Politixia
MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. – Junior Payton Akers recorded a no-hitter and junior Emma Rosonke finished 6-for-6 as the Creighton softball team closed out its stay at THE Spring Games with a pair of run-rule victories over Penn on Wednesday morning at the ROC Complex in Madeira Beach, Florida. The Bluejays cruised to a five-inning 10-0 win in game one before capturing an 8-0 win in game two.
Creighton ended its stay at THE Spring Game with a 5-3 mark and leveled its overall record at 11-11 with the wins.
Akers’ struck out a season-high eight batters, while recording the Bluejays 25th no-hitter since 1994 but the first no-hitter since Kiele Miller no-hit Arkansas-Pine Bluff in a 9-0 win on Feb. 16, 2019. Rosonke capped off her historic day with a 6-for-6 showing with six RBIs, two doubles, a home run and three runs scored to lead the Bluejays offense, while freshman Natalia Puchino tossed a one-hit wonder in the first game of the day.
Creighton scored 10 runs on 13 hits during game one as the Bluejays soared to the run-rule victory.
The Bluejays started the scoring with three runs in the bottom of the second inning as Rosonke and senior Saren Croker hit back-to-back singles to open the frame. A sacrifice bunt by sophomore Sydra Seville moved the duo over to second and third before freshman Ensley Frame lined an RBI single back up the middle, scoring Rosonke from third for the first run of the game. Junior Cayla Nielsen followed with a two-out two-run double into the left center field gap to extend the Bluejays advantage out to 3-0.
Creighton tacked on three additional runs in the home half of the third innings as Rosonke blasted a three-run home run over the right field fence to extend the Bluejays lead out to 6-0.
In the fourth, Frame singled to lead off the inning while Nielsen walked to put runners on first and second for junior Madeline Vejvoda. Vejvoda then lined an RBI single into center field to push the Bluejays advantage to 7-0. Following a walk by Alyssa Gappa, Rosonke drove in her fourth run of the game with an RBI single to right center making the score 8-0. Senior Saren Croker then secured the run-rule win for the Bluejays with a two-run single to left center giving Creighton a 10-0 lead.
Puchino tossed the one-hit complete-game shutout, striking out two batters to improve to 6-3 on the year in the circle, while Rosonke ended the first game 3-for-3 with four RBI, her eighth four RBI game in the last two seasons. Seven different Bluejays recorded at least one hit, while five collected two as the offense exploded for 13 total base knocks.
Creighton continued right where they left off in game two, scoring two in the first and six in the third on the way to an 8-0 run-rule victory.
Nielsen gave Creighton the early lead by slapping a led off solo home run to right center to open the game. It was Nielsen’s first home run of the season. Freshman Lily West followed with a double to left and would come around to score on a two-out EBI single by Rosonke to make it 2-0 after the top of the first inning.
The Bluejays would add six additional runs in the third on three doubles, a single, a pair of walks and a hit-by-pitch to soar out to an 8-0 lead. Gappa hit a double over the left fielders head before scoring on the second double of the game by Rosonke. Croker and freshman Ella Dalton reached on a hit-by-pitch and a walk to load the bases before Erika Perez delivered a two-run double into the left center field gap for her first double of her Bluejay career.
Leading 5-0, Frame reloaded the bases by reaching on a fielding error by the pitcher, while Nielsen drew an RBI walk to extend the lead to 6-0. A sacrifice fly by West pushed the score to 7-0 before an RBI single from Vejvoda gave Creighton an 8-0 advantage.
Rosonke closed the game with another 3-for-3 performance, finishing with two doubles and two RBIs, while Nielsen finished with a pair of hits including a home run and a pair of RBI. Seven Bluejay hitters recorded a hit in the game, while Akers did not allow a hit and struck out a season-high eight batters in the circle to earn her third victory of the season.
After opening the season with 22 straight games away from home, the Bluejays are set to open the home portion of their schedule on Tuesday, March 14, when they take on Kansas City in a doubleheader. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. at the Creighton Sports Complex.
