INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Despite a solid pitching performance, the Creighton softball team left six runners on base and fell 2-1 in the series opener to Butler on Friday afternoon.
The Bluejays dropped to 14-22 on the year and 4-13 in conference play, while the Bulldogs improved to 24-14 overall and 10-5 in BIG EAST play.
Creighton starting pitcher Mikayla Santa Cruz allowed just four hit, two earned runs and struck out three during 6.0 innings of work in the loss, while the BIG EAST ERA leader, Karli Ricketts, fired 5.0 innings, allowing four hits and one earned run earned her 12th win of the season.
At the plate, junior Kailey Wilson recorded her 14th multi-hit game of the season with a pair of singles, while fellow classmates Sam Alm and Kiara Mills each collects a hit on the day. Mills was also hit by a pitch in the first inning, which moved the California native into 10th on the all-time career hit by pitch list.
The Bluejays threatened to push a run across in the top of the first inning as Wilson lines a single off the center field wall and Mills was hit by a pitch. Ricketts recovered with a pair of out to keep the Bluejays on at bay.
Butler, however, was able to plate one in the bottom half of the inning when Ella White rocketed an RBI double into the left centerfield gap to score the first run of the game.
Santa Cruz would settle in over the next three inning, keeping the Bulldogs scoreless until Lauren Fey lead off the bottom of the fifth inning with a single down the left field line. Following a sacrifice bunt by Ellie Boyer and a four-pitch walk by White, Mackenzie Griman hit an RBI single through the right side of the infield, pushing Fey across to give Butler a 2-0 lead.
The Bluejays would cut the deficit in half in the top of the sixth with a trio of hits. Alm belted a single passed the Bulldogs first baseman for a lead off single, before making her way to third on a single to center by Wilson. Two pitches later, Alm would come into score on a pass ball for the Bluejays lone run of the game.
In the seventh, Creighton would put the tying run on first but were unable to push the run around as Alyssa Graves collected her second save of the season.
Creighton and Butler will resume their three-game series on Saturday afternoon. First pitch between the Bluejays and Bulldogs is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. at the Butler Softball Field.
Creighton Softball falls to Butler in series opener
