Schultz and Patchen Guides Creighton Softball to 10-3 Victory Over DePaul

CHICAGO, Ill. – Sophomore Kaelan Schultz went 3-for-4 with a career-high tying five RBI, finishing a triple shy of the cycle, while classmate Brooklyn Patchen provided 5.1 scoreless innings of relief as the Creighton Softball team powered past DePaul, 10-3, on Saturday afternoon at Cacciatore Stadium in Chicago, Ill.
 
With the win, Creighton improved to 21-23 overall and 11-9 in BIG EAST play, moving into fifth place in the BIG EAST standings. DePaul, meanwhile, fell to 14-30 overall and 1-19 in league action.
 
Creighton opened the scoring in the top of the first as Schultz blasted her ninth home run of the season over the left field wall, following a leadoff walk to Sydra Seville and a hit by pitch to Ashten Pierson to give the Bluejays a 3-0 lead.
 
DePaul answered with three runs of their own in the bottom half of the third, taking advantage of the free pass as Kelly Beaupre was hit by a pitch while Carly Alvers and Chelsea Parker drew back-to-back walks to load the bases. One out later, Baylee Cosgrove delivered a bases clearing double into the left center field gap to level the contest at 3-3.
 
The Bluejays quickly answered in the top half of the third when Lily West blasting her fourth home run off the left field foul pole to regain a 4-3 lead for Creighton.
 
Following a scoreless fourth, Creighton took control of the contest as the Bluejays offense delivered six runs on five hits to extend their lead out to 10-3 in the fifth. Pierson got things started with a one-out single to short, while a fielder’s choice from West allowed Pierson to safely slide into second to put runners on first and second with one away. Schultz then delivered a two-run double into right center to push the Jays lead to 6-3, while an RBI double from Sydney Potter extended CU's advantage out to 7-3. Erika Perez followed with a walk, before Hannah Poole and Avery Barnard each delivered RBI singles to make it 9-3. Ella Dalton would then cap off the scoring with an RBI groundout to close out the 10-3 victory for the Jays.
 
The hot-hitting Bluejays finished the contest with 10 combined hits, led by 3-for-4 outings from Schultz and Poole. Schultz finished the day 3-for-4 with a single, double and home run, falling a triple shy of the programs first cycle, while collecting a career-high tying five RBI. Poole added in three singles of her own, while Potter drove in her 48th run of the season on an RBI double to move into a tie with Alexis Cantu for second on Creighton single season RBI list.
 
Patchen (9-8) collected her third consecutive victory in the circle, allowing just three hits in 5.1 scoreless innings of relief, while Bluejay starter Kenzie Schopfer gave up just three runs on two hits in 1.2 innings of work.
 
Bella Nigey (7-10) suffered the loss, allowing eight runs on six hits and a walk in 4.1 innings of work. Offensively, the Blue Demons scattered five hits across the lineup, including two from Cosgrove at the top of the order.  
 
The Bluejays and Blue Demons will wrap up their three-game series on Sunday afternoon at 12 p.m.