Creighton Softball Downs Seton Hall, 8-7

OMAHA, Neb. – Sophomore Sydney Potter delivered a game-winning three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth as the Creighton softball team rallied for an 8-7 victory in the series opener against Seton Hall on Friday night at the CU Sports Complex. 
 
The win lifted the Bluejays to 25-23 overall and 13-9 in BIG EAST play, moving one step closer to securing their spot in next week’s BIG EAST Tournament. Seton Hall, meanwhile, fell to 29-21 on the year and to 11-11 in BIG EAST action. 
 
In a game filled with pivotal moments, Creighton used seven timely two-out hits to rally for the one-run victory. All eight of the Bluejays runs scored on Friday were scored with two outs, including three crucial home runs, as the Jays recorded 12 total hits.
 
Sophomore Kaelan Schultz led the way offensively going 2-for-2 with a home run, two walks and two RBI, while Potter needed just one swing of the bat to drive in a team-high three RBI. Juniors Lily West and Erika Perez each added in two hits of their own, while Poole collected two base knocks, including a solo home run. 
 
Sophomore Brooklyn Patchen (10-8) recorded her 10th win of the season, allowing seven runs on eight hits with six strikeouts in 6.0 innings of work, while senior Kenzie Schopfer collected her first save of the year, firing a scoreless seventh. 
 
Seton Hall opened the scoring in the top of the first, plating two runs on an Hannah Alexander RBI groundout and an Olivia Gilbert RBI single up the middle to take an early 2-0 lead. 
 
Creighton responded in the home half of the frame as Schultz laced a two-run homer over the left center field wall to level the contest at 2-2, before taking its first lead of the contest with a solo home run from Poole in the bottom of the second. 
 
The Pirates answered right back, regaining the lead with a two-out two-run home run from Andrea Perez in the top of the third to take a 4-3 advantage. 
 
Following a scoreless fourth, the Bluejays would use an RBI two-out double down the left field line from Perez to knot things up at 4-4. 
 
Seton Hall once again answered with three runs in the top of the sixth, opening up a 7-4 lead. A leadoff double from Perez set the tone for the Pirates, as her advanced to third on a wild pitch before scoring on a sacrifice bunt from Caroline Hobbs. One out later, Alexander lined an two-run single down the right field line to extend the Pirates lead. 
 
Trailing 7-4, Creighton used a leadoff single from sophomore Avery Barnard to get things started in the home half of the sixth. After back-to-back groundouts moved Barnard to third, West delivered an RBI single up the middle to cut the deficit to 7-5. Schultz followed with a nine-pitch walk to put runners on first and second for Potter, who then unleashed on the first pitch she saw, blasting a three-run home run over the center field wall to give the Jays an 8-7 lead. 
 
Seton Hall threatened to push across a run in the seventh, as Naya Martinez singled to left and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch. Schopfer, however, calmly punched out Katey Brennan to secure the 8-7 victory for the Jays. 
 
Creighton and Seton Hall will continue their three-game set on Saturday at 12 p.m. as the Bluejays host their third annual Alumni Game.