ARLINGTON, Texas – A walk-off single from Marley Neises proved to be the difference as the Creighton softball team fell, 4-3, in extra innings to UT Arlington in the finale of the Boerner Invitational on Sunday afternoon.
The Bluejays dropped the 5-10 with the loss, while the Mavericks improved to 6-8 overall.
Freshman Audrey Gilman suffered the loss, allowing two runs on two hits and three walks in 2.1 innings of work. The Bluejays only managed to record three hits in the contest with sophomore Tara Vandewater leading the way with a single, RBI and run scored.
The Bluejays broke open a scoreless pitcher’s duel, plating two runs in the top of the fourth inning. Junior Kaelan Schultz opened the inning with a leadoff walk and advanced to second on groundout from Keegan Mayhue, before pinch runner Lynn Davis came in to score on an RBI single from Vandewater to give Creighton a 1-0 lead. Two pitches later, Vandewater would slide into home on a pass ball to put the Jays out in front 2-0.
UT Arlington, however, would get a solo home run from Kelsey Creech in the fourth and an RBI fielder’s choice from Creech in the sixth to level the contest at 2-2.
Starting extras all knotted up at 2-2 and a runner on second, Creighton would regain the lead when Zoey Greenwood advanced to third on a groundout from senior Lily West, before Schultz delivered an RBI sacrifice fly to right field to give CU a 3-2 advantage.
Refusing to back down, the Mavericks answered quickly loading the bases on a hit-by-pitch and international walk, before Kaitlyn Sailor’s drew a bases loaded walk to level the contest at 3-3. Neises then stepped up to the plate and delivered a walk-off single to secure the 4-3 victory for the Mavericks.
Creighton will return to action next weekend when they travel to mountain country for the Colorado Classic. The Bluejays will open play on Friday in Greeley, Colorado with a doubleheader against Northern Colorado.