Friday, February 6
Huntsville, Texas
1:30 PM
Creighton University
1-0
5
vs
4
Central Arkansas
1-1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Central Arkansas
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
4
6
0
Creighton
0
4
1
0
0
0
X
5
3
0
Softball Opens Season with Pair of Victories at Bearkat Classic
2/6/2026 9:53:00 PM | Softball
HUNTSVILLE, Texas – The Creighton softball team opened the 2026 season in fine fashion, claiming a pair of victories over Central Arkansas and Sam Houston on the opening day of the Bearkat Classic in Huntsville, Texas.
The Bluejays opened the season with a 5-4 win over Central Arkansas in the afternoon, before following it up with a 7-1 victory over host Sam Houston in the night cap.
The Jays improved to 2-0 on the season for just the second time since joining the BIG EAST in 2014, while both the Bears and Bearkats fell to 1-1 overall.
Game 1, Creighton 5, Central Arkansas 4
In the opener, the Bluejays used the power of sophomore Tara Vandewater and a strong performance in the circle from junior Brooklyn Patchen to claim a 5-4 season-opening win over Central Arkansas.
The victory didn't lack drama, as Creighton appeared to be in control with a 5-0 lead heading into the seventh inning. UCA, however, fought back plating four runs on four hits against the Bluejays bullpen, before Patchen returned to close out the victory.
After Patchen set the tone authoring back-to-back scoreless frames, Creighton's patience at the plate paid off in a big way as Jays plated four runs on two walks and a pair of hits in the bottom of the second inning. Kaelan Schultz and Erika Perez worked back-to-back walks, before Vandewater launched a three-run homer to centerfield to give the Jays a 3-0 lead. Ella Dalton followed with an infield single, advanced to second on a pass ball and stole third before coming in to score on an Avery Barnard sacrifice fly.
Creighton would extend its lead to 5-0 in the third, as Vandewater drove in her fourth run of the day on a sacrifice fly to left after West reached on a hit-by-pitch, Schultz singled and Perez walked to load the bases.
The Bluejays dug in defensively as Patchen worked 5.1 scoreless innings before giving way to Gracie Maloney with a 5-0 lead.
Maloney worked out of a jam in the sixth but was tagged for four runs in the seventh as the Bears offense strung four hits and three walks together to cut the deficit to 5-4. Patchen returned to the circle and struck out the final two batters to secure the Bluejays first win of the season.
Vandewater drove in a career-high four runs and became the first Bluejay to homer in her Creighton debut since Sara Loeffelholz in 2009, while Patchen earned her first win of the season in the circle, striking out six in 6.0 scoreless innings.
Trinity Brandon led the way for the Bears, going 2-for-3 with an RBI double while Emory Bowlin suffered the loss in the circle, allowing five runs on three hits in 3.0 innings of work.
Game 2: Creighton 7, Sam Houston 1
In game two, the Bluejay offense struggled early before erupting for seven runs in the sixth inning as Creighton captured a 7-1 victory over host Sam Houston.
The Bearkats got on the board first as Tricia Yarotsky took advantage of a Bluejay defensive miscue and drove in the first run of the game with an RBI single to left in the bottom of the third inning.
Creighton, however, responded and broke the game open with a seven-run sixth to move in front 7-1. Barnard led off the frame with a double and came around to score on a Pierson sacrifice bunt and Sam Houston throwing error to level the contest at 1-1. Following a sac bunt from Zoey Greenwood that moved Pierson to third, Kenzie Nakasawa delivered a pinch-hit RBI single to put the Jays out in front 2-1.
West then laced a single into right, ending the day for Bearkat starter Abigail Young. Kendall Daniel came on in relief and immediately gave up a two-run triple to Schultz, a walk to Perez and an RBI double to Vandewater to push the Jays lead to 5-1. Dalton followed with an RBI sacrifice fly to left, before Barnard delivered an RBI single, her second hit of the inning, to make the score 7-1.
Freshman Audrey Gilman closed the door from there, recording the first win of her collegiate career.
Gilman provided 5.2 innings of relief, striking out two in her Bluejay debut, while West, Vandewater and Barnard each collected a pair of hits for the Creighton offense.
The Bluejays continue action at the Bearkat Classic on Saturday with a pair of games beginning at 11 a.m. against Central Arkansas, followed by a matchup with Sam Houston at 1:30 p.m.
NOTES: Tara Vandewater became the first Bluejay to homer in her Bluejay debut since Sara Loeffelholz blasted a homer in her Creighton debut against Indiana State in 2009 … Erika Perez drew a career-high tying three walks against Central Arkansas and another walk against Sam Houston to extend her career-long on-base streak to 17 straight games … Ashten Pierson recorded her 18th career hit-by-pitch the season-opener against Central Arkansas, moving into a tie with Liz McKeon for ninth on Creighton's career hit-by-pitch record list … Creighton moved to 24-26 all-time in season-openers, while head coach Krista Wood improved to 15-4 all-time in season-openers, including a 3-1 mark at Creighton.
The Bluejays opened the season with a 5-4 win over Central Arkansas in the afternoon, before following it up with a 7-1 victory over host Sam Houston in the night cap.
The Jays improved to 2-0 on the season for just the second time since joining the BIG EAST in 2014, while both the Bears and Bearkats fell to 1-1 overall.
Game 1, Creighton 5, Central Arkansas 4
In the opener, the Bluejays used the power of sophomore Tara Vandewater and a strong performance in the circle from junior Brooklyn Patchen to claim a 5-4 season-opening win over Central Arkansas.
The victory didn't lack drama, as Creighton appeared to be in control with a 5-0 lead heading into the seventh inning. UCA, however, fought back plating four runs on four hits against the Bluejays bullpen, before Patchen returned to close out the victory.
After Patchen set the tone authoring back-to-back scoreless frames, Creighton's patience at the plate paid off in a big way as Jays plated four runs on two walks and a pair of hits in the bottom of the second inning. Kaelan Schultz and Erika Perez worked back-to-back walks, before Vandewater launched a three-run homer to centerfield to give the Jays a 3-0 lead. Ella Dalton followed with an infield single, advanced to second on a pass ball and stole third before coming in to score on an Avery Barnard sacrifice fly.
Creighton would extend its lead to 5-0 in the third, as Vandewater drove in her fourth run of the day on a sacrifice fly to left after West reached on a hit-by-pitch, Schultz singled and Perez walked to load the bases.
The Bluejays dug in defensively as Patchen worked 5.1 scoreless innings before giving way to Gracie Maloney with a 5-0 lead.
Maloney worked out of a jam in the sixth but was tagged for four runs in the seventh as the Bears offense strung four hits and three walks together to cut the deficit to 5-4. Patchen returned to the circle and struck out the final two batters to secure the Bluejays first win of the season.
Vandewater drove in a career-high four runs and became the first Bluejay to homer in her Creighton debut since Sara Loeffelholz in 2009, while Patchen earned her first win of the season in the circle, striking out six in 6.0 scoreless innings.
Trinity Brandon led the way for the Bears, going 2-for-3 with an RBI double while Emory Bowlin suffered the loss in the circle, allowing five runs on three hits in 3.0 innings of work.
Game 2: Creighton 7, Sam Houston 1
In game two, the Bluejay offense struggled early before erupting for seven runs in the sixth inning as Creighton captured a 7-1 victory over host Sam Houston.
The Bearkats got on the board first as Tricia Yarotsky took advantage of a Bluejay defensive miscue and drove in the first run of the game with an RBI single to left in the bottom of the third inning.
Creighton, however, responded and broke the game open with a seven-run sixth to move in front 7-1. Barnard led off the frame with a double and came around to score on a Pierson sacrifice bunt and Sam Houston throwing error to level the contest at 1-1. Following a sac bunt from Zoey Greenwood that moved Pierson to third, Kenzie Nakasawa delivered a pinch-hit RBI single to put the Jays out in front 2-1.
West then laced a single into right, ending the day for Bearkat starter Abigail Young. Kendall Daniel came on in relief and immediately gave up a two-run triple to Schultz, a walk to Perez and an RBI double to Vandewater to push the Jays lead to 5-1. Dalton followed with an RBI sacrifice fly to left, before Barnard delivered an RBI single, her second hit of the inning, to make the score 7-1.
Freshman Audrey Gilman closed the door from there, recording the first win of her collegiate career.
Gilman provided 5.2 innings of relief, striking out two in her Bluejay debut, while West, Vandewater and Barnard each collected a pair of hits for the Creighton offense.
The Bluejays continue action at the Bearkat Classic on Saturday with a pair of games beginning at 11 a.m. against Central Arkansas, followed by a matchup with Sam Houston at 1:30 p.m.
NOTES: Tara Vandewater became the first Bluejay to homer in her Bluejay debut since Sara Loeffelholz blasted a homer in her Creighton debut against Indiana State in 2009 … Erika Perez drew a career-high tying three walks against Central Arkansas and another walk against Sam Houston to extend her career-long on-base streak to 17 straight games … Ashten Pierson recorded her 18th career hit-by-pitch the season-opener against Central Arkansas, moving into a tie with Liz McKeon for ninth on Creighton's career hit-by-pitch record list … Creighton moved to 24-26 all-time in season-openers, while head coach Krista Wood improved to 15-4 all-time in season-openers, including a 3-1 mark at Creighton.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Patchen, Brooklyn (1-0)
L: BOWLIN, Emor (0-1)
Batting:
2B: BRANDON, Tri 1
RBI: GRAHAM, Addi 1 ; BRANDON, Tri 1 ; ROBERTSON, E 2
Base Running:
RUNS: GRAHAM, Addi 1 ; BRANDON, Tri 1 ; MOLITOR, Gra 1 ; SMITH, LJ 1
Batting:
HR: Vandewater, Tara 1
RBI: Vandewater, Tara 4 ; Barnard, Avery 1
SF: Vandewater, Tara 1 ; Barnard, Avery 1
Base Running:
RUNS: West, Lily 1 ; Schultz, Kaelan 1 ; Perez, Erika 1 ; Vandewater, Tara 1 ; Dalton, Ella 1
SB: Dalton, Ella 1 ; Pierson, Ashten 1
HBP: West, Lily 1 ; Pierson, Ashten 1
Game Leaders
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
4
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
UTL
/ SoftballC/UTL
/ SoftballCreighton Softball Media Availability 1/30/26
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