OMAHA, Neb. – Freshman Natalia Puchino tossed a no-hitter while the Bluejays launched six home runs as the Creighton softball team cruised to a pair of victories over Kansas City in the Bluejays home opener on Wednesday afternoon.
Creighton recorded a 10-1 run-rule victory in game one before Puchino tossed the Bluejays 26th no-hitter since 1994 in a 6-0 win in game two. It was the Bluejays first seven-inning no-hitter since Micaela Whitney tossed a seven-inning no-hitter against Seton Hall on April 2, 2016.
The pair of wins lifts the Creighton record to 13-11 on the year, while Kansas City fell to 5-19 overall with the losses.
After falling behind 1-0 early in game one on a solo home run by Ally Vonfeldt, Creighton settled in scoring three in the bottom half of the first, one in the third and six in the fifth to earn a 10-1 run-rule victory, the Bluejays third straight run-rule victory.
Creighton used a double to left center by freshman Lily West and a single to left by junior Madeline Vejvoda to get things rolling. Junior Alyssa Gappa followed with an RBI double to left center, scoring West from second for the Bluejays first run of the day. Junior Emma Rosonke then loaded the bases with a walk, before Vejvoda and Gappa came around to score on a fielding error by the Roos second baseman to give Creighton a 3-1 lead.
The Roos threatened to cut into the Bluejays lead in the third, loading the bases, before junior Payton Akers entered the game and closed the door with a strikeout and a putout to second to keep Kansas City off the scoreboard.
The Bluejays, however, would tack on an additional run in the bottom half of the innings on a solo home run by Gappa to straight away center, extending the advantage to 4-1.
The score remained that way until the bottom of the fifth, when the Bluejays exploded for six runs. Croker led off the frame with a single to center, while sophomore Sydra Seville perfectly executed a bunt to place runner on first and second with no outs. Following a pair of outs, senior Kailey Wilson drew an eight-pitch walk to load the bases for West. West delivered with a two-run single to right center, before an RBI single to left by Vejvoda pushed the lead out to 7-1. Following a walk by Gappa that loaded the bases once again, Rosonke slapped a bases clearing double to center, ending the game as Creighton claimed the 10-1 victory.
Akers earned the win for the Bluejays after tossing 2.2 innings of scoreless work, while West finished game one going 3-for-4 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored, while Vejvoda and Gappa each contributed two hits apiece.
In game two, Puchino came out firing, striking out a season-high six batter on the way to the first no-hitter of her Bluejay career. Puchino allowed walks in each of the first two innings before retiring 12 straight batters.
All of Creighton’s runs in game two came off of the lone ball as four different Bluejays launched home runs, led by two blasts from Wilson.
Gappa gave Creighton an early lead with a solo home run to center before Wilson blasted a no-doubter of her own over the left field wall to give Creighton a 2-0 edge.
The Bluejays would add three additional runs in the fifth as Seville earned a two-out walk before West lined a two-run shot over the left field wall for the first home run of her collegiate career. Vejvoda followed with a solo shot of her own to center field for her first home run of the season as Creighton took a 5-0 lead into the sixth.
In the sixth, Wilson hit her second home run of the afternoon, securing the 6-0 win for the Bluejays.
Wilson closed the game with a pair of homers, while six other Bluejays recorded at least one hit in the ball game. The five home runs hit in the game are the most home runs hit in a game since the Bluejays launched six against South Dakota on March 27, 2019 and is tied for the third most ever in a single game.
The Bluejays return to action on Friday, March 17 at 2 p.m. when they travel to Villanova for the BIG EAST opener.
Creighton Softball wins two over KC
