Friday, March 20
Omaha, Neb.
5:00 PM
Creighton University
13-17, 5-2
11
vs
10
Villanova
6-23, 2-5
1st innning1
2nd innning2
3rd innning3
4th innning4
5th innning5
6th innning6
7th innning7
RunsR
HitsH
ErrorsE
Villanova
1
0
0
6
3
0
0
10
8
0
Creighton
2
1
3
2
0
0
3
11
12
3
Photo by: Creighton Athletics
Mayhue’s Walk-Off Blasts Softball to 11-10 Win Over Villanova
3/20/2026 8:58:00 PM | Softball
OMAHA, Neb. -- Freshman Keegan Mayhue blasted a three-run walkoff homer in the seventh to win it as the Creighton softball team rallied for a 11-10 win over Villanova in the series opener on Friday night at the Creighton Softball Stadium.
Mayhue entered the day hitless in her last five games before producing four RBI and two hits, including Creighton's first walkoff home run since Sydney Potter vs. Purdue Fort Wayne in 2025 while recording the first walkoff homer at the new Creighton Softball Stadium.
The win lifted Creighton to 13-17 on the season and 5-2 in league play, while Villanova fell to 6-23 overall and 2-5 in league action.
Villanova wasted no time putting the first dent on the scoreboard as Maddie Burrows drew a leadoff walk, advanced to third on a groundout and a Bluejay fielding error before scoring on an RBI fielder's choice from Lilly St. Jean to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead.
Creighton immediately countered with two runs in the bottom half of the first to move in front 2-1. Junior Avery Barnard reached on a fielder's choice and senior Lily West singles to left center to put runners on first and second with one away. Sophomore transfer Tara Vandewater then delivered a two-run single into left to put the Jays up 2-1.
The Bluejays added to its lead in the home half of the second as senior Erika Perez launched her team-leading sixth home run of the season over the left center field wall to push the Jays out to a 3-1 lead.
CU continued to pour it on, plating three two-out runs in the bottom of the third to surge out in front 6-1. Kaelan Schultz started the rally with a hit-by-pitch, before an RBI double from Vandewater made the score 4-1. Mayhue followed it up with an RBI single up the middle and advanced to third on a wild pitch, before coming in to score on an RBI single from senior Ella Dalton.
Villanova, however, rallied in the fourth with six runs on three hits, four walks and a Bluejay error to regain a 7-6 lead. The Wildcats advantage didn't last long as Schultz blasted a two-run homer to left in the bottom half of the frame to put the Jays back out in front, 8-7.
The back-and-forth affair flipped in favor of the Wildcats as they answered once again with a three-run double from Runco in the top half the fifth to open up a 10-8 lead and set up the Bluejays for a dramatic finish.
CU's seventh inning rally featured a leadoff single from West, who then motored her way over to third on a double from Vandewater. Mayhue would then end the game with a 252-foot rocket over Cuming Street in left for her fifth home run of the season.
Maggie King (1-3) suffered the loss after allowing the three-run homer in the seventh inning. Wildcat starter Kat Gallant allowed eight runs in 4.0 innings of work but did not factor in the decision. Runco led the way for Villanova with a pair of hits and five RBI at the plate.
Vandewater paced the Bluejays with three hits, three RBI and two runs scored, while Mayhue drove in four runs on two hits, including the game-winner in the victory. Freshman Audrey Gilman improved to 7-6 on the year with the victory after tossing 6.1 innings in circle.
Creighton and Villanova will continue their three-game series on Saturday afternoon with first pitch set for 2 p.m. at the Creighton Softball Stadium.
Mayhue entered the day hitless in her last five games before producing four RBI and two hits, including Creighton's first walkoff home run since Sydney Potter vs. Purdue Fort Wayne in 2025 while recording the first walkoff homer at the new Creighton Softball Stadium.
The win lifted Creighton to 13-17 on the season and 5-2 in league play, while Villanova fell to 6-23 overall and 2-5 in league action.
Villanova wasted no time putting the first dent on the scoreboard as Maddie Burrows drew a leadoff walk, advanced to third on a groundout and a Bluejay fielding error before scoring on an RBI fielder's choice from Lilly St. Jean to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead.
Creighton immediately countered with two runs in the bottom half of the first to move in front 2-1. Junior Avery Barnard reached on a fielder's choice and senior Lily West singles to left center to put runners on first and second with one away. Sophomore transfer Tara Vandewater then delivered a two-run single into left to put the Jays up 2-1.
The Bluejays added to its lead in the home half of the second as senior Erika Perez launched her team-leading sixth home run of the season over the left center field wall to push the Jays out to a 3-1 lead.
CU continued to pour it on, plating three two-out runs in the bottom of the third to surge out in front 6-1. Kaelan Schultz started the rally with a hit-by-pitch, before an RBI double from Vandewater made the score 4-1. Mayhue followed it up with an RBI single up the middle and advanced to third on a wild pitch, before coming in to score on an RBI single from senior Ella Dalton.
Villanova, however, rallied in the fourth with six runs on three hits, four walks and a Bluejay error to regain a 7-6 lead. The Wildcats advantage didn't last long as Schultz blasted a two-run homer to left in the bottom half of the frame to put the Jays back out in front, 8-7.
The back-and-forth affair flipped in favor of the Wildcats as they answered once again with a three-run double from Runco in the top half the fifth to open up a 10-8 lead and set up the Bluejays for a dramatic finish.
CU's seventh inning rally featured a leadoff single from West, who then motored her way over to third on a double from Vandewater. Mayhue would then end the game with a 252-foot rocket over Cuming Street in left for her fifth home run of the season.
Maggie King (1-3) suffered the loss after allowing the three-run homer in the seventh inning. Wildcat starter Kat Gallant allowed eight runs in 4.0 innings of work but did not factor in the decision. Runco led the way for Villanova with a pair of hits and five RBI at the plate.
Vandewater paced the Bluejays with three hits, three RBI and two runs scored, while Mayhue drove in four runs on two hits, including the game-winner in the victory. Freshman Audrey Gilman improved to 7-6 on the year with the victory after tossing 6.1 innings in circle.
Creighton and Villanova will continue their three-game series on Saturday afternoon with first pitch set for 2 p.m. at the Creighton Softball Stadium.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Gilman, Audrey (7-6)
L: Maggie King (1-3)
Batting:
2B: Maranda Runco 1 ; Jaclyn Morra 1 ; Ava Mahnken 1
RBI: Maddie Burrows 1 ; Maranda Runco 5 ; Lilly St. Jean 2
SF: Lilly St. Jean 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Maddie Burrows 3 ; Maranda Runco 1 ; Aubrey Police 1 ; Grace Reed 1 ; Madison Ostrowski 2 ; Jacquelyn Cox 2
Batting:
2B: Vandewater, Tara 2
HR: Schultz, Kaelan 1 ; Mayhue, Keegan 1 ; Perez, Erika 1
RBI: Schultz, Kaelan 2 ; Vandewater, Tara 3 ; Mayhue, Keegan 4 ; Perez, Erika 1 ; Dalton, Ella 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Barnard, Avery 2 ; West, Lily 1 ; Bailey, Emma 1 ; Schultz, Kaelan 2 ; Vandewater, Tara 2 ; Mayhue, Keegan 2 ; Perez, Erika 1
SB: Barnard, Avery 1
HBP: Schultz, Kaelan 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
2
H
3
RBI
3
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
4
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
C/INF
/ Softball
UTL
/ SoftballC/UTL
/ Softball
Creighton Softball Highlights vs. Villanova, 3/20/26
Saturday, March 21
Creighton Softball Highlights vs. Iowa State, 3/18/26
Thursday, March 19
Creighton Softball Highlights vs. Providence, 3/14/26 - Game 2
Sunday, March 15
Creighton Softball Postgame Interview vs. Providence, 3/13/26
Friday, March 13
