all-time against Villanova, including an 5-4 extra-inning win over the Wildcats in the 2022 NCAA Tournament.

Milestone Watch

- Kenzie Schopfer enters this weekend with 98 career strikeouts, two shy of recording 100 in her collegiate career.

- Sydney Potter owns 49 career RBI and is one shy of driving in 50 runs for her Bluejay career.

- Sydney Potter has record 47 career hits, needing just three more hits to record 50 for her career.

- Lily West is seven hits shy of becoming the 17th Bluejays to record at least 150 career since 1999.

Keep it Consistent

Part of CU's success this season can be attributed to knowing who will be starting on a game-by-game basis.

This season, Ashten Pierson (Shortstop), Erika Perez (third base), Lily West (catcher/DP), Sydra Seville (Right Field/Center field) and Sydney Potter (First base, Catcher, DP) have started every game this season. Lynn Davis has started 19 of the 20 games out in left field this spring, while Ella Dalton has earned the start in centerfield in 18 of the 19 games she has played in this season.

Lining Up the Jays

Below are some interesting facts when breaking down the CU lineup.

• Sydra Seville is hitting .448 (13-of-29) as CU's leadoff hitter and a blistering .471 (8-of-17) with two-outs this season.

• Lily West hits .463 (19-of-41) with runners on base and .407 (11-of-27) when those runners are in scoring position.

• Additionally, Lily West hits .419 when batting third and .389 when batting second but has been held hitless in eight at-bats as CU's leadoff hitter.

• Seventeen of Sydney Potter's hits this season have come while she is either playing first base or when she is catching. She has only recorded one hit in 11 at-bats as CU's designated player.

• All 46 of Ashten Pierson's at bats this year have come from the ninth spot in the order.

Bluejays Keeping it Close

Through the first 20 games of the season, Creighton has already played nine games decided by two or less runs, including six one-run contests.

Despite keeping it close, the Bluejays are just 4-5 in games decided by two runs or less this season, which including a 2-4 record in one-run games.

Last season, Creighton played 23 games decided by two or less runs, posting a 15-8 overall record, while recording an 11-5 record in one-run contests.

Lead Generally Safe

Creighton has done an excellent job protecting leads this season. In fact, there's only been two games that Creighton has led at any point in which it hasn't won, a March 1 game against UNLV when CU couldn't hold onto a 3-2 fifth inning lead and a March 9 contest at Providence where CU lead 3-2 entering the seventh inning.

Creighton is 9-2 when leading after four innings, 9-0 when leading after five innings and 10-1 when leading after six innings this season.

Seville's On-Base Streak Reaches 16-Games AGAIN!

After having her career long 18-game on-base streak ended on Feb. 8th, senior Sydra Seville immediately got back to work and has reached base safely in 16 consecutive contests.

With a single in the Bluejays home opener against Drake, Seville became just the fourth Bluejay to post multiple 15-game on-base streaks since at least 2010.

The New Lenox, Ill. native has reached base safely in 19 of the 20 games this season and in 34 of the Bluejays last 35 games dating back to April 19, 2024.

If Seville was to reach base in each of the next four games, she will be the first Bluejay to reach base safely in 20 straight games since Ashley Cantu recorded a 21-game on-base streak in 2019.

Longest Creighton On-Base Streaks Since 2010

OB Streak Player Year

37 Amy Baker 2013

28 Alexis Cantu 2012

21 Ashley Cantu 2019

20 Anna O'Gorman 2017

20 Kelsey Allender 2015

19 Kailey Wilson 2022

18 Sydra Seville 2024-25

18 Cayla Nielsen 2024

17 Cayla Nielsen 2023

17 Alexis Cantu 2013

16 Sydra Seville 2025

16 Michelle Trulin 2016

15 Amy Baker 2012

Krista vs. The BIG EAST

Throughout her career, head coach Krista Wood's teams played some of their best softball against BIG EAST competition.

Entering her third season with the Bluejays, Wood's currently owns a 26-30 record in the BIG EAST with at least one victory over every team in the league.

In her eight seasons with South Dakota State, Wood's compiled a 21-5 overall record against the BIG EAST, including a 17-1 mark in her final six seasons that featured 11 straight victories.

In total, Wood's owns a 47-35 overall record against teams from the BIG EAST.

Below is a breakdown of Wood's record against every BIG EAST team.

Opponent SDSU CU

Butler 3-0 4-3

Creighton 10-4 0-0

DePaul 2-0 5-1

Georgetown 0-0 4-2

Providence 2-1 4-5

Seton Hall 1-0 1-5

St. John's 1-0 4-3

Connecticut 0-0 2-6

Villanova 2-0 2-5

Totals 21-5 26-30

West Nearing 150 Career Hit Milestone

Junior catcher Lily West has been consistent at the plate throughout her Bluejay career, collecting 143 career hits through her first 131 career games.

The Choctaw, Okla. native is now seven hits shy of becoming the 17th Bluejay since 1999 to record 150 career hits.

Creighton Players with 150 Career Hits Since 1999

No. Name H Years

1. Ashley Cantu 218 2017-21

2. Cayla Nielsen 209 2020-24

3. Ellen Homan 203 2011-14

4. Renae Sinkler 201 2007-10

5. Melanie Dorsey 198 2002-05

6. Stacey Rybar 194 2001-04

7. Amy Baker 191 2010-13

8. Bailey Dawson 183 2006-09

9. Liz Dike 180 2012-15

10. Abby Johnson 172 2002-05

11. Jessica Wakasugi 171 2006-09

12. Kailey Wilson 168 2019-23

13. Lauren Flores 165 2003-06

14. Jamie Reiss 164 2004-07

15. Madeline Vejvoda 162 2020-24

16. Michekke Koch 161 2007-10

- Lily West 143 2023-Pres.

West Staying Durable

Junior catcher Lily West has been a fixture in the Bluejays starting lineup since stepping foot on campus in 2023 and is reaching uncharted territory as she has started in all 131 games of her Bluejay career.

Her 131 consecutive starts are the longest starting streak since Madeline Vejvoda started 174 consecutive games from 2020- 2024.

West Hitting Way Into Top-10

Currently 20 games into her junior season, Lily West is continuing her climb up the Bluejay ranks in career batting average.

After the first four weekends of play, West currently ranks tied for sixth all-time with a .336 career batting average. The Choctaw, Okla. native ranks second on the team with a .362 batting average on 25 total hits this season.

The standout junior now owns 143 hits in her Bluejay career and is closing in on becoming just the 17th Bluejay since 1999 to record 150 career base hits.

West ended her sophomore season with 118 career hits, a total that ranked second-most for a career through two seasons in program history.

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 Lily West 143-426 2023-pr.

.336 Renae Sinkler 201-599 2007-10

8. .333 Cayla Nielsen 209-627 2020-24

9. .331 Kiara Mills 123-372 2019-22

10. .328 Melanie Dorsey 198-604 2002-05

Bluejay Thieves

Creighton has recorded 26 stolen bases in its last 10 games and currently ranks third in the BIG EAST behind only St. John's (42) and Butler (38).

After opening the season with just eight stolen bases in their first 10 contests, the Bluejays have collected 26 steals over its past two weekends at the UC Santa Barbara Tournament and at Providence, as well as their midweek doubleheader with Drake.

By comparison, the Bluejays stole a total of 24 bases in 58 total games last season. Prior to this season the Bluejays had only recorded more than 30 stolen bases in three seasons since joining the BIG EAST in 2014.

The Jays collected a season-high seven stolen bases against UC Santa Barbara on March 2. The Bluejays seven steals were two shy of the school record and were tied for the second-most in a single game in program history and the most since also collecting seven stolen bases against Bradley on March 31, 2001.

Below is a breakdown of the stolen bases totals since joining the BIG EAST in 2014.

Year SB SB Att. SB%

2025 34 37 91.9

2024 24 29 82.8

2023 20 26 75.9

2022 22 29 75.9

2021 14 18 77.8

2020 18 23 78.3

2019 29 40 72.5

2018 21 25 84.0

2017 22 34 64.7

2016 43 50 86.0

2015 30 39 76.9

2014 39 52 75.0

Fast Starts Leads to Success

Creighton has jumped out to early leads and that has paid dividends as the Bluejays are 7-3 when scoring first and 4-2 when scoring in the first inning this season.

In addition, CU has manufactured some big scoring innings to help secure those victories, outscoring its opponents 34-13 in the first and second innings this season.

The Bluejays have scored four or more runs in a single inning nine times this year, including five runs in the first inning of the Bluejays 10-0 run-rule victory over Northern Kentucky and the Jays 10-8 win over Kennesaw State on Feb. 15.

Below is a list of BIG scoring innings for the Bluejays this season.

Date Opponents Runs Inn.

2/7 Purdue Fort Wayne 4 2nd

2/7 Purdue Fort Wayne 4 4th

2/15 Northern Kentucky 5 1st

2/15 Northern Kentucky 4 2nd

2/15 Kennesaw State 5 1st

2/16 Morehead State 4 5th

3/1 Saint Mary's 4 4th

3/8 Providence 4 6th

3/11 Drake 4 4th

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, opening the season with five wins when scoring at least five runs.

Over the last 25 seasons, Creighton is 382-54 when scoring five or more runs. In the same time span Creighton is 245-419-3 when scoring four runs or fever.

Creighton is also 166-36 when scoring five or more runs in a game since joining the BIG EAST in 2014.

Last spring, the Bluejays went an impressive 23-0 record when scoring at least five runs in a game. In those 23 contests, Creighton outscored their opponents, 192-66.

During that same time frame the Bluejays are 98-4 when scoring eight or more runs, which included a perfect 15-0 record in 2024. Including the Jays five wins this season and the 15 wins they had last year, Creighton has now won 29 consecutive games when scoring eight or more runs dating back to a 9-8 loss at St. John's on April 2, 2022.

Additionally, Creighton has won 36 straight games when scoring 10+ runs. The last such loss was a 13-10 setback to South Dakota on April 27, 2017.

Bluejay Bullpen

While relief pitching in softball doesn't play a huge role in the game, Creighton's relievers are making sure it doesn't get overlooked. In 20 relief appearances this season, the Bluejay bullpen has a combined 2.56 ERA and a 5-2 record.

The CU pen has tossed 41.0 innings and struck out 26, while limiting foes to a .211 batting average. Brooklyn Patchen and Kenzie Schopfer have allowed just one earned run in five relief appearances this season.

Below is a breakdown of the Bluejays starting pitching stats vs. the Bluejays relief pitching stats.

Category Starters Relief

Record 6-7 5-2

ERA 2.90 2.56

IP 91.2 41.0

Hits 74 32

Runs 51 21

ER 38 15

SO 58 26

BB 59 22

Double Trouble

Over the last two seasons Creighton has consistently been able to snag extra-bases, and that has been the case once again this season.

Through the 20 games this year, the Bluejays have recorded 28 doubles, including five in CU's season-opening win over Purdue Fort Wayne on Feb. 7 and five more in the Jays win 10-8 win over Kennesaw State on Feb. 15.

The 28 doubles are the Bluejays most through the first 20 games of a season since the Jays set a school record with 79 doubles during the 1993 season.

CU has recorded 77 doubles each of the last two seasons, tying for the second most in a single season and falling two shy of the school record 79 hit during the 1993 season.

Overall, the 154 doubles hit over the last two years are the most doubles in a two-year span in program history.

Rank Doubles Year

1. 79 1993

2. 77 2024

77 2023

4. 74 2001

5. 73 1999

6. 71 2004

7. 65 1997

65 1989

9. 64 2005

10. 63 1994

Welcome Back Kaelan Schultz

Sophomore Kaelan Schultz returned to the diamond for the first time in 378 days, earning the start in the Bluejays BIG EAST opener at Providence on March 7.

Schultz torn her ACL sliding into home during a contest against Nevada on Feb. 23 last year, missing the rest of the 2024 season.

In her return to the field Schultz delivered in a big way at the plate, launching two home runs in the series finale against Providence on March 9.

Schultz became the first Bluejay to with two home runs in a game since Cayla Nielsen homered twice against UConn on April 23, 2023, while also becoming the first Bluejay to hit home runs in back-to-back at bats since Alyssa Gappa did so against New Mexico State on Feb. 24, 2023.

Home Opener History

Despite falling to Drake in the home opener on Tuesday, 5-3, Creighton still owns a 32-16 record (.681) in home openers, including wins in 15 of the last 19 home openers (does not include 2020 when Creighton did not play a home game).

Head coach Krista Wood now holds a 13-5 overall record in home openers as a head coach, including a 2-1 record at Creighton, a 4-3 record at South Dakota State and a 7-1 record at Wayne State College.

The Bluejays are scheduled to play 21 more home games this season, including BIG EAST series against UConn, Butler, St. John's and Seton Hall.

Home Sweet Home

With a 9-6 win over former MVC rival Drake this past Tuesday, Creighton secured it 500th all-time win at home, improving to 500-277-1 (.644) all-time in home games, which includes a 366-225-1 (.619) record at home since moving into the CU Sports Complex in 1988.

Creighton finished last season with a 16-3 record at the home. The Bluejays 16 home wins were the most wins in the CU Sports Complex since the 2008 Bluejays finished the home schedule with a 19-2 overall record.

In addition, it was just the second time this century that Creighton had recorded 16 or more home wins in a single season.

Most Home Wins at CU Sports Complex

Record Year

24-4 1989

19-7 1988

19-2 2008

16-3 2024

16-7 1991

Bluejay Milestone Home Victories

Win Opponent Date Result

1 Nebraska Wesleyan 4/10/77 W, 7-6

100 Simpson 4/19/85 W, 15-0

200 Nebraska 3/21/92 W, 7-2

300 Indiana State 4/7/02 W, 8-0

400 Bradley 4/2/11 W, 4-3

500 Drake 3/11/25 W, 9-6

Creighton At Home

Since joining the BIG EAST in 2014, the Bluejays own a 75-68 record at the Creighton Sports Complex.

The Bluejays are 1-1 this season, after splitting a doubleheader with Drake earlier this week. Through the first two home games, Creighton is hitting .357 with four doubles, one home run and 11 RBI, while the Bluejay pitching staff owns a 3.00 ERA with 10 strikeouts and is holding its opponents to a .250 batting average.

Creighton finished 16-3 at home last season, which included victories over Rider, Northern Colorado, North Dakota, Villanova, South Dakota, Omaha and Providence, as well as BIG EAST series sweeps over Georgetown and DePaul

Last season, Creighton hit a blistering .349 at home with 37 doubles, three triples, 16 home runs and 106 RBI, while the Bluejay pitching staff owned a 2.05 ERA with 102 strikeouts, holding opponents to a .178 batting average.

Junior Lily West paced the Bluejay returners with a .421 batting average with five doubles, three home runs, while driving in 16 RBI. Senior Sydra Seville followed closely behind, hitting at a .417 clip with one double, one triple and 11 runs scored.

Year-by-year home records since 2014:

2025: 1-1

2024: 16-3

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

CU Sports Complex Turns Into Launching Pad

Creighton has also produced some big hitters throughout its powerful lineup over the years and the Bluejays hope to continue that trend this season.

CU blasted only one home run in the home opening doubleheader with Drake as graduate Hannah Poole launched her first home run as a Bluejay over the centerfield wall.

Last spring CU blasted a total of 24 home runs, with 16 of those coming from within the confines of the CU Sports Complex.

Sophomore Sydney Potter led the way with six home runs last year at home, while Lily West recorded three homers and Ella Dalton added in one of her own.

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).

Below takes a look at the home run 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

2 (1) 2 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

Seville Gone Streaking, AGAIN!

Earlier this season senior Sydra Seville had her career-best hitting streak snapped at 18 straight games on Feb. 8 after recording the longest hit streak by a Bluejays since at least 1999 on her first career out of the park home run in an 10-2 victory over Purdue Fort Wayne.

The New Lenox, Ill. native hit a blistering .517 (30-of-58) with 30 hits, nine RBI, 12 runs scored and four stolen bases over her 18-games hitting streak, dating back to the end of last season, where Seville earned Second Team All-BIG EAST honors and a spot on the BIG EAST All-Tournament Team.

In addition to having her 18-game hit streak snapped, Seville also had an 18-game on-base streak broken when failing to reach base safely on Feb. 8th. Seville's 18-game on-base streak was the longest by a Bluejay since Kailey Wilson reached base safely in 19 straight games back in 2022.

The senior, however, has restarted a new on-base streak, reaching base safely in each of the last 16 contests.

Below is a list of Creighton's top hitting streaks since 1999 and the Bluejays top on-base streaks since 2010.

Longest Creighton Hitting Streaks Since 1999

Hit Streak Player Year

18 Sydra Seville 2024-25

17 Renae Sinkler 2008

17 Jamie Reiss 2007

14 Liz Dike 2015

14 Marie Gieron 2001

13 Ashley Cantu 2019

13 Jayci Foster 2018

13 Ellen Homan 2012

Longest Creighton On-Base Streaks Since 2010

OB Streak Player Year

37 Amy Baker 2013

28 Alexis Cantu 2012

21 Ashley Cantu 2019

20 Anna O'Gorman 2017

20 Kelsey Allender 2015

19 Kailey Wilson 2022

18 Sydra Seville 2024-25

18 Cayla Nielsen 2024

17 Cayla Nielsen 2023

17 Alexis Cantu 2013

16 Sydra Seville 2025

16 Michelle Trulin 2016

15 Amy Baker 2012

League Opener History

Creighton owns a 24-15 record all-time in conference openers, including a 1-2 record under Krista Wood after last Friday's setback at Providence.

Creighton is now 6-5 in BIG EAST openers but have won 13 of its last 19 conference opening-games, including wins in the final seven Missouri Valley Conference lid-lifters.

In the 24 seasons that Creighton has won its conference opener, it has finished .500 or better in league play 21 times and owns a combined .647 (299-163-1) winning percentage during league contests.

In the 14 previous years in which Creighton lost its league opener, the Bluejays have finished with a losing record on eight occasions and owns a combined .445 (114-142) during league games.

In league road openers, Creighton is 25-14 overall and 1-2 under Wood, which includes last spring's 3-0 shutout wins at St. John's.

Bluejays Tabbed Fourth In Preseason Poll

Coming off the programs most successful season in over a decade, the Creighton softball team was picked to finish fourth in the 2025 BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll, the league announced on Friday, January 17.

Creighton received one first-place vote and a total of 43 points, falling three points shy of St. John's who was picked third with 46 points. Defending BIG EAST regular-season and tournament champion Villanova was tabbed the preseason favorite by the league coaches, earning six first-place votes and 61 points overall, while UConn generated two first-place votes and 57 points to finish second.

Seton Hall checked in at fifth with 39 points, while Butler (28) edged out Providence (27) by one point for fifth. DePaul (14) and Georgetown (9) rounded out the poll in the eighth and ninth position respectfully.

The home portion of the Bluejays schedule begins on March 11 when the Jays welcome in former Missouri Valley Conference rival Drake.

BIG EAST play begins on March 7 when Creighton travels to take on Providence in Rhode Island. The top six finishers in the BIG EAST regular-season standings will qualify for the BIG EAST Championship presented by Jeep, with the winner receiving the conference's automatic bid into the NCAA Regionals.

2024 BIG EAST Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll

Villanova (6) - 61

UConn (2) - 57

St. John's - 46

Creighton (1) - 43

Seton Hall - 39

Butler - 28

Providence - 27

DePaul - 14

Georgetown – 9

Softball Continues BIG EAST Play On The Road At Villanova

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Ella Dalton

Lynn Davis

Alyssa Gappa

Cayla Nielsen

Brooklyn Patchen

Erika Perez

Ashten Pierson

Hannah Poole

Sydney Potter

Abby Rusher

Kenzie Schopfer

Kaelan Schultz

Sydra Seville

Brooke Shifflett

Madeline Vejvoda

Lily West

Softball Continues BIG EAST Play On The Road At Villanova

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Ella Dalton

Lynn Davis

Alyssa Gappa

Cayla Nielsen

Brooklyn Patchen

Erika Perez

Ashten Pierson

Hannah Poole

Sydney Potter

Abby Rusher

Kenzie Schopfer

Kaelan Schultz

Sydra Seville

Brooke Shifflett

Madeline Vejvoda

Lily West

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