Creighton Softball Sweeps Pair

Creighton hit five home runs in a record-setting third inning to help the Bluejays cruise to a 14-1 win in game one of Wednesday’s doubleheader with South Dakota State at the CU Sports Complex. The Bluejays topped the Jackrabbits 5-1 in the night cap to improve to 29-12 on the season.
SDSU scored first in both games, only to be held scoreless over the remainder of the contests.
The Bluejays’ took their first lead of the day with two runs in the bottom of the second inning. A ground out by Lauren Larson drove home Dawson with the game’s first run, while Loeffelholz would score an unearned run on a single by Jessi Jadlowski to put the Jays up 2-1.
The offense erupted with one out in CU’s 10-run third inning. Renae Sinkler and Bailey Dawson twice hit back-to-back home runs in CU’s 10-run third inning, while Sara Loeffelholz – who also homered in game two – smashed a round tripper in the frame. The five home runs in one game tied a school record, while establishing a school mark for homers in one inning.
The mercy rule halted the game after five innings, with Tara Oltman (23-8) going the shortened distance for the win. SDSU’s first batter of the game was the only hit Oltman allowed in the outing, while she struck out eight and walked one in five innings.
Game two started much the way game one did, with SDSU scoring one run in the top of the first. A pair of CU errors and three hits by the Jackrabbits produced the early lead for the visitors once again.
Again CU did not score until the bottom of the second inning, as Loeffelholz unloaded her second home run of the day with one out. The junior now has six home runs on the year and team-best 18 extra-base hits. Two more Bluejay runs crossed the plate in the third. Jadlowski walked to start the inning and she was followed by a bunt single from Liz McKewon. With one out, Sinkler sent a hard single to center field to load the bases for Dawson. The CU shortstop delivered a sacrifice fly against the left field fence, scoring Jadlowski with the go-ahead run. Graner added an RBI single to put the Jays up 3-1 after three in the night cap.
Creighton returns to Missouri Valley Conference play this weekend when it plays a three-game series at Missouri State. The Bluejays and Bears play a pair on Saturday at noon and conclude the series with a single game on Sunday at noon.