Bluejay Softball Set to Battle Omaha and Seattle in Non-Conference Action

Games #33: Creighton Bluejays (15-17) at Omaha Mavericks (20-7)
Wednesday, March 25, 2026 • 6:00 p.m. • Omaha, Neb. • Connie Claussen Field
LIVE STATS | WATCH | CU NOTES

Games #34-36: Seattle Redhawks (14-15) at Creighton Bluejays (15-17)
Thursday, March 26, 2026 • 5:00 p.m. • Friday, March 27, 2026 • 2:00 p.m. • Saturday, March 28, 2026 • 9:30 a.m. • Omaha, Neb. • Creighton Softball Stadium
LIVE STATS | WATCH | CU NOTES

This Weekend

Creighton (15-17) steps away from BIG EAST play and looks to continue their winning ways with four non-conference contests this week in Omaha.

The Bluejays open the week on Wednesday when they travel across town to battle Omaha (20-7) at Connie Claussen Field at 6 p.m.

CU will then return home for a three-game series with Seattle (14-15), beginning on Thursday at 5 p.m. Game two between the Bluejays and Redhawks is set for 2 p.m. on Friday, before the series finale on Saturday at 9:30 a.m.

All three games against Seattle will be played at the Creighton Softball Stadium in Omaha, Neb.

Broadcast Information

Wednesday's contest at Omaha will be streamed live on Midco Sports Plus, while all three home games against Seattle will air on ESPN+ with Jake Ryan and Jon Schriner on the call. A subscription is required to view the games on http://watchESPN.com.

Live Stats Information

All of Creighton's home games this season will have free live stats 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 (15-17, 7-2 BE)

Surging at the right time, Creighton enters Wednesday's crosstown battle at Omaha with a 15-17 overall record and a 7-2 mark in the BIG EAST.

The Jays have won nine of their last 12 contests, claiming BIG EAST series sweeps over Seton Hall and Villanova, as well as a doubleheader sweep of Kansas City.

Six different Bluejays are hitting better than .300, led by sophomore Tara Vandewater, who paces the Bluejay squad with a .382 batting average and 30 RBI on 34 hits, including six doubles and five home runs.

Senior Lily West has continued her hot hitting, boasting a .381 batting average on 37 hits, including six doubles, three home runs, 16 walks, 23 RBI and 21 runs scored, while freshman Zoey Greenwood owns a team-best nine doubles and 15 stolen bases while hitting at a .369 clip.

Senior Erika Perez, meanwhile, has stepped into more of a leadership role this season and is showcasing her power early on, hitting .337 with three doubles, four triples, six home runs, 16 walks and 22 RBI. Perez and veteran returners, Avery Barnard (.327 BA, 9 2B, 25 R, 19 RBI), Kaelan Schultz (.300 BA, 18 BB, 6 3B, 4 HR) and Ella Dalton (.235 BA, 19 Hits, 5 2B) will be relied on to lead this talented group.

Freshman Audrey Gilman and junior Brooklyn Patchen have led the Bluejays pitching staff through the midway portion of the schedule. Patchen paces the Jays with a 4.47 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 58.0 innings of work, while Gilman owns a team-high tying 46 strikeouts and a 4.48 ERA in 86.0 innings pitched.

As a team, Creighton ranks second in the BIG EAST hitting .309 with 47 doubles, 11 triples, 27 home runs, 103 walks and 182 runs driven in, while the pitching staff owns a 5.18 ERA with 115 strikeouts in 202.2 innings of work.

Head coach Krista Wood is in her fourth season with the Bluejays and holds a 611-414 career record, including a 103-95 mark at Creighton.

Scouting Omaha (20-7)

Winners of six of their last seven, Omaha enters Wednesday's crosstown battle with a 20-7 overall record after completing a series sweep of North Dakota State this past weekend.

The Mavericks started the season hot, opening the year with a Division I best 11 straight victories. Four of Omaha's seven losses this season have been to top 10 powers Arkansas and Nebraska.

Led by junior southpaw Maddia Groff in the circle, Omaha owns a 3.22 ERA with 143 strikeouts in 161.0 innings of work this season. Groff paces the Mavericks with 80 strikeouts and a 3.45 ERA in 71.0 innings, while Creighton transfer Alexis Wiggins owns a 8-1 overall record and a 3.55 ERA with 23 punchouts in 45.1 innings of work.

Offensively, the Mavericks have seven regular starters hitting better than .300, led by junior Sammy Schmidt (.409) and senior Taylor Sedlacek (.400). Sedlacek paces the Mavs with 11 home runs, 34 runs scored and 24 walks, while Schmidt owns 27 hits, 25 RBI and 23 runs scored.

Senior Bailey Sample, meanwhile, owns a team-high 32 hits, including seven doubles on

a .381 batting average, while junior Katherine Johnson follows closely behind with a .350 average, recording four doubles, seven home runs and a team-best 33 RBI.

As a team, Omaha is hitting .324, with 36 doubles, four triples and 45 home runs while scoring 211 runs for an average of 7.81 runs per game.

Omaha was picked to win the Summit League Preseason Coaches' Poll for a second straight season as head coach Mike Heard is in his fifth season with the Mavericks.

Series History Against Mavericks

Creighton leads the all-time series against Omaha, 30-15.

The Bluejays dropped both meetings between the two schools last season, with Omaha sweeping the season series for the first time ever.

Omaha has won six of the last eight meetings in the series and four straight at Connie Clausen Field.

Creighton is 6-7 all-time in games played at Omaha and is seeking its first road win of the series since April 16, 2019.

Head coach Krista Wood has a long history of success against the Mavericks, owning a 25-14 record against Omaha as a head coach.

Scouting Seattle (14-15)

Seattle enters Tuesday's series finale against Montana with an 14-15 record, after dropping each of their last five contests on the road.

The Redhawks have played a vigorous schedule, suffering losses to the likes of Nebraska, California, UCLA and Washington in the portion of the schedule.

Taylor Fitch leads the charge, hitting .425 with five doubles, 10 home runs, 39 RBI and a team-high 28 runs scored, while Avari Morris follows closely behind with a .420 batting average on a team-best 42 hits, 10 doubles and 28 runs scored.

Ava Sin has also provided a lift offensively, hitting at a .393 clip with 10 doubles and five home runs, while Jay Ross boasts a .319 batting average with five doubles,12 RBI and 15 runs scored.

Berkley Vance has handled the majority of the innings in the circle, posting a 4.14 ERA with 39 strikeouts in 66.0 innings of work, while Morris owns a 4.91 ERA with 48 punchouts in 51.1 innings of work.

Seattle as a team is hitting .321 with 58 doubles, 28 home runs, 86 walks and 182 runs scored, while the pitching staff owns a 4.92 ERA with 140 strikeouts in 190.2 innings of work.

Series History Against the Redhawks

Creighton is 0-3 all-time against Seattle, dropping a three-set with the Redhawks in Council Bluffs, Iowa last season.

The Bluejays fell 7-5 in extra innings in the first ever meeting, before dropping the series with a one-run contest in game two. The Redhawks then run-ruled the Bluejays in game three to sweep the series.

Milestone Watch

- With a start on Wednesday and Thursday Lily West will become the fourth Bluejay since 1999 and the first since Jessica Wakasugi in 2009 to start 200 consecutive games, while becoming just the 15th Bluejay since 1999 in start at least 200 games in her career.

- Lily West has driven in 115 runs in her career and is now only four RBI away from moving into the seventh on Creighton's career RBI list.

- Lily West owns 32 career doubles and is now two shy of cracking Creighton's career doubles top 10 list.

- Lily West has scored 118 career runs and is now five runs shy of passing Bailey Dawson (119), Renae Sinkler (120) and Christy Lunceford (122) for seventh on Creighton's all-time career runs scored record board.

- Lily West's next at-bat will be the 644th of her career, moving her into a tie with Ellen Homan for 10th on Creighton's career at-bat list.

- Ashten Pierson has been hit by a pitch 19 times in her career and is now two hit by pitches shy of tying Sami Herbster for seventh on Creighton's career hit by pitch record list.

- Ashten Pierson owns 27 career stolen bases and is now five shy of tying Jamie McMurtry and Christy Lunceford for 10th on the career stolen base list.

- Erika Perez owns 67 career walks and is now two walks shy of tying Karla Hughes for 10th on Creighton's career walks top 10 list.

- Ella Dalton is eight runs shy of becoming the 21st Bluejay in program history to record 100 career runs scored.

- Zoey Greenwood is a perfect 15-for-15 on stolen base attempts this season and is now three stolen bases shy of tying Danai Martin and Jean Tierney for ninth on Creighton's single season stolen base list.

Krista Wood's Success Against The Mavericks

Head coach Krista Wood is 25-14 all-time against Omaha as a head coach.

Wood's compiled a 19-8 record against the Mavericks while at SDSU, which including wins in 13 of her last 15 meetings. She also recorded a 4-10 record against Omaha while serving as the head coach at Wayne State College. Coach Wood is 2-4 against the Mavericks as the head coach at Creighton.

Wood's Returns To Alma Mater

One of the greatest pitchers in Omaha softball history, makes her return to the field on Wednesday when head coach Krista Wood faces off against her alma mater.

Wood's, a 2003 graduate of Omaha, helped the Mavericks to the NCAA Division II national championship in 2001 as a sophomore and still holds Maverick career records in wins (106), appearances (147), games started (124), complete games (110) and innings pitched (858.1).

She also owns or shares single-season school records in win (32 in 2002), ERA (0.76 in 2001), saves (5 in 2003) and shutouts (15 in 2022) and was recently inducted into the school's athletic hall of fame in 2020.

Home-Grown Talent

A combined 17 players on Tuesday's rosters hail from the state of Nebraska. Creighton has five players from Nebraska, while Omaha has 12. Of the 17 players from the state of Nebraska, nine are from the Omaha metro area.

Greenwood Nabs BIG EAST Freshman of the Week

Freshman Zoey Greenwood was named BIG EAST Freshman of the Week for the second time this spring on March 23 after leading the Bluejays to a series sweep of Villanova last weekend.

This marked the second BIG EAST Freshman of the Week honor for Greenwood in the past three weeks, having previously been recognized on March 9.

Greenwood finished Creighton's three-game sweep of Villanova going 6-for-13 (.462) with a home run, three RBI, three runs scored and three stolen bases.

The freshman phenom started the week with an RBI single in the Jays midweek setback to Iowa State, before going 1-for-4 in the Bluejays' 11-10 series opening walk-off win over Villanova on Friday night.

Greenwood would turn on the burners on Saturday, going 2-for-3 with a walk, an RBI and two runs scored, while going 2-for-2 on stolen bases attempts in CU's 11-3 run-rule victory. The New Boston, Texas native, then got Jays off to a hot start on Sunday with a leadoff home run to right, the Bluejays second leadoff home run of the season, and went 2-for-3 with another stolen base as Creighton capped off its series sweep with a 10-1 run-rule victory over the Wildcats.

Catch Them If You Can

Creighton has soared around the base paths this season, racking up 65 stolen bases in the first 32 games this season.

The Bluejays' 65 stolen bags are the eighth most in a single season in program history and currently ranks leads the BIG EAST and are tied for the 15th most in Division I this season.

CU is averaging 2.03 stolen bases per game, a small mark as the Jays recorded a season-high seven bags against Northern Colorado on Feb. 27.

CU's seven stolen bases were two shy of the school record and tied for the second-most in a single game in program history.

The seven stolen bases were also its most in a single game since the Jays also stole seven bags against UC Santa Barbara on March 2, 2025.

Last season, Creighton stole 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.

Below is a breakdown of the stolen bases totals since joining the BIG EAST in 2014, Creighton's single season stolen base top 10 list and the top single game stolen base marks in program history.

Stolen Bases since Joining the BIG EAST

Year SB SB Att. SB%

2026 65 77 84.4

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

8. 65 2026

Creighton Single-Game Stolen Bases

1. 9 - vs. Connecticut 3/13/91

2. 7 - at Northern Colorado 2/27/26

7 - at UC Santa Barbara 3/2/25

7 - vs. Bradley 3/31/01

5. 6 - nine times, last vs. South Dakota 2/20/26

Fast and Furious

Freshman Zoey Greenwood has been fast and furious on the base paths all season long, pacing the Bluejays with 15 stolen bases on 15 stolen base attempts this season.

The New Boston, Texas natives 15 stolen bases are three shy of tying Danai Martin and Jean Tierney for ninth on Creighton's single season stolen base list.

In addition, Greenwood's 15 stolen bases are tied for the second most by all freshman in the NCAA this season, trailing only the 26 stolen bags by College of Charleston's Bronwyn Conroy.

Creighton's Single Season Stolen Base List

No. Name SB Year

1. Shelly Esser 29 1995

Tiffany Strnad 29 1991

3. Heidi Geier 25 1997

4. Melanie Dorsey 24 2005

Heidi Geier 24 1999

6. Shelly Esser 23 1993

7. Sydra Seville 21 2025

8. Heidi Geier 19 1996

9. Danai Martin 18 2011

Jean Tierney 18 1980

- Zoey Greenwood 15 2026

Cardiac Jays

Creighton had three thrilling wins during last weekend's BIG EAST sweep of Villanova as the Jays delivered all three victories in walk-off fashion.

Freshman Kegan Mayhue was the hero on Friday, blasting a three-run walk-off homer in the bottom of the seventh to hand Creighton an 11-10 victory. Mayhue's blast marked the first walk-off homer in the new Creighton Softball Stadium and the first walk-off home run since Sydney Potter lifted the Jays to a 4-3 win over Purdue Fort Wayne last season.

Avery Barnard followed with a two-run walk-off double in the fifth inning of Creighton's 11-3 walk-off run-rule win on Saturday, before Tara Vandewater closed out the series sweep with a two-run walk-off jack in the bottom of the fifth of the Jays' 10-1 run-rule victory on Sunday.

Even more impressive, Creighton softball opened its new field less than two weeks ago and has already hit two walk-off homers in just seven games at the Creighton Softball Stadium. Creighton Baseball, meanwhile, has played at Charles Schwab Field Omaha since 2011 and has only had two walk-off home runs in 322 games at the park.

Since the beginning of the 2021 season, Creighton has recorded a total of seven victories via walk-off home runs. Ironically, five of Creighton's last six walk-off wins have been against Villanova.

Below is a list of Creighton's walk-off wins since 2021.

Score Play (player) Date

10-1 vs. Villanova 2-RBI HR (Vandewater) 3/22/26

11-3 vs. Villanova 2-RBI 2B (Barnard) 3/21/26

11-10 vs. Villanova 3-RBI HR (Mayhue) 3/20/26

4-3 vs. PDW 2-RBI HR (Potter) 2/9/25

12-4 vs. Villanova RBI-Single (Gappa) 4/6/24

8-7 vs. VIllanova RBI-2B (Rosonke) 4/5/24

9-1 vs. North Dakota RBI-Single (Gappa) 3/17/24

10-1 vs. Kansas City 3-RBI 2B (Rosonke) 3/15/23)

4-3 vs. Detroit Mercy RBI-Bunt Single (Gappa) 2/11/23

7-6 vs. Providence RBI-2B (Mills) 3/26/22

14-6 (6) vs. Oakland RBI-Single (Alm) 3/5/22

9-1 (5) vs Abilene Christian 3-RBI HR (Rosonke) 2/13/22

10-2 (6) vs. UIC RBI-1B (Gappa) 3/5/21

4-3 vs. Northern Kentucky 2-RBI HR (Wilson) 3/6/21

6-5 vs. Seton Hall Reach on E (Rosonke) 4/3/21

4-3 vs. St. John's Solo HR (Mills) 4/10/21

12-9 vs. St. John's 3-RBI HR (Wilson) 4/11/21

*Bold Indicates happened this year.

Pinch Me

In Creighton's seven-run second inning in game two against Villanova on March 21, head coach Krista Wood went to the bench and called upon Ashley Smetter to pinch hit.

The senior slugger stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and delivered in a big way, smashing her first career grand slam.

In the process, Smetter became the first Bluejays to record a pinch-hit grand slam since Kaelan Schultz blasted a bases clearing home run against Connecticut on March 28, 2025.

Leadoff Power

Freshman Zoey Greenwood made her return to the leadoff spot in the lineup this past weekend against Villanova and delivered in a big way, blasting a leadoff home run in the Jays' 10-1 series finale win on March 22.

Greenwood's leadoff blast was the second leadoff home run of the season for the Bluejays as Lily West also launched a leadoff homer in the Jays' 3-2 win over Drake on Feb. 14.

West's leadoff homer against Drake marked the second leadoff home run of her Bluejay career and the first leadoff home run by a Bluejay since she delivered a leadoff home run against Georgetown on March 28, 2024.

Can't Keep Her Off the Bases

Senior Lily West has consistently elevated her game since the start of the season and enters this week with an 20-game on-base streak.

During that time, she's 29-of-63 (.460) with five doubles, two homers, 20 RBI and 17 runs scored. West owns at least one hit in 14 of the last 20 games, including multiple hits in 10 of those contests.

Her 20-game on-base streak is the longest consecutive on-base streak of her career and is tied for the sixth longest by a Bluejay since 2010.

Erika Perez also reached base safely in 22 straight games dating back to last season, before having her streak snapped going 0-for-2 against Drake on Feb. 14.

The Madera, Calif. native came into her senior season with a lot of confidence after finishing last year on a 15-game on-base streak.

Perez's 22-game on-base streak was the third longest streak by a Bluejay since 2010 and longest since Amy Baker reached base safely in 37 consecutive contests in 2013.

During her 22-game on-base streak, Perez hit .373 with 19 hits, four doubles, and a team-high 19 walks to go with nine runs scored.

Longest Creighton On-Base Streaks Since 2010

OB Streak Player Year

37 Amy Baker 2013

28 Alexis Cantu 2012

22 Erika Perez 2025-26

21 Sydra Seville 2025

21 Ashley Cantu 2019

20 Lily West 2026

20 Anna O'Gorman 2017

20 Kelsey Allender 2015

19 Kailey Wilson 2022

18 Lily West 2025-26

18 Sydra Seville 2024-25

18 Cayla Nielsen 2024

17 Cayla Nielsen 2023

17 Alexis Cantu 2013

16 Michelle Trulin 2016

15 Amy Baker 2012

West Continues Climb Up Hits Record Board

Lily West, one of the most prolific hitters in program history, continues to climb the Bluejay record boards as she sits third all-time in school history with 219 career hits.

West became just the 11th Bluejay in program history to surpass 200 career hits and the first to do so since Cayla Nielsen in 2024, when she passed the 200-hit milestone on March 6th at Seton Hall.

West's 219 career hits are the third-most in program history and 26 hits shy of tying Bluejay Hall of Famer Christy Lunceford as the all-time hits-leader in Creighton history.

West entered her senior season with 182 career hits, the most by a Bluejay in their first three seasons in program history.

The Choctaw, Okla. native has played in 198 career games and can join Lunceford as the only Bluejays ever to record more than 50 hits in four straight seasons.

Most Career Hits, Creighton History

No. Name H Years

1. Christy Lunceford 245 1994-97

2. Heidi Geier 243 1996-99

3. Lily West 219 2023-Pr.

4. Kelly Brookhart 218 1988-91

Ashley Cantu 218 2017-21

6. Cayla Nielsen 209 2020-24

Sue Frederick 209 1986-89

8. Ellen Homan 203 2011-14

Wendy Moon 203 1991-94

10. Renae Sinkler 201 2007-10

Jean Tierney 201 1980-83

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

In the home stretch of her senior season, Lily West continues her climb up the Bluejay ranks in career batting average, runs scored and runs batted in.

West currently ranks sixth on Creighton all-time career batting average list with a .341 career batting average, while owning 219 career hits. In addition, West sits eighth all-time with 115 career RBI and tied for 10th with 115 career runs scored.

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. .341 Lily West 219-643 2023-Pr

7. .336 Renae Sinkler 201-599 2007-10

8. .333 Sydra Seville 133-399 2022-25

.333 Cayla Nielsen 209-627 2020-24

10. .331 Kiara Mills 123-372 2019-22

Lily's Keeping it 100

Lily West is looking to rewrite the record book in 2026 as the senior slugger closes in on multiple career milestones.

With a leadoff home run against Drake on Feb. 14, West became the 20th Bluejay in program history to record 100 career runs scored.

In addition, the senior slugger became the 13th Bluejay in program history to record 100 career RBI with two runs batted in against Seton Hall on March 6 and is now just four RBI away from tying Liz Dike for seventh on Creighton's all-time career RBI list.

West is just the second Bluejay in program history to record at least 200 career hits, 100 career RBI and 100 career runs scored, joining Bluejay Hall of Famer Renae Sinkler-O'Gorman.

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. Lily West 115 219 2023-Pr.

9. Jody Schwartz 113 179 1985-88

10. Christy Lunceford 110 245 1994-97

11. Lauren Cisneros 107 165 2003-06

12. Emma Rosonke 106 103 2021-24

13. Dede Pendleton 103 184 1991-95

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. Lily West 118 2023-Pr.

Liz Dike 118 2012-15

12. Lauren Cisneros 113 2003-06

13. Melanie Dorsey 112 2002-05

14. Mary Yori 108 1980-82

Michelle Graner 108 2007-10

16. Michelle Koch 106 2007-10

17. Shelly Esser 103 1992-95

18. Ellen Homan 102 2011-14

19. Madeline Vejvoda 100 2020-24

20. Wendy Moon 100 1991-94

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 198 games of her Bluejay career.

Her 198 consecutive starts are the most consecutive starts by a Bluejay since Jessica Wakasugi started 216 straight games from 2006-09.

With starts on Wednesday and Thursday, West will become just fourth Bluejay since 1999 to start 200 consecutive games, joining Heidi Geier (2001-04, 210 games), Lauren Cisneros (2003-06, 219 games) and Wakasugi (2006-09, 216 games) and the 15th Bluejay overall to start 200 career games since 1999.

Walk This Way

Senior Erika Perez has walked 16 times during the Bluejays first 32 games this season, including six time during last weekend's three-game sweep of Villanova.

The Madera, Calif. native drew a career-high tying three walks in the Jays' 11-3 win over the Wildcats on March 21 and two more in the series finale on March 22.

With her six walks last week, Perez has now drawn 67 walks in her career and is just two shy of tying Karla Hughes for 10th on Creighton's career walks record board.

Creighton Career Walks Top 10

No. Name BB Years

1. Michelle Graner 111 2007-10

2. Alexis Cantu 110 2012-14

3. Amy Baker 104 2010-13

4. Kailey Wilson 94 2019-23

5. Abby Johnson 85 2002-05

6. Renae Sinkler 81 2007-10

7. Jen Daro 80 2014-17

8. Jody Schwartz 78 1985-88

9. Ashley Cantu 70 2017-21

10. Karla Hughes 69 1979-82

- Erika Perez 61 2023-Pr.

BIG EAST Scoring Surge

Creighton has scored exactly 200 runs, averaging 6.25 runs per game this season, a number that surges to 93 runs and 10.33 runs per game in BIG EAST contests.

The Bluejays' 93 runs scored in BIG EAST play are the most of any team in the league thus far, nearly doubling the next closest opponent.

Overall, the 93 runs scored in BIG EAST play this season are nearing the top 10 for the most in a single conference season in program history.

Last year, Creighton scored a program-record 179 runs in league play, averaging a program-best 7.45 runs per contest. The Bluejays are currently on pace to shatter that record and become the first team to average more than 10 runs per game in league play in school history.

Conference Play Runs Scored

Year Record Runs Average

2025 15-9 179 7.45

2012 15-11 150 5.77

2002 18-7 135 5.40

2010 18-7 124 4.96

2024 16-8 115 4.79

2007 19-4-1 109 4.54

2001 16-10 109 4.19

2023 6-18 107 4.46

2008 19-6 104 4.33

2019 8-13 102 4.86

2026 7-2 93 10.33

Sticky Situation

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

• Erika Perez is hitting .632 (12-of-19) when leading off an inning and .344 (11-of-32) with runners in scoring position this season.

• Lily West is hitting a blistering .800 (8-of-10) with runner on third with less than two outs and .438 (14-of-32) with runners in scoring position, while hitting .409 (9-of-22) when leading off an inning.

• Additionally, Lily West has hit .434 (33-of-76) when batting third in the lineup, but just .190 (4-of-21) when batting first or second.

• Avery Barnard is hitting .475 (19-of-40) with runners on and has upped that to .500 (14-of-28) with runners in scoring position.

• Zoey Greenwood is hitting a team-high .519 (14-of-27) with runners in scoring position and .489 (23-of-47) with runners on, while driving in 10 two-out runs this season.

• Tara Vandewater is a perfect 8-for-8 when runners are on third with less than two outs this season and is hitting a hot .438 (14-of-32) with runners in scoring position.

Scoring BIG

Despite getting off to slow starts this season, Creighton has put up some big run scoring innings to supplement its early season success.

CU has manufactured some big scoring innings in contests, outscoring its opponents 48-10 in the second inning this season.

The Bluejays have scored four or more runs in a single inning 19 times this year, including a season-high eight runs in the 3rd inning of its comeback win over Northern Colorado on Feb. 27.

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

Date Opponents Runs Inn.

2/6 Central Arkansas 4 2nd

2/6 Sam Houston 7 6th

2/7 Sam Houston 4 2nd

2/20 UT Arlington 5 6th

2/27 Northern Colorado 8 3rd

2/27 Northern Colorado 4 4th

2/27 Northern Colorado 4 5th

3/6 Seton Hall 7 2nd

3/6 Seton Hall 4 3rd

3/6 Seton Hall 7 7th

3/7 Seton Hall 6 2nd

3/7 Seton Hall 4 4th

3/10 Kansas City 5 4th

3/13 Providence 7 3rd

3/14 Providence 5 2nd

3/21 Villanova 7 2nd

3/22 Villanova 4 1st

3/22 Villanova 4 5th

Friday Fever

Despite only owning a 15-17 record this season, Creighton has played some of its best softball of the year on Friday's.

The Bluejays are 8-3 this season on Friday, posting wins over Central Arkansas, Sam Houston, South Dakota, UT Arlington, Northern Colorado, Seton Hall, Providence and Villanova.

In 11 Friday games this year, CU is hitting .357 with 18 doubles, seven triples and 12 home runs, while outscoring its opponents 96-64.

On the flip side, Creighton is just 5-13 during its Saturday and Sunday contests, with its lone wins coming over Drake, Seton Hall and Villanova. In those 18 contests, Creighton is hitting just .274 with 23 doubles and 15 home runs, while being outscored 109-87.

Swiper No Swiping

Senior Lily West has been mowing down the opposition on the base paths early on this season.

Twenty-eight games into her senior year, West has thrown out 10 would-be base-stealers this season, including two against UT Arlington on Feb. 22.

By comparison, West only threw out nine would-be base-stealers last season and just 11 in her first two seasons with the Bluejays in 2023-24.

The Choctaw, Okla. native is currently ranked tied for sixth in Division I for runners caught stealing.

Hit Me With Your Best Shot

Junior Ashten Pierson was hit by a pitch in the season opener against Central Arkansas on Feb. 6 and once more on against Providence on March 14, recording the 19th hit-by-pitch of her Bluejay career.

Pierson's 19 career hit-by-pitches are tied with Mileah McKelvy for the eighth-most all-time in a career at Creighton. She is now two hit by pitches shy of tying Sami Herbster for seventh on Creighton's top 10 career hit by pitch record list.

Last season, Pierson was hit by a pitch 12 times, a total that ranks tied with Jen Daro for second-most in a single season in program history.

CREIGHTON CAREER HIT BY PITCH TOP 10

No. Name HBP Years

1. Jen Daro 39 2014-17

2. Michelle Graner 34 2007-10

3. Alexis Cantu 29 2012-14

4. Michelle Koch 25 2007-10

Lauren Cisneros 25 2003-06

6. Alyssa Gappa 24 2021-24

7. Sami Herbster 21 2000-03

8. Ashten Pierson 19 2024-pr.

Mileah McKelvy 19 2016-20

9. Liz McKewon 18 2008-11

Magic Number 5

Since the turn of the century, Creighton has had tremendous success when scoring five or more runs and the Bluejays look to continued that success this season after owning a 25-4 record when scoring five or more runs last spring.

Over the last 26 seasons, Creighton is 413-62 when scoring five or more runs. In the same time span Creighton is 248-444-3 when scoring four runs or fever.

Creighton is also 197-44 when scoring five or more runs in a game since joining the BIG EAST in 2014, including a 13-4 record this season.

During that same time frame the Bluejays are 117-5 when scoring eight or more runs, which included a 9-0 record this year. Prior to Creighton's 22-18 loss to Connecticut on March 28, 2025, 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 51 of their last 52 games when scoring more than 10 runs.

A New Place to Call Home

The Creighton Softball program entered a new era on March 13th against Providence when the Bluejays opened its new 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 also features 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.

Home Sweet Home

Creighton's home opener on Friday, March 13th against Providence, marked the first home game for the Bluejays in the newly constructed Creighton Softball Stadium.

The Bluejays came out on top, earning a 7-5 win over the Friars, improving to 33-16 all-time in home openers.

Creighton had a great deal of success playing at the CU Sports Complex, racking up a 376 wins and a .620 winning percentage since opening in 1988.

CU won the first eight games at the stadium, including a pair of wins over Minnesota.

Wood Reaches 100 Wins

Head coach Krista Wood won her 100th game at Creighton, picking up the milestone victory with a 7-5 win over Providence in the home opener on March 13.

Wood is the second quickest to 100 wins in program history, trailing only Hall of Famer Mary Higgins as she only need 157 games to record 100 wins at Creighton.

Games Coach 100th Win Date

157 Mary Higgins 3/11/81 vs. Wyoming

194 Krista Wood 3/13/26 vs. Providence

200 Brent Vigness 4/23/97 vs. Drake

A String of New Firsts

In Creighton's home opening win over Providence, the Bluejays logged a string of new first's as the Jays opened the brand new Creighton Softball Complex.

In the bottom of the first, it was truly fitting that the first Creighton hit in the new stadium went to senior slugger Lily West. Fellow classmate, Erika Perez then blasted the first home run in park history with a two-run home runs in the 3rd inning to give the Jays a 7-3 lead.

To cap off the historic day, Creighton claimed a 7-5 victory to secure the first win in park history and Krista Wood's 100th win as the Bluejays head coach.

CU continue to mark history this past weekend as Keegan Mayhue delivered the first walk-off home run in park history with a three-run jack in the bottom of the seventh of Creighton's 11-10 win over Villanova on March 20.

Bring the BIG EAST Broom

With a series sweep of Seton Hall on March 7-9, Creighton completed its third consecutive BIG EAST series sweep, dating back it last season when the Jays swept DePaul and Seton Hall to end the year.

The Bluejays followed it up with a series sweep of Villanova last weekend, marking the 15th series sweep for the Bluejays since joining the BIG EAST in 2014. Eight of Creighton's 15 BIG EAST series sweeps have come since Krista Wood took over as head coach prior to the 2023 season.

Below is a list of all the series sweeps Creighton has had since 2014.

CU's BIG EAST Series Sweeps

Opponents Date

Villanova March 20-22, 2026

at Seton Hall March 6-8, 2026

Seton Hall May 2-4, 2025

at DePaul April 25-27, 2025

Butler April 11-13, 2025

at Georgetown April 4-6, 2025

DePaul April 27-28, 2024

Georgetown March 28-30, 2024

Seton Hall April 2-3, 2021

Villanova May 5-6, 2018

at Seton Hall April 21-22, 2018

Seton Hall April 14-15, 2017

Georgetown April 9-10, 2016

Providence May 3-4, 2014

Villanova April 5-6, 2014

Krista vs. The BIG EAST

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

In her fourth season with the Bluejays, Wood's currently owns a 50-41 record in the BIG EAST (includes BIG EAST Tournament) with at least two victories 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 71-46 overall record against teams from the BIG EAST.

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

Krista Wood's Record against BIG EAST Teams

Opponent SDSU CU

Butler 3-0 8-3

Creighton 10-4 0-0

DePaul 2-0 8-1

Georgetown 0-0 7-2

Providence 2-1 6-7

Seton Hall 1-0 7-5

St. John's 1-0 6-5

Connecticut 0-0 3-10

Villanova 2-0 5-8

Totals 21-5 50-41

Bluejay Softball Set to Battle Omaha and Seattle in Non-Conference Action

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Players Mentioned

Avery Barnard

Ella Dalton

Alyssa Gappa

Audrey Gilman

Zoey Greenwood

Keegan Mayhue

Cayla Nielsen

Brooklyn Patchen

Erika Perez

Ashten Pierson

Sydney Potter

Emma Rosonke

Kaelan Schultz

Sydra Seville

Ashley Smetter

Tara Vandewater

Madeline Vejvoda

Lily West

Alexis Wiggins

Bluejay Softball Set to Battle Omaha and Seattle in Non-Conference Action

Related News

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Avery Barnard

Ella Dalton

Alyssa Gappa

Audrey Gilman

Zoey Greenwood

Keegan Mayhue

Cayla Nielsen

Brooklyn Patchen

Erika Perez

Ashten Pierson

Sydney Potter

Emma Rosonke

Kaelan Schultz

Sydra Seville

Ashley Smetter

Tara Vandewater

Madeline Vejvoda

Lily West

Alexis Wiggins

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