SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – The Creighton softball team dropped the series finale at Seton Hall, 9-3, on Sunday afternoon at the Essex County Mike Sheppard, Sr. Field in South Orange, N.J.
The loss drops the Bluejays to 18-13 on the year and 3-3 in league play, while the Pirates improved to 13-12 overall and 5-4 in BIG EAST play.
Creighton struck first in the top half of the first inning as sophomore Lily West singled up the middle and both senior Madeline Vejovda and freshman Sydney Potter drew back-to-back walks to load the bases, before a sacrifice fly to deep center gave Creighton a 1-0 lead. Sophomore Ella Dalton followed with an RBI single back up the middle to extend the Jays advantage out to 2-0.
Seton Hall, however, answered with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the frame to level the contest at 2-2. After back-to-back walks by Kelsey Carr and Olivia Gilbert, the Pirates cut the deficit in half, scoring on a Bluejay throwing error. Following a fielder’s choice, Lela Allen lines an RBI single into left to tie the contest at 2-2.
The Pirates would then take their first lead of the game in the bottom of the second on an RBI double to left center by Taylor Hill to make the score 3-2, before an RBI groundout by Gilbert pushed across Hill to give the Pirates a 4-2 lead.
Creighton looked to cut into the Seton Hall lead in the top of the fourth inning, loading the bases on singles from Dalton and sophomore Sydra Seville and a hit-by-pitch by senior Cayla Nielsen. The Bluejays, however, were unable to push across a run across as Seton Hall starter Kyra Kreuscher worked her way out of the jam.
The Pirates would take advantage of the Bluejays missed opportunity, plating two addition runs on an RBI double from Gilbert into right center to give Seton Hall a 6-2 lead after four complete innings.
The Bluejays would cut into the deficit in the top of the sixth inning after Creighton loaded the bases for the third time in the game with back-to-back single by Seville and Pierson, as well as a hit-by-pitch from Nielsen. Sophomore Lily West then delivered an RBI groundout too short to cut the deficit down to 6-3.
Seton Hall, however, would once again answer with three runs in the bottom half of the inning on back-to-back doubles from Gilbert and Katey Brennan, an RBI single from Erin Howard and an RBI sacrifice bunt from Andrea Perez to secure a 9-3 win for the Pirates.
The Bluejays recorded eight hits in the contest, led by a career-high three hits from Dalton and two base knocks from Seville. Junior Kenzie Schopfer suffered the loss, allowing four runs on three hits in 1.1 innings of work.
The Pirates were led by Gilbert with a pair of doubles and three RBI while Kreuscher picked up her sixth win of the season, allowing two runs on four hits in 4.1 innings pitched.
Creighton is back in action on Wednesday night when they travel to Des Moines, Iowa to battle former Missouri Valley Conference rival Drake at 5 p.m.
Creighton Softball drops series finale to Seton Hall
