Sunday, April 3
CU Sports Complex
12:00 PM
Creighton University
4
vs
9
Bradley
Bradley Beats Bluejays 9-4 in Softball Series Finale
4/3/2011 2:38:00 PM | Softball
OMAHA, Neb. - Bradley and Creighton were even at 11 in the hit column, but the Braves topped the Bluejays 9-4 to conclude their three-game Missouri Valley Conference series Sunday at the Creighton sports complex. A five-run third inning for the Braves proved to be the difference in Bradley's first league win of the season. Amy Baker led the Bluejay offense with a 3-for-3 day, finishing the weekend 7-for-10 with three home runs and seven RBI.
Creighton (14-16, 4-2 MVC) took an early lead, scoring on an RBI single from Emily Perry in the first inning to lead 1-0 after one.
The Braves (8-26, 1-6 MVC) got that run back in the top of the second inning on a solo home run by Denise Jilka.
The Bradley offense then erupted for five runs in the third inning, chasing Bluejay starter Becca Changstrom from the game. Jackie Roth led off the inning with a double on her 10th pitch of the at bat. Brittany Fairbairn followed with a bunt single and Kate Singler walked to load the bases for Madeline Lynch-Crumrine. Lynch-Crumrine delivered the game's biggest hit, a grand slam to left field, and the Braves were up 5-1 with still no outs in the frame.
After retiring the next hitter, Changstrom allowed another bunt single and issued another walk before giving way to reliever Kylie Hovinga. The Braves pushed one more run across the plate before Hovinga could get out of the inning with the Jays down 6-1.
Baker's solo home run in the fifth inning made the score 6-2. The home run was her fifth in six games this week and her league-leading 13th of the season. The sophomore already ranks sixth in school history with 28 career home runs, moving past Michelle Graner and TJ Eadus on Sunday.
Perry made a spectacular play in right field in the top of the sixth inning to keep the score at 6-2, robbing Roth of a home run in right field.
But the Braves would add three more runs in the seventh, leading off the inning with back-to-back doubles to get Hovinga out of the circle. Brittany Telecky finished the game as the third pitcher of the game for the Jays.
Creighton added two runs in the bottom of the seventh on Christa Ruf's eighth home run of the season, but it was too little, too late for the Bluejays.
Bradley, which snapped a nine-game losing streak with the win, was led by Lynch-Crumine's 2-for-4, five RBI day. Roth and Alex Chandler also had two hits for the Braves.
Baker was 3-for-3 in the game to move her batting average to .301 on the season, raising her average 54 points during the three-game series with Bradley. Perry and Liz McKewon each had two hits in the game for the Jays.
Lindsay Hufeld improved to 3-11 on the season for the Braves, striking out seven in the complete game.
Chansgstrom took the loss for Creighton, allowing seven hits and six runs in 2.1 innings of work. Hovinga pitched 3.2 innings and struck out five, but allowed two runs.
Creighton will take a week off before returning to the diamond next weekend for a three game series at Missouri State (13-14, 4-4 MVC).
Creighton (14-16, 4-2 MVC) took an early lead, scoring on an RBI single from Emily Perry in the first inning to lead 1-0 after one.
The Braves (8-26, 1-6 MVC) got that run back in the top of the second inning on a solo home run by Denise Jilka.
The Bradley offense then erupted for five runs in the third inning, chasing Bluejay starter Becca Changstrom from the game. Jackie Roth led off the inning with a double on her 10th pitch of the at bat. Brittany Fairbairn followed with a bunt single and Kate Singler walked to load the bases for Madeline Lynch-Crumrine. Lynch-Crumrine delivered the game's biggest hit, a grand slam to left field, and the Braves were up 5-1 with still no outs in the frame.
After retiring the next hitter, Changstrom allowed another bunt single and issued another walk before giving way to reliever Kylie Hovinga. The Braves pushed one more run across the plate before Hovinga could get out of the inning with the Jays down 6-1.
Baker's solo home run in the fifth inning made the score 6-2. The home run was her fifth in six games this week and her league-leading 13th of the season. The sophomore already ranks sixth in school history with 28 career home runs, moving past Michelle Graner and TJ Eadus on Sunday.
Perry made a spectacular play in right field in the top of the sixth inning to keep the score at 6-2, robbing Roth of a home run in right field.
But the Braves would add three more runs in the seventh, leading off the inning with back-to-back doubles to get Hovinga out of the circle. Brittany Telecky finished the game as the third pitcher of the game for the Jays.
Creighton added two runs in the bottom of the seventh on Christa Ruf's eighth home run of the season, but it was too little, too late for the Bluejays.
Bradley, which snapped a nine-game losing streak with the win, was led by Lynch-Crumine's 2-for-4, five RBI day. Roth and Alex Chandler also had two hits for the Braves.
Baker was 3-for-3 in the game to move her batting average to .301 on the season, raising her average 54 points during the three-game series with Bradley. Perry and Liz McKewon each had two hits in the game for the Jays.
Lindsay Hufeld improved to 3-11 on the season for the Braves, striking out seven in the complete game.
Chansgstrom took the loss for Creighton, allowing seven hits and six runs in 2.1 innings of work. Hovinga pitched 3.2 innings and struck out five, but allowed two runs.
Creighton will take a week off before returning to the diamond next weekend for a three game series at Missouri State (13-14, 4-4 MVC).
Players Mentioned
P
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballCreighton Softball Hit-A-Thon 2025
Thursday, August 21
Creighton Baseball & Softball Fields Groundbreaking - 6/11/25
Wednesday, June 11
Creighton BET Postgame vs. St John's, 5/8/25
Thursday, May 08
Creighton Softball Highlights vs. Seton Hall, 5/4/25
Sunday, May 04
