Creighton Softball goes 1-1 on opening day

February 7th, 2020 | Beth Rogers

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The Creighton softball team split a pair of games during its first day of the 2020 season on Friday at the H-E-B Classic in San Antonio, Texas.

The Bluejays fell to Toledo, 2-0, in the season opener before posting a 7-5 victory against North Dakota.

During Creightons first victory of the new campaign, the Bluejays scored a pair of runs in the third inning and added four additional runs in the fourth to build a six-run lead.

Mileah McKelvy and Kailey Wilson each had run-producing hits during both innings. McKelvy drove in the Bluejays first run of the season with a single into right field in the third and drove in two with a single through the left side during the fourth. Wilson had an RBI single in the third and an RBI double in the fourth.

Courtney Sandell produced an RBI single in the fourth for the first run of the frame.

North Dakota scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth to cut Creightons lead to a single run. Kiele Miller entered the game with one out and a runner on third base before preserving the slim lead with a pair of strikeouts.

Creighton regained a two-run edge in the top of the seventh. Victoria Alvarez led off the inning with a walk, Sam Alm produced a sacrifice bunt and Kiara Mills delivered a pinch-hit RBI double to center.

Miller closed out the game in bottom of the seventh for her fourth career save, which is tied for ninth-best in program history.

Newcomer Mikayla Santa Cruz recorded her first victory as a Bluejay while pitching 5 1/3 innings with four strikeouts and allowing four runs on seven hits and two walks.

Creighton recorded 12 hits against the Fighting Hawks. Sandell, McKelvy, Wilson and Hunt each recorded a pair of hits, while Cayla Nielsen and Madeline Vejvoda each tallied their first career hits.

The Bluejays held Toledo to two runs but recorded only one hit offensively during the first game on Friday.

The Rockets scored single runs in the second and seventh innings on RBI singles to record a victory in the lid-lifter for both teams.

Creighton did not have its first base runner until the bottom of the sixth when pinch-hitter Sydney Jenkins reached on an error by the third baseman. Jenkins bunted the ball towards the left side of the circle and the third baseman fielded the ball cleanly before the throw pulled the first baseman off the bag.

Ashley Cantu tallied the Bluejays lone hit of the game two batters later. The senior also laid down a bunt and reached first base before a throw from the Toledo pitcher.

A strikeout ended the sixth inning with runners at first and second base.

After allowing a run in the top of the final inning, the Bluejays went down in order during the last of the seventh.

Miller earned the start for the season opener for Creighton and struck out seven while walking one and allowing two runs on eight hits.

Toledo starting pitcher Erin Hunt recorded 14 strikeouts, including 10 through the first 12 batters she faced.

The Bluejays continue action at the H-E-B Classic on Saturday with games a pair of games beginning at 10 am. Creighton matches up against Toledo at 10 am before playing Texas Southern at noon.

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