Thursday, March 10
Kissimmee, Fla.
8:00 am
Creighton University
14-9
4
vs
3
South Dakota State
6-16
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
South Dakota State
0
0
0
2
0
1
0
3
7
2
Creighton
1
0
0
1
2
0
X
4
8
0
Photo by: Jason Wise Photography
Softball Closes Out Rebel Springs Games With Wins over SDSU & Drexel
3/10/2016 2:32:00 PM | Softball
Kissimmee, Fla. -- Creighton head coach Brent Vigness reached a milestone Thursday morning with his 700th victory as a Bluejays, but wasted little time collecting win No. 701 as the Bluejays swept their final day of action at the Rebel Spring Games. Creighton bested South Dakota State, 4-3, then took our Drexel by a 7-3 score.
With the two victories the Bluejays closed their ten-game stretch at the Rebel Spring Games with a 9-1 mark and moved to 15-9 on the season.
Game 1: Creighton 4, South Dakota State 3
Creighton jumped out to 1-0 edge in the bottom of the first as Kelsey Allender reached second on a fielding error. After moving to second on a sacrifice bunt, Anna O'Gorman drove in the first run of the game with an RBI single.
The game remained 1-0 until the top of the fourth. South Dakota State's Devan Larsen gave the Jackrabbits the lead by blasting a two-run bomb of Creighton starter Sydnee Eck. The Bluejays wasted little time in supporting their ace, pulling even on a bunt single from Eck to open the inning and an RBI double by pinch-hitter Mileah McKelvy.
In the bottom of the fifth Creighton plated two more, albeit a bit unconventionally. Jen Daro opened the frame with a walk. Sam Crowley came on to pinch run and the Bluejays immediately sacrificed her to second. Allie Reinhardt put runners at the corners with a single, but the next hitter popped out to short. Creighton tallied its first run of the inning on a perfectly executed double steal, then Blake Ringle made it 4-2 with an RBI single.
South Dakota State got one run back in the sixth on a solo shot from Abbey Murphy, but Eck held on to her ninth victory of the season (9-4), while the Jackrabbits' Ashley Bender fell to 3-9.
Game 2: Creighton 7, Drexel 3
As the Bluejays did against South Dakota State, Creighton scratched the scoreboard in the opening frame. This time it was Michelle Trulin reaching on a two-base error in the outfield. The following Bluejay hitter, McKelvy, took advantage by lacing an RBI single up the middle.
Drexel answered with a run in the bottom of the first, but started Michal Hylton limited the damage with two bouncers back to the circle.
Creighton seized control of the game with two runs in the third, with Trulin providing the fireworks. Allender drew a four-pitch walk with one down in the inning, then Trulin blasted a run-scoring triple to make it 2-1. With two down it was Reinhart delivering an RBI single.
One inning later the Bluejays plated three runs on three singles, two hit batters and a walk. Reinhart highlighted the frame with a two-run single with the bags juiced and two down.
Drexel got two back in the fifth, but an insurance run from Creighton in the sixth doused any comeback thoughts.
Hylton (4-1) earned the win, allowing three runs on five hits and a walk in four innings, while Micaela Whitney picked up her first save of the season with three innings of scoreless relief.
"Going 9-1 was nice, but beyond the victories I think we made some progress as a team," said Vigness.
"Against South Dakota State we purposely used Eck. They had seen her earlier in this tournament, but that is something that is likely to happen against BIG EAST teams."
When asked about collecting his historic 700th win, Vigness deferred credit to the University and the players.
"I think getting to a number like 700 speaks mostly about longevity," said Vigness. "Creighton has given me the opportunity to coach a lot of very special softball players and work with a number of fine staff members both on and off the field."
The Bluejays will open the home portion of their 2016 schedule on Wednesday, March 16 as Creighton hosts Kansas at 4:00 pm.
With the two victories the Bluejays closed their ten-game stretch at the Rebel Spring Games with a 9-1 mark and moved to 15-9 on the season.
Creighton jumped out to 1-0 edge in the bottom of the first as Kelsey Allender reached second on a fielding error. After moving to second on a sacrifice bunt, Anna O'Gorman drove in the first run of the game with an RBI single.
The game remained 1-0 until the top of the fourth. South Dakota State's Devan Larsen gave the Jackrabbits the lead by blasting a two-run bomb of Creighton starter Sydnee Eck. The Bluejays wasted little time in supporting their ace, pulling even on a bunt single from Eck to open the inning and an RBI double by pinch-hitter Mileah McKelvy.
In the bottom of the fifth Creighton plated two more, albeit a bit unconventionally. Jen Daro opened the frame with a walk. Sam Crowley came on to pinch run and the Bluejays immediately sacrificed her to second. Allie Reinhardt put runners at the corners with a single, but the next hitter popped out to short. Creighton tallied its first run of the inning on a perfectly executed double steal, then Blake Ringle made it 4-2 with an RBI single.
South Dakota State got one run back in the sixth on a solo shot from Abbey Murphy, but Eck held on to her ninth victory of the season (9-4), while the Jackrabbits' Ashley Bender fell to 3-9.
Game 2: Creighton 7, Drexel 3
As the Bluejays did against South Dakota State, Creighton scratched the scoreboard in the opening frame. This time it was Michelle Trulin reaching on a two-base error in the outfield. The following Bluejay hitter, McKelvy, took advantage by lacing an RBI single up the middle.
Drexel answered with a run in the bottom of the first, but started Michal Hylton limited the damage with two bouncers back to the circle.
Creighton seized control of the game with two runs in the third, with Trulin providing the fireworks. Allender drew a four-pitch walk with one down in the inning, then Trulin blasted a run-scoring triple to make it 2-1. With two down it was Reinhart delivering an RBI single.
One inning later the Bluejays plated three runs on three singles, two hit batters and a walk. Reinhart highlighted the frame with a two-run single with the bags juiced and two down.
Drexel got two back in the fifth, but an insurance run from Creighton in the sixth doused any comeback thoughts.
Hylton (4-1) earned the win, allowing three runs on five hits and a walk in four innings, while Micaela Whitney picked up her first save of the season with three innings of scoreless relief.
"Going 9-1 was nice, but beyond the victories I think we made some progress as a team," said Vigness.
"Against South Dakota State we purposely used Eck. They had seen her earlier in this tournament, but that is something that is likely to happen against BIG EAST teams."
When asked about collecting his historic 700th win, Vigness deferred credit to the University and the players.
"I think getting to a number like 700 speaks mostly about longevity," said Vigness. "Creighton has given me the opportunity to coach a lot of very special softball players and work with a number of fine staff members both on and off the field."
The Bluejays will open the home portion of their 2016 schedule on Wednesday, March 16 as Creighton hosts Kansas at 4:00 pm.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Eck, Sydnee (9-4)
L: Ashlyn Bender (3-9)
Batting:
2B: Christian McKone 1
HR: Abbey Murphy 1 ; Devan Larsen 1
RBI: Abbey Murphy 1 ; Devan Larsen 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Abbey Murphy 1 ; Jordyn Sturgeon 1 ; Devan Larsen 1
SB: Christian McKone 2 ; Devan Larsen 1
Batting:
2B: McKelvy, Mileah 1
RBI: O'Gorman, Anna 1 ; Ringle, Blake 1 ; McKelvy, Mileah 1
SH: Trulin, Michelle 1 ; O'Gorman, Anna 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Allender, Kelsey 1 ; Crowley, Sam 1 ; Reinhart, Allie 1 ; Lewis, Jessica 1
SB: Crowley, Sam 1 ; Reinhart, Allie 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
UT
/ SoftballIF
/ Softball
C/UT
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
P
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