Creighton Softball splits with Indiana and Central Michigan

March 12th, 2020 | Beth Rogers

MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. — The Creighton softball team split a pair of games on Thursday at the Madeira Beach ROC Complex. The Bluejays fell to Indiana, 10-1, before downing Central Michigan, 2-1.

Creighton moved its season record to 13-12.

During the second game of the day, the Bluejays fell behind 1-0 after the first inning.

Creighton starting pitcher MIkayla Santa Cruz stranded multiple runners on base during the first, third and fourth innings as neither team scored until the fifth.

The Bluejays tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the fifth. Sydney Jenkins walked, stole second and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt. The senior scored on Victoria Alvarezs sacrifice bunt to the first baseman. Madeline Vejvoda reached on an error by the second baseman and Ashley Cantu singled to extend the inning, but the inning ended with a line out to second.

Central Michigan threatened to take the lead in the bottom of the fifth. After two ground outs the Chippewas loaded the bases without a hit. Santa Cruz wiggled out of danger with a ground out back to the circle.

Creighton took the lead in the sixth. Kiara Mills drew a lead-off walk. Pinch-runner Kaitlynn Hunt stole second before Kailey Wilson sent a ball in play towards the center of the diamond. The Central Michigan pitcher fielded the ball, but the throw towards first base ended up down the right-field line and allowed Hunt to score and Wilson to reach second. A sacrifice bunt move pinch-runner Ryann Glenn to third base but a pick off at third and fly out ended the inning.

Santa Cruz did not allow a base runner in the final two innings and ended the game with two consecutive strikeouts. The sophomore struck out eight batters during the complete-game victory.

Ashley Cantu led the offense by going 3-for-3, while Mikaela Pechar had the only other Bluejay hit.

Creighton opened Thursday with a nine-run loss to Indiana.

The Bluejays loaded the bases in the bottom of the first inning with singles from Cantu and Pechar and a walk by Wilson but did not score.

The Hoosiers scored once in the second and three times in both the third and fifth innings before Creighton scored its lone run of the game in the fifth.

Ashley Cantu was hit by the pitch and later scored on a wild pitch to trim the deficit to 7-1.

Indiana added three runs in the seventh for the final margin of 10-1.

Pechar paced the Bluejays offense by finishing 2-for-2 with a walk.

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