KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Elleana Navarro lined a single to right field to score Sydney Nichols with the winning run as Kansas City claimed a 3-2 walk-off win in eight innings over Creighton on Tuesday at Urban Youth Academy. Navarro’s hit capped off a two-run eighth inning that erased the Bluejays’ 2-1 lead after the top of the eighth.
With one out in the bottom of the eighth, Kansas City’s Katie Noble was hit by a pitch from Jena Lawrence. Briona Woods then grounded to second as Noble was forced out, leaving Woods on first. After a walk to Nichols put runners on first and second, Creighton’s Ensley Frame was unable to come up with a grounder at second, allowing Woods to score and tie the game and moving Nichols to third. The next batter, Navarro, then lined her single to right, scoring Nichols and giving the Roos the win.
The win leaves Creighton at 17-11 on the season while Kansas City improved to 10-18.
Creighton had taken a 2-1 lead in the top of the eighth when Emma Rosonke walked and then scored on a double to center by Sydney Potter.
Creighton put the lead-off batter on base in each of the first four innings and moved a runner into scoring position in each of the first three frames but was unable to take advantage.
Kansas City broke the ice in the bottom of the fourth when Woods doubled with two outs and scored on a single by Nichols.
The Bluejays tied the game at 1-1 in the sixth when Lily West started the inning by lining a single to right before being replaced by pinch-runner Lynn Davis. Madeline Vejvoda sacrificed Davis to second ahead of Rosonke and Potter each drawing a walk from Camryn Stickel to load the bases. Alyssa Gappa lined a sac fly to Lauren Parker in left, allowing Davis to score and moving up Rosonke and Potter on an errant throw back to the infield. Pinch-hitter Ella Dalton struck out to end the threat and leave the teams tied at 1-1.
Each team put runners on base in the seventh but neither was able to push across the go-ahead run.
Stickel came on to pitch for Kansas City with two outs in the fifth inning and retired Cayla Nielsen on a diving catch in foul territory in left field for the third out of the inning. Stickel went 3.1 innings and walked three while striking out five in earning the win and improving to 5-8. Lawrence (2-3) took the loss despite yielding just two hits in her 3.2 innings of relief. She walked two and struck out one.
The Bluejays are back in action Friday in South Orange, N.J. as they start a three-game series at Seton Hall.
