Creighton University
Central Arkansas
Softball Opens 2026 Regular Season at Bearkat Classic
2/4/2026 3:19:00 PM | Softball
Bluejays take on Central Arkansas, Sam Houston and South Dakota in Huntsville, Texas.
Bearkat Classic • Huntsville, Texas. • Bearkat Softball Complex
Game #1: Creighton Bluejays vs. Central Arkansas Bears
Friday, Feb. 6, 2025 • 1:30 p.m. || LIVE STATS | CU NOTES
Game #2: Creighton Bluejays at Sam Houston Bearkats
Friday, Feb. 6, 2025 • 6:30 p.m. || LIVE STATS | WATCH | CU NOTES
Game #3: Creighton Bluejays vs. Central Arkansas Bears
Saturday, Feb. 7, 2025 • 11 a.m. || LIVE STATS | CU NOTES
Game #4: Creighton Bluejays at Sam Houston Bearkats
Saturday, Feb. 7, 2025 • 1:30 p.m. || LIVE STATS | CU NOTES
Game #5: Creighton Bluejays vs. South Dakota Coyotes
Sunday, Feb. 8, 2024 • 10 a.m. || LIVE STATS | CU NOTES
This Weekend
Creighton softball opens the 2026 season this weekend with five games at the Bearkat Classic.
The season starts on Friday, Feb. 6 at 1:30 p.m. Central when the Bluejays meet Central Arkansas in the season-opener. Creighton will then matchup with host Sam Houston at 6:30 p.m. on Friday night.
On Saturday, Creighton will square off once again with Central Arkansas at 11 a.m. followed by a second contest against Sam Houston at 1:30 p.m.
The Bluejays will conclude play at the Bearkat Classic with a 10 a.m. contest vs. South Dakota on Sunday. All five contest will be played at the Bearkat Softball Complex in Huntsville, Texas.
Broadcast Information
Creighton's Friday night matchup with Sam Houston will be the only game aired on ESPN+ this weekend. A subscription is required to view the matches on http://watchESPN.com.
Live Stats Information
All five contests this weekend will have free live stats available at http://creighton.statbroadcast.com.
Fans can also find the links on the GoCreighton.com softball schedule page.
Scoring updates and infographics will be provided on social media vs. 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
Creighton returns seven starters among 13 letterwinners from last season's 30-25 squad that posted the programs first back-to-back 30-win seasons since 2009-10 and finished runner-up in the BIG EAST tournament for a second consecutive year. With the continued success, the Bluejays were picked to finish second in the BIG EAST by the league coaches in 2026.
The Bluejays return two All-BIG EAST selections from a year ago, a group led by second team selections Kaelan Schultz and Lily West, as well as two-time defending BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year Ashten Pierson.
Fully healthy, Schultz smashed 14 home runs and collecting 39 RBI while hitting .342 in 40 games, while West owned a .339 batting average with 64 hits, including six doubles, two triples, four home runs, 44 RBI and 39 runs scored last season.
Pierson, one of four Bluejays to start all 55 games last spring, will once again anchor the Creighton defense up the middle after posting a .950 fielding percentage with 95 assists and 97 putouts a season ago.
Also back are key contributors Erika Perez (.326 BA, 44 Hits, 11 2B, 32 BB), Ella Dalton (.265 BA, 9 2B, 9 SB, 29 R), Avery Barnard (.291 BA, 23 Hits, 15 Runs), Kenzie Nakasawa (.250 BA, 12 BB, 9 RBI) and Lynn Davis (.225 BA, 18 Hits, 10 Runs) while Creighton picked up Oklahoma State transfer Tara Vandewater in addition to adding eight freshmen.
In the circle, the Bluejays return Brooklyn Patchen to anchor the rotation. Patchen looks to build upon her successful sophomore season, where posted 11 wins and recorded 96 strikeouts and a 4.18 ERA.
She headlines one of CU's deepest positions as the Bluejays will seek a boost in the circle from incoming transfers Gracie Maloney and Landrie Harris, as well as true freshmen Audrey Gilman and Ava Drehs.
Head coach Krista Wood is in her fourth season with the Bluejays and holds a 596-396 career record, including a 88-78 mark at Creighton.
Scouting Central Arkansas
Central Arkansas went 28-27 last season, finishing third in the Atlantic Sun Conference with a 16-7 record.
ASUN Preseason Player of the Year Addie Graham and Kaitlyn Graham were both named All-ASUN last year and guide a core nucleus of seven returning starters into the 2026 season.
Addie earned First Team All-ASUN honors last season after posting a .389 batting average with 68 hits, 12 doubles and three home runs, while Kaitlyn hit .308 with 48 hits, 11 doubles, 31 RBI and 26 walks to earn Third Team All-ASUN acclaim. Additionally, Lilly Hood returns to the Bears lineup after collecting 48 hits and 34 RBI while hitting .294 a season ago.
In the circle, the Bears return ace Bailie Runner for her 5th year after recording 11 wins, 81 strikeouts and a 5.19 ERA in 157.2 innings of work last spring. Central Arkansas will also look to Lucy Crowder to be a key contributor after posting a 4-2 record and a 5.61 ERA in 33.2 innings of work in 2025.
Head coach Kayla Lucas is in her second season at the helm of Central Arkansas and holds a 28-27 record as the head coach of the Bears.
Series History Against The Bears
Creighton and Central Arkansas have met three times previously with the Bluejays holding a 2-1 lead in the all-time series.
The two squads first met in 2007 at the UCA Spring Clash in Conway, Ark. with the Jays sweeping the two-game set with 8-1 and 5-0 victories.
Central Arkansas won the most recent meeting, claiming a 13-2 win over the Bluejays back on Feb. 22, 2013, in Arkansas.
Krista Wood is 2-0 against Central Arkansas as a head coach, having won both of those meetings while serving as the head coach at South Dakota State.
Scouting Sam Houston
Sam Houston returns four regular starters and nearly its entire pitching staff from a team that went 28-29 last year and finished tied for fifth in Conference USA with a 14-13 mark.
Junior Abigail Young, a Preseason All-CUSA selection, will look to anchor the Bearkat's pitching staff once again after recording a 1.90 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 110.1 innings last season. She's joined in the circle by Kendal Daniel (3.44 ERA, 49 K's, 95.2 IP) and Amy Abke (3.07 ERA, 72 K's, 68.1 IP), who look to make a bigger impact this spring.
Offensively, the Bearkats are led by Bella Perez and Morgan Holliday. Perez hit .289 with a team-high 13 home runs and 35 RBI, while Holliday recorded 28 hits, including five doubles and six home runs on .215 hitting in 2025.
In addition, Kyla Heine (.242 BA, 24 Hits, 6 SB) and Kinsey Hobbs (.200 BA, 21 Hits, 7 SB) will have a more defined role for the Bearkats this season.
Sam Houston was picked to finish fifth in the Conference USA Preseason Coaches' Poll as head coach Garrett Valis enters his eighth season with the Bearkats.
Series History Against The Bearkats
Creighton leads the all-time series with Sam Houston, 8-5, in a series that dates back to 1983.
The Bluejays and Bearkats first met in the American Legion Tournament in 1983 when Creighton claimed an 11-1 victory.
The Jays have won four of the last five meetings, but dropped the most recent contest, 7-1, at the North Texas Invitation in 2016.
Krista Wood has never faced Sam Houston as a head coach.
Scouting South Dakota
South Dakota finished the 2025 season with an 32-24 overall record and an 8-10 mark in the Summit League. The Coyotes fell one win short of an NCAA Tournament berth after dropping a 4-2 decision to Omaha in the Summit League Tournament Championship game.
USD is back at full strength with six starters and two pitchers returning to the Coyotes lineup, led by All-Summit League selections Delaney White, Ella McGee and Abi Brown.
White led the South Dakota offense in 2025 with a .383 batting average, collecting 70 hits, 22 runs and 37 RBI, while McGee hit .335 with 53 hits, five doubles, five triples and 40 runs scored. Brown, meanwhile, posted a team-best .558 slugging percentage with six home runs and 21 RBI.
In the circle, the Coyotes are forced to replace it top two pitchers, McKenna Young and Clara Edwards, but will look for Madison Edwards (3.94 ERA, 21 K's) and Campbell German (4.16 ERA, 26 K's, 33.2 IP) to take a step forward as anchors to the South Dakota pitching staff this season.
In addition, the Coyotes will seek major contribution in the circle from Kirkwood CC transfer Peyton Paulsen. Paulsen was the 2025 NJCAA Pitcher of the Year and NFCA First Team All-American after recording a 24-3 record and a 1.80 ERA with 144 strikeouts in 163.0 innings of work last season.
Head coach Robert Wagner enters his 10th season at the helm for South Dakota.
Series History Against The Coyotes
Creighton leads the all-time series against South Dakota, 20-8.
The Bluejays have won seven of the last eight meetings, which includes a 5-2 win over the Coyotes in the most recent meeting in 2024.
Creighton and South Dakota are tied 3-3 in neutral site matchups, with the Coyotes claiming wins in all three neutral site meetings in 2017.
Krista Wood owns an 21-13 record as a head coach against South Dakota, including a perfect 3-0 mark at Creighton.
Milestone Watch
- Krista Wood owns 596 career wins and is four wins shy of becoming the 43rd active Division I head coach to record 600 career victories.
- Lily West enters her senior season with 97 career runs scored, just three shy of becoming the 20th Bluejay in program history to score 100 career runs.
- Lily West has driven in 92 runs in her career and is now only eight RBI away from becoming the 13th Bluejay ever to collect 100 career RBI.
- Lily West owns 182 career hits, a mere 18 hits shy of becoming the 11th Bluejay to collect 200 career hits.
- Lily West owns 26 career doubles and is now eight shy of cracking Creighton's career doubles top-10 list.
- Ashten Pierson has been hit by a pitch 17 times in her career and is now one hit by pitches shy of tying Liz McKewon for ninth on Creighton's career hit by pitch record list.
Season Opener History
Last season's 8-4 win over Purdue Fort Wayne improved Creighton to 23-26 (.469) all-time in season-openers. The Bluejays are now 2-1 in lid-lifters under Krista Wood, but just 4-8 in season-openers since joining the BIG EAST in 2013.
The Bluejays, however, have outscored foes by an average of 4.19 to 4.10 runs per game in the 49 season-openers.
Head coach Krista Wood is 14-5 all-time in lid-lifters, including a 7-5 mark at the Division I level. Wood also sported a 7-1 record in season-openers at Wayne State College.
Krista Wood in Season-Openers
Date School Opponent Result
3/4/07 Wayne St. Dominican College W, 6-1
3/3/08 Wayne St. St. Anselm (N.Y.) W, 2-0
2/20/09 Wayne St. Colorado Mines W, 3-2
2/26/10 Wayne St. Washburn L, 2-3 (8)
2/18/11 Wayne St. Regis W, 8-0
3/3/12 Wayne St. Gannon W, 6-4
3/3/13 Wayne St. W. Virgina Wesleyan W, 5-4
2/21/14 Wayne St. Nebraska-Kearney W, 11-2
2/7/15 SDSU Utah State W, 6-4
2/12/16 SDSU Green Bay L, 7-10
2/10/17 SDSU Montana L, 5-6
2/9/18 SDSU Kansas City W, 5-3
2/8/19 SDSU Saint Louis W, 6-0
2/7/20 SDSU DePaul W, 4-1
2/12/21 SDSU Iowa State L, 2-4
2/11/22 SDSU Northern Iowa W, 2-1 (9)
2/11/23 Creighton Detroit Mercy W, 4-3
2/9/24 Creighton Southern Illinois L, 0-3
2/7/25 Creighton Purdue Ft. Wayne W, 8-4
It Gets Earlier Every Year
Friday's Bearkat Classic opener will take place on February 6, tied for the second-earliest start date for a season-opener in Creighton softball history.
The only earlier starts in program history came in 2015 (Feb. 5) when the Jays defeated Pacific, 2-0, at the Kajikawa Classic is Tempe, Ariz.
In comparison, Creighton's season-opener in 1977, its first season as a program, didn't take place until March 28.
Making Opening Statements
Despite holding a 23-26 record in season-openers, Creighton has outscored its opponents 209-201 in 49 season-opening contests.
In the Bluejays' 23 victories, they have averaged an impressive 7.00 runs per game, including five or more runs on 12 different occasions. The Bluejays have also held its opponents to just 1.39 runs per contests in its 23 lid-lifting victories.
Creighton, however, has only averaged 1.85 runs per game and has allowed 6.04 runs per contests during its 26 season-opening losses.
CU Season-Opener Run Differential
CU Runs Scored Runs Allowed
Overall 209 (4.27) 201 (4.10)
In Wins 161 (7.00) 32 (1.39)
In Losses 48 (1.85) 169 (6.04)
Mix of Old and New
Creighton returns 13 letterwinners and seven starters from last season's squad that went 30-25 and finished as the BIG EAST Tournament runner-up for a second consecutive season. The Bluejays also reloaded, bringing in 11 newcomers to the softball program.
Of this season's 11 new faces, eight are freshmen and three are incoming transfers from, Oklahoma State, North Texas and McLennan CC.
Of note, this is the fourth straight season the Bluejays have had at least nine newcomers join the program.
Making an Entrance
Eight Bluejay freshmen (Emma Bailey, Ava Drehs, Zoey Greenwood, Gracie Maloney, Aubriella Martinez, Keegan Mayhue, Karina Trevino, and Chiqui Vazquez), as well as transfers Audrey Gilman, Landrie Harris, and Tara Vandewater and redshirt freshman Mazie Flud, could all make their Creighton debuts this weekend at the Bearkat Classic in Huntsville, Texas.
Since joining the BIG EAST in 2014, Creighton has only had 14 true freshmen start the season opener. In 2024, Ashten Pierson got the starting nod at shortstop and went on to become the first freshman in league history to earn BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year honors, while senior Lily West earned the start behind the dish in 2023.
Below is a look at how Creighton's current players have performed in their Creighton debuts, as well as a list of Bluejay freshmen to earn a season-opening start since 2013.
Name AB H R 2B HR RBI
Dalton 0 0 1 0 0 0
Perez* 3 1 0 0 0 1
West** 3 1 0 0 0 0
Pierson** 2 0 0 0 0 0
Schultz** 2 0 0 0 0 0
Davis 0 0 1 0 0 0
Patchen 0 0 0 0 0 0
Nakasawa** 3 1 0 0 0 0
Smetter** 4 2 1 0 0 1
Barnard 1 0 0 0 0 0
McCutcheon 0 0 0 0 0 0
Ramos 1 0 0 0 0 0
Name IP H R ER K BB
Patchen 1.1 5 5 5 1 2
* - Started Bluejay Debut
**-Started Bluejay Debut in Season-Opener
Bluejay Freshman to Start Season Opener Since 2013
Year Name Position
*2024 Ashten Pierson Shortstop
*2024 Sydney Potter DP
*2023 Lily West Catcher
2023 Natalia Puchino Pitcher
2023 Ensley Frame Shortstop
2019 Kailey Wilson DP
2019 Sam Alm First Base
2017 Ashley Cantu Right Field
2017 Sam Dellinger Left Field
2015 Tash Coffiel Third Base
2014 Jen Daro First Base
2014 Jessica Lewis Second Base
2013 Kelsey Allender Left Field
Current Player in Bold
Starting On The Right Foot
Since joining the BIG EAST in 2014, Creighton has finished the first weekend of the season with two of more wins eight times, including two or more wins in all three seasons under head coach Krista Wood.
The last time Creighton finished with fewer than two wins in the opening weekend of the season was in 2021 when the Bluejays were swept in a three-game series at Wichita State. On the flip side, the last time Creighton finished the opening weekend with fewer than two losses was 2012 when the Bluejays swept a four-game series against Arkansas-Pine Bluff and started the season 7-0.
Additionally, the last time Creighton opened the year with a perfect showing at a tournament was in 2007 when Creighton went 5-0 at the UCA Spring Clash in Conway, Arkansas.
2025: 3-2 in Conway, S.C.
2024: 3-2 in San Marcos, Texas
2023: 2-2 in Rosemont, Ill.
2022: 3-2 in El Paso, Texas
2021: 0-3 at Wichita State
2020: 3-2 in San Antonio, Texas
2019: 1-4 in Las Cruces, N.M.
2018: 3-2 in Las Vegas, Nev.
2017: 1-4 in Tempe, Ariz.
2016: 1-4 in Tempe, Ariz.
2015: 3-2 in Tempe, Ariz.
2014: 3-2 in Tempe, Ariz.
Production Returns
Creighton returns seven regular starters from last spring's team that finished 30-25 and capped off the year as the runner-up in the BIG EAST Tournament for a second consecutive season.
All told, CU returns 64.4 percent of its starts, 63.3 percent of its hits, 64.5 percent of its runs, 68.1 percent of its doubles, 57.4 percent of its home runs, 65.4 percent of its RBI, 61.1 percent of its stolen bases and 72.5 percent of its walks off last year's squad.
The Bluejays, however, only return 33.2 percent of its innings pitched, 37.8 percent of its strikeouts, 36.7 percent of its pitching wins and 58.9 percent of its putouts from last season's team.
Below is a breakdown of the production that is back:
Stat Returners Departures
Starts 354 (64.4%) 196 (35.6%)
Hits 300 (63.3%) 174 (36.7%)
Runs 207 (64.5%) 114 (35.5%)
Doubles 47 (68.1%) 22 (31.9%)
Home Runs 31 (57.4%) 23 (42.6%)
RBI 191 (65.4%) 101 (34.6%)
Walks 124 (72.5%) 47 (27.5%)
Stolen Bases 44 (61.1%) 28 (38.9%)
IP 124.0 (33.2%) 249.0 (66.8%)
K's 96 (37.8%) 158 (62.2%)
Wins 11 (36.7%) 19 (63.3%)
PO 659 (58.9%) 460 (41.1%)
Wood Chases 600th Win
Krista Wood owns 596 career wins as head coach entering this weekend's Bearkat Classic in Texas. She won more than 200 games at both Wayne State College and South Dakota State and owns a career .604 career winning percentage in 19 seasons and 992 games as a head coach.
Only 43 active Division I softball coaches, and only 97 active softball coaches across all levels, own 600 or more victories. She will join Villanova's Bridget Orchard (961) as the only BIG EAST coaches to record more than 600 career wins.
Krista Wood's Milestone Victories
Date W-L Opponent & Site Score
3/4/07 1-0 WSC vs Dominican (NY) 6-1
2/26/10 100-68 WSC vs Pittsburg St. 4-2
4/11/12 200-114 Upper Iowa at WSC 6-4
3/10/16 300-198 SDSU vs. Holy Cross 14-3
4/21/19 400-282 Purdue Ft. Wayne at SDSU 6-4
4/28/22 500-315 St. Thomas at SDSU 10-0
West Eyes 200 Hits
Lily West enters her senior season with 182 hits in her prolific career. The 182 hits are the most by a Bluejay in their first three seasons in program history.
The Choctaw, Okla. native stands just 18 hits shy of becoming the 11th Bluejay ever to reach the 200 hit milestone. The most recent Bluejay to surpass the 200-hit milestone was Cayla Nielsen in 2024.
West has played in 166 career games, and can become just the second Bluejay ever to record more than 50 hits in four straight seasons, joining Creighton Hall of Famer Christy Lunceford.
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 2020-24
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
- Lily West 182 2023-Pr.
Most Hits, After 3 Seasons at Creighton
Hits Yr1 Yr2 Yr3 Name Years
182 58 60 64 Lily West 2023-25
169 55 62 52 Christy Lunceford 1994-96
168 50 70 48 Heidi Geier 1996-98
162 52 67 43 Ellen Homan 2011-13
161 64 43 54 Wendy Moon 1991-93
159 42 59 58 Jean Tierney 1980-82
149 44 57 48 Ashley Cantu 2017-19
148 28 57 63 Kelly Brookhart 1988-90
142 51 41 50 Amy Baker 2010-12
140 21 69 50 Sue Frederick 1986-88
West Hitting Way Into Top-10
Entering her senior season with the Bluejays, Lily West looks to continue her climb up the Bluejay ranks in career batting average.
West currently ranks tied for seventh all-time with a .333 career batting average, while owning 182 career hits, the most by a Bluejays through three 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 Renae Sinkler 201-599 2007-10
7. .333 Lily West 182-546 2023-Pr.
.333 Sydra Seville 133-399 2022-25
.333 Cayla Nielsen 209-627 2020-24
10. .331 Kiara Mills 123-372 2019-22
West Staying Durable
Senior 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 166 games of her Bluejay career.
Her 166 consecutive starts are the longest starting streak by a Bluejay since Madeline Vejvoda started the final 174 games in her Bluejay career from 2020- 2024.
Lily's Keeping it 100
Lily West, one of the most prolific hitters in program history, is looking to rewrite the record book in 2026 as the senior slugger closes in on multiple career milestones.
The senior slugger owns 97 career runs scored and 92 career RBI. She is just three runs shy of becoming the 20th Bluejay in school history to record 100 career runs.
In addition, West is just eight RBI shy of becoming the 13th Bluejay in program history to record 100 career RBI and only 15 RBI away from tying Lauren Cisneros for 10th on Creighton's all-time career RBI list. She will also join the other 12 Bluejays as the only players to ever record 100 hits and 100 RBI in their Creighton careers.
Bluejays with 100 Career Hits & 100 Career RBI
No. Name RBI Hits Years
1. Amy Baker 167 191 2010-13
2. Renae Sinkler 146 201 2007-10
3. Abby Johnson 144 172 2002-05
4. Kailey Wilson 125 168 2019-23
5. Bailey Dawson 121 183 2006-09
Stacey Rybar 121 194 2001-04
7. Liz Dike 119 180 2012-15
8. Jody Schwartz 113 179 1985-88
9. Christy Lunceford 110 245 1994-97
10. Lauren Cisneros 107 165 2003-06
11. Emma Rosonke 106 103 2021-24
12. Dede Pendleton 103 184 1991-95
- Lily West 92 182 2023-Pr.
Bluejays with 100 Career Runs Scored
No. Name R Years
1. Cayla Nielsen 137 2020-24
2. Stacey Rybar 132 2001-04
3. Jean Tierney 130 1980-83
4. Heidi Geier 129 1996-99
Ashley Cantu 129 2017-21
6. 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
11. Lauren Cisneros 113 2003-06
12. Melanie Dorsey 112 2002-05
13. Mary Yori 108 1980-82
14. Michelle Graner 108 2007-10
15. Michelle Koch 106 2007-10
16. Shelly Esser 103 1992-95
17. Ellen Homan 102 2011-14
18. Madeline Vejvoda 100 2020-24
19. Wendy Moon 100 1991-94
- Lily West 97 2023-Pr.
Perez Opens Season on 15 Game On-Base Streak
Erika Perez enters her senior season with a lot of confidence after finishing last season with a 15-game on-base streak.
The 15-game on-base streak is tied for the 13th longest streak by a Bluejay since 2010 and longest since Sydra Seville reached base safely in 21 consecutive contests last season.
During the 15-game on-base streak, Perez has hit a team-best .429 with 15 hits, three doubles, and a team-high 13 walks.
Longest Creighton On-Base Streaks Since 2010
OB Streak Player Year
37 Amy Baker 2013
28 Alexis Cantu 2012
25 Sydra Seville 2025
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 Michelle Trulin 2016
15 Erika Perez 2025-Pr.
15 Amy Baker 2012
Put it in Neutral
Creighton is 32-19 in neutral site matches under Krista Wood, which included a 10-5 mark on neutral fields last season.
The Bluejays hit .303 with 122 hits, 9 doubles, 10 home runs, 70 RBI, 43 walks and 73 runs scored, while converting on 15 of their 19 stolen bases attempts. In the circle, the Jays posted a 3.93 ERA with 68 strikeouts in 98.0 innings of work.
Creighton will play 11 of their first 20 games at neutral sites this spring.
Catch Them If You Can
Last season Creighton stolen 72 bases, the most by a Bluejay squad since joining the BIG EAST in 2014 and the most by a Creighton team since the Jays swiped 82 bags during the 2005 season.
Look for Creighton to base around the bases once again this season as Krista Wood reloaded with a ton of speed in the 2026 freshmen class. Junior Ashten Pierson is the Jays top returner, having swiped 17 bags in 2025.
Below is a breakdown of the stolen bases totals since joining the BIG EAST in 2014 and Creighton's single season stolen base top-10 list.
Stolen Bases since Joining the BIG EAST
Year SB SB Att. SB%
2025 72 84 85.7
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
Creighton Team Stolen Bases
Stolen Bases
1. 89 1991
2. 83 1995
3. 82 2005
4. 79 1997
5. 74 1999
6. 72 2025
7. 71 1993
Magic Number 5
Since the turn of the century, Creighton has had tremendous success when scoring five or more runs and the Bluejays continued that success last spring owning an 25-4 record when scoring five or more runs.
Over the last 25 seasons, Creighton is 400-58 when scoring five or more runs. In the same time span Creighton is 246-431-3 when scoring four runs or fever.
Creighton is also 184-40 when scoring five or more runs in a game since joining the BIG EAST in 2014.
During that same time frame the Bluejays are 108-5 when scoring eight or more runs, which included a perfect 15-1 record in 2025. Prior to Creighton's 22-18 loss to Connecticut on March 28, Creighton had won 29 consecutive games when scoring eight or more runs.
Additionally, Creighton had won 35 straight games when scoring 10+ runs, before March 28th setback to the Huskies. Overall, the Bluejays have won 44 of their last 45 games when scoring more than 10 runs.
Tough Sledding
Creighton has never shied away from playing a tough schedule, and that is no different in 2026. The Bluejays will play five different teams that made the 2025 NCAA Tournament, as well as Preseason Top-25 ranked Arizona on Feb. 15 and Nebraska on March 31.
Coaching is Key
After leading the Bluejays to a 30-25 record in 2025, its first back-to-back 30-win seasons since 2009-10, and a runner-up finish in both the BIG EAST Tournament for a second consecutive season, head coach Krista Wood's expectations are higher than ever as the Creighton Softball program seeks its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2010.
In just three seasons as the Creighton head coach, Wood has engineered one of the nation's greatest turnarounds
.She has coached seven first team and four
second team All-BIG EAST picks, while also recruiting and coaching the 2024 BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year (Natalia Puchino) and the two-time BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year (Ashten Pierson). In addition, Wood has also coached five NFCA All-Great Lakes Region, 11 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District and 38 NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete members during her first three seasons.
Bluejays Tabbed Fourth In Preseason Poll
Fresh off its second consecutive BIG EAST Finals appearance and its first back-to-back 30-win seasons since 2009-10, the Creighton softball team was picked to finish second in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll, the league announced on Friday, January 16.
It's just the second time in Creighton's 13 years in the BIG EAST Conference that the Bluejays have been picked second, as the 2014 squad was also picked second in the Jays inaugural season in the league. It is the Bluejays highest preseason pool ranking since being the league favorites in 2019.
Creighton collected two first-place votes and earned 51 points in the poll, trailing only St. John's six first-place votes and 62 overall points. Defending BIG EAST Tournament champs Connecticut received the final first-place vote and tied Creighton with 51 points for second, just ahead of Villanova, who was tabbed fourth with 50 points.
Providence was picked to finish fifth with 32 points, while Butler came in right behind with 31 points. The bottom three teams in the pool are Seton Hall (24), DePaul (15) and Georgetown (8).
2025 BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. St. John's (6) - 61
T2. Creighton (2) - 51
T2. UConn (1) - 51
4. Villanova - 50
5. Providence - 32
6. Butler - 31
7. Seton Hall - 24
8. DePaul - 15
9. Georgetown - 8
Creighton's BIG EAST Preseason Poll History
Year Preseason Pick Actual Finish
2014 2nd 4th
2015 5th 7th
2016 5th T-5th
2017 5th 6th
2018 5th 2nd
2019 1st 6th
2020 4th N/A
2021 5th 4th
2022 4th 8th
2023 5th T-8th
2024 6th T-2nd
2025 4th T-3rd
2026 2nd TBD
Home Sweet Home
The Creighton Softball program enters a new era in 2026 with the opening of an state-of-the-art facility that ranks amongst the finest in all of Nebraska in the new Creighton Softball Stadium.
Built in conjunction of Creighton's $300 million Fly Together project, the Creighton Softball Stadium is the first of several key elements in the continued renovation of the athletic corridor on the east side of campus.
The 79,011-square-foot stadium features state-of-the-art Triple Threat FieldTurf across the entire playing surface, as well as a 15' 11 1/8" x 31' 6 5/16' fully electronic Daktronics DVX-2802 video/scoreboard in right-center field that will be operated from a new press box. The press box amenities include radio/TV booths, as well as separate space for the public address announcer, official scorer and local/national media. Key analytical technology, such as Trackman and an AWEAR Camera System, will provide enhanced statistical data to elevate player development.
The facility will also feature three pitching rubbers in both the home and visiting bullpen areas, just down the line from sunken dugouts that include storage space and player restrooms.
In addition, the facility has 298 fixed seats and a capacity of 600 with the potential for seating to be added in the future. Restrooms and concessions spaces will be provided at the main entrance of the stadium. Additionally, the facility is accessible to individuals with disabilities and seating inside the stadium meets ADA standards.
The field's dimensions are 200' down the left field line, 220' to straight-away center and 200' down the right field line.
