Six-Run Seventh Rallies Bluejay Softball to 9-5 Victory Over DePaul
CHICAGO, Ill. – Trailing 5-3 and down to their three outs, the Creighton softball team scored six runs in top of the seventh to rally for a 9-5 victory in the series opener against DePaul on Friday afternoon at Cacciatore Stadium in Chicago, Ill.
The win lifted the Bluejays to 20-23 on the season and 10-9 in BIG EAST action, while DePaul fell to 14-29 overall and 1-18 in league play.
Creighton’s offensive got things rolling in the top of the first inning as Sydra Seville reached on a DePaul throwing error, while a single from Ashten Pierson puts runners on corners with no outs. One pitch later, Seville came in to score on a wild pitch, before an RBI single from Lily West gave CU a 2-0 lead. Two batters later, Erika Perez delivered a sacrifice fly to deep center to pushing across the Jays third run of the frame.
DePaul would answer in the bottom half of the second, manufacturing a run on a leadoff double from Bibianna Rodriguez, a single to right from Zoe Levine and an RBI single to third from Alexis Houge to cut the deficit to 3-1.
The Blue Demons would then plate two runs in the third and another in the fourth to take a 4-3 lead. A pair of RBI singles from Kelly Beaupre and Carly Alvers knotting things up at 3-3 in the third, while an RBI single from Lydia Ettema in the fourth put the Blue Demons out in front 4-3.
DePaul tacked on an additional run in the home half of the sixth, taking advantage of back-to-back leadoff walks to Houge and Bailey Cosgrove, before an RBI fielder’s choice from Rogers allowed Houge to slid home safely to give the Blue Demons a 5-3 lead and set up the Bluejays for a dramatic finish.
Creighton completely flipped the script in the top of the seventh as the Bluejays placed runners on second and third with a leadoff walk to Ella Dalton and a bunt singled and an advancement from Seville. One out later, West lined an RBI single into left field, making it a one-run game. Kaelan Schultz then regained a 6-5 lead for the Bluejays, pushing two-runs across on a misplayed ball into left field, before an RBI double from Potter gave Creighton a 7-5 advantage. Erika Perez followed with an RBI double of her own off the left field wall to extend the lead out to 8-5. Lynn Davis would then cap off the Jays six-run seventh with an RBI single to right to secure the Jays 9-5 victory.
Offensively, the Bluejays racked up 10 hits, led by two hits apiece from Seville, West, Potter and Perez. Sophomore Brooklyn Patchen (8-8) earned the win, limiting the Blue Demons to two runs on two hits and five walks with three strikeouts in 4.1 innings of work.
DePaul’s Ava Gusel (0-5) suffered the loss in the circle, allowing five runs on three hits in 1.1 innings of relief after taking way for Blue Demon starter Bella Nigey in the sixth. Rodriguez paced the DePaul offense with a pair of hits, including two doubles as the Blue Demons tallied eight base hits.
Creighton and DePaul continue their three-game set on Saturday afternoon with first pitch scheduled for 12 p.m. in Chicago, Ill.