Friday, March 13
Omaha, Neb.
3:00 PM
Creighton University
12-14, 4-0
7
vs
5
Providence
6-11, 0-1
1st innning1
2nd innning2
3rd innning3
4th innning4
5th innning5
6th innning6
7th innning7
RunsR
HitsH
ErrorsE
Providence
3
0
0
0
1
0
1
5
6
1
Creighton
0
0
7
0
0
0
X
7
7
0
Photo by: Joel Deman
Seven-Run Third Powers Bluejay Softball to 7-5 Victory Over Providence in Home Opener
3/13/2026 6:39:00 PM | Softball
OMAHA, Neb. – Head softball coach Krista Wood earned her 100th victory at Creighton on Friday afternoon, as the Creighton softball team rallied from behind with a seven-run third inning to defeat Providence, 7-5, in the first game at the newly constructed Creighton Softball Stadium.
With the win, the Bluejays improved to 12-14 on the team and 4-0 in BIG EAST play, while the Friars dropped to 6-11 overall and 0-1 in league action.
Bluejay starter Ava Drehs struggled with her command early, loading the bases on a pair of walks and a hit batter. Providence took full advance of the free bases as Brianna De La Fuente lined bases clear double into the left center field gap to give the Friars a 3-0 lead.
Following a scoreless second, Creighton's offense erupted for seven runs on four hits to surge out in front 7-3. Junior Ashten Pierson opened the frame with a leadoff walk, before an RBI triple from Avery Barnard plated the Jays first run of the game. Freshman Zoey Greenwood drew a walk to put runners on first and third for Lily West, who lasered an RBI single into center to cut the deficit to 3-2.
CU would then load the bases on a walk to Kaelan Schultz, before Tara Vandewater delivered a two-run single to center to give the Jays a 4-3 lead. Keegan Mayhue followed with a sacrifice fly to make it 5-3, before Erika Perez blasted her team-leading fourth home run of the season and the first at the Creighton Softball Complex to extend the Bluejays advantage out to 7-3.
Providence would answer with a sacrifice fly in the fifth and a solo homer from Julia Renny in the seventh to cut the deficit to 7-5, before Brooklyn Patchen closed the door to preserve the Bluejays first win in the Creighton Softball Stadium.
Freshman Audrey Gilman collected her sixth win of the season, allowing one unearned run on three hits in 4.1 innings of work, while Patchen recorded her first save of the season. West, the reigning BIG EAST Player of the Week, and Barnard led the way offensively with two hits apiece, as the Jays collected seven hits in the victory.
The Bluejays and Friars will wrap up their three-game set on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. at the Creighton Softball Stadium.
With the win, the Bluejays improved to 12-14 on the team and 4-0 in BIG EAST play, while the Friars dropped to 6-11 overall and 0-1 in league action.
Bluejay starter Ava Drehs struggled with her command early, loading the bases on a pair of walks and a hit batter. Providence took full advance of the free bases as Brianna De La Fuente lined bases clear double into the left center field gap to give the Friars a 3-0 lead.
Following a scoreless second, Creighton's offense erupted for seven runs on four hits to surge out in front 7-3. Junior Ashten Pierson opened the frame with a leadoff walk, before an RBI triple from Avery Barnard plated the Jays first run of the game. Freshman Zoey Greenwood drew a walk to put runners on first and third for Lily West, who lasered an RBI single into center to cut the deficit to 3-2.
CU would then load the bases on a walk to Kaelan Schultz, before Tara Vandewater delivered a two-run single to center to give the Jays a 4-3 lead. Keegan Mayhue followed with a sacrifice fly to make it 5-3, before Erika Perez blasted her team-leading fourth home run of the season and the first at the Creighton Softball Complex to extend the Bluejays advantage out to 7-3.
Providence would answer with a sacrifice fly in the fifth and a solo homer from Julia Renny in the seventh to cut the deficit to 7-5, before Brooklyn Patchen closed the door to preserve the Bluejays first win in the Creighton Softball Stadium.
Freshman Audrey Gilman collected her sixth win of the season, allowing one unearned run on three hits in 4.1 innings of work, while Patchen recorded her first save of the season. West, the reigning BIG EAST Player of the Week, and Barnard led the way offensively with two hits apiece, as the Jays collected seven hits in the victory.
The Bluejays and Friars will wrap up their three-game set on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. at the Creighton Softball Stadium.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Gilman, Audrey (6-6)
L: Grace Brooks (1-2)
S: Patchen, Brooklyn (1)
Batting:
2B: Brianna De La Fuente 1
HR: Julia Renny 1
RBI: Julia Renny 2 ; Brianna De La Fuente 3
SH: Gabriella Lee 1
SF: Julia Renny 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Cameron Dunn 1 ; Becca Weaver 1 ; Sofia Peterson 1 ; Julia Renny 2
CS: Elisa Smith 1
HBP: Sofia Peterson 1
Batting:
3B: Barnard, Avery 1
HR: Perez, Erika 1
RBI: Barnard, Avery 1 ; West, Lily 1 ; Vandewater, Tara 2 ; Mayhue, Keegan 1 ; Perez, Erika 2
SF: Mayhue, Keegan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Barnard, Avery 1 ; Greenwood, Zoey 1 ; West, Lily 1 ; Schultz, Kaelan 1 ; Vandewater, Tara 1 ; Perez, Erika 1 ; Pierson, Ashten 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
UTL
/ SoftballC/UTL
/ Softball
Creighton Softball Postgame Interview vs. Providence, 3/13/26
Friday, March 13
Creighton Softball Highlights vs. Providence, 3/13/26
Friday, March 13
Creighton Softball Highlights vs. Seton Hall, 3/8/26
Sunday, March 08
Creighton Softball Highlights vs. Seton Hall, 3/7/26
Saturday, March 07
