“The specifics of the contract are disclosed.” I think it’s fair to say that we’ve heard that phrase once or twice in the last week. What I’m referring to though is the contract I’m expecting to receive from the Creighton softball program. Here’s why: before I started covering the softball games, they were on a seven-game losing streak and sat near the bottom of the conference standings. Since I started covering them, they’ve won 15 of their last 17 games, including 12 straight in the Valley. Now just two games out of first place with a three-game series against conference-leading Illinois State, they’re in good position to claim a fourth consecutive regular season MVC championship.
Unfortunately for me, I think Coach Vigness would argue that their recent success is not due to any good luck that I may bring. Instead, he’d probably tell me that Tara Oltman’s overpowering pitching and the team’s much improved hitting has kick-started their recent joyride on Winning Street.
As the spring sports season winds down and the baseball team seems to be inconsistent at best, it is looking more and more that the Lady Jays are the only chance for a Creighton team to make the NCAA Tournament in my first year as a Jays fan. If Vigness’ squad can carry their confidence into the postseason, I like their odds.
After shutting out the Drake Bulldogs in their first two meetings this year by scores of 8-0 and 2-0, the Jays needed a comeback to snatch their 12th straight MVC victory by a score of 6-3
Amy Baker used her 12th home run of the season to grab a 1-0 first inning lead. Two batters later, Sara Loeffelholz’s RBI triple to right-center tacked on a second run, ending the first inning with a two-run lead. Drake fought right back in the top of the second inning with their first two earned runs off of Oltman since April 15th, 2009. A Creighton fielding error allowed another run to score giving the Bulldogs a brief lead. In the bottom half of the inning, a Michelle Koch single scored Kari Sakamoto, who pinch ran for Ashley Frutos.
By the bottom of the fifth, only one batter had reached base since the second inning. This caused me to believe it was a good idea to use the bathroom, because I really had to go. It turns out that it was a bad idea. Two hit batters, two walks, a wild pitch, and a single later, the Jays had a 6-3 lead and I had a relieved bladder.
After getting out of a jam in the sixth inning, Oltman finished strong in the final inning, grabbing her 25th win of the season (24 of which are complete games). Her 12 strikeouts matched her season high.
She is expected to pitch in tonight’s I-80 battle at Nebraska. The Jays carry a five-game winning streak at Bowlin Stadium.