Bradley 12, Nevada 7
No. 8 Stanford 3, Bradley 2

PALO ALTO, Calif. -- After falling behind 3-0, Bradley rallied for a 12-7 victory against Nevada in the Braves' first game at the Stanford Nike Invitational Friday afternoon. The Braves tallied a season-high 12 hits and also collected the most runs in a game since April 2010 in the victory.

The Braves (3-3 overall) scored six runs in the first five games of the season, but scored the most runs in a game since topping Indiana State 12-2 in Terre Haute, Ind. On April 17, 2010 in the 12-7 win against the Wolfpack. Bradley trailed 3-0 and 5-4, before using a seven-run sixth inning to take control.

Playing in her home state for the first time in her collegiate career, freshman Shannon King went 3-for-4 with three RBI and a run, while sophomore Bailiegh Basham hit her first home run in addition to scoring twice and driving in a pair to help highlight Bradley's offensive outburst.

Nevada (1-6 overall) scored a pair of runs in the first and pushed another run across in the bottom of the third to take a 3-0 lead.

Bradley had just two hits in the first three innings off Nevada starter Karlyn Jones, but finally got to the Wolfpack hurler in the fourth. Senior Jackie Roth had a single and King drove in BU's first run of the game with a triple to right center as the Braves cut the Nevada lead to 3-1.

BU scored three runs on just two hits in the top of the fifth to take a 4-3 lead. Back-to-back singles to open the inning chased Jones from the game and a one-out walk by Basham loaded the bases. Senior Alison Kresl scored on a wild pitch and fellow senior Julie Sherman raced home on a Nevada error on the play. Basham later scored on a double steal to put Bradley in front 4-3.

Nevada collected five hits in the bottom half of the fifth and scored twice to go back in front 5-4, before Bradley's seven-run sixth. Sophomore Mariah Cole opened the scoring with a bases loaded single and a bases loaded walk by Basham drove in the second run of the inning.

Another run came in when sophomore Madeline Lynch-Crumrine reached on a fielder's choice and Roth knocked in her team-leading fourth run of the year with a bases loaded single. California native Alyson Clemente drove in a run with her first career hit and King capped the inning with a two-run single through the right side to help Bradley go in front 11-5.

Basham belted her first career home run in the top of the seventh to push the BU advantage to 12-5. Nevada scored two in the bottom half of the seventh on a two-run homer by Ashley Butera.

Junior Mackenzie Camp picked up the win in relief of Bradley starter Lindsay Hufeld. Camp gave up two runs and six hits in three innings of work as she evened her record at 1-1.

Sophomore Bailiegh Basham (Mattoon, Ill./Mattoon/Lake Land C.C.) had a two-run single in the sixth to the game at 2-2, but eighth-ranked Stanford answered with a run in the bottom half of the inning to edge Bradley 3-2 Friday night at the Stanford Nike Invitational.

Despite managing just two hits off Stanford starter Teagan Gerhart, Bradley (3-4 overall) capitalized on a pair of Cardinal errors in the sixth to the game at 2-2. Sophomore Madeline Lynch-Crumrine (Sedro-Woolley, Wash./Sedro-Woolley) gave up just four hits and two earned runs, while striking out seven in the loss.

Pitching dominated the game early on with both starters taking no hitters into the fourth. Stanford (6-2 overall) finally broke through for a hit in the bottom of the fourth, tallying three of the squad's four hits off Lynch-Crumrine in the inning. Ashley Hansen led off the frame with a single and Jenna Rich drove her in with a triple. Rich later scored on a passed ball as Stanford took a 2-0 lead into the top of the sixth.

Gerhart struck out 11 Bradley hitters on the night and took a no-hit bid into the sixth before sophomore Alex Chandler (Needles, Calif./Needles) broke up the no hitter with a bunt single. A pair of Stanford errors loaded the bases for the Braves and Basham delivered a one-out single up the middle to plate Chandler and Cole and tie the game at 2-2. A First-Team All-Pac 10 selection last year, Gerhart struck out the next two batters she faced to get out of the inning.

A leadoff walk to open the bottom half of the sixth proved costly for Lynch-Crumrine and the Braves. Hanna Winter reached on a fielder's choice following a walk to Jenna Becerra to open the inning and Tegan Schmidt drove in what proved to be the game-winning run with a double to left.

Gerhart retired Bradley in order in the top of the seventh to close out the win for Stanford as she improved to 6-1 on the year.

Lynch-Crumrine was the hard-luck loser for the Braves, dropping her record to 1-3 on the year.


Creighton 5, Northern Illinois 4
Creighton 8, South Dakota State 1

DENTON, Texas - Creighton improved to 5-0 with a 5-4 eight-inning win over Northern Illinois in Friday's first game of the Fairfield Inn & Suites Classic hosted by North Texas. The Bluejays jumped out to a 4-0 lead, but the Huskies scored four runs in the sixth inning, before the Jays scored in the eighth for the win.

In the second inning, Ashley Frutos was hit by a pitch and Sammy Snygg reached on a bunt single to start the frame. After a sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position, Christa Ruf walked to load the bases. With two outs, Ellen Homan cleared the bases with double to left field, putting the Bluejays up 3-0.

Allie Mathewson reached on a one-out single in the fourth inning and would later score on a wild pitch to give the Bluejays a 4-0 lead.

Sophomore right-hander Becca Changstrom kept the Huskies (3-3) off the board until the bottom of the sixth inning. NIU used three doubles and four hits in the frame to plate four runs and tie the game.

Creighton, which stranded 11 runners in the game, left two runners on base in the seventh, after Amy Baker was issued her third walk of the game to leadoff the frame.

Changstrom, who was lifted in the sixth inning, re-entered for the seventh inning, working around the fifth NIU double of the game to get her team to the eighth.

The international tie-break rule was used in the eighth inning, placing Liz Dike at second base to start the inning. Dike moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a ball hit by Mathewson.

The Huskies were retired in order in the bottom of the eighth inning, with Changstrom catching a pop up to end the game.

Homan finished the game 2-for-3 with three RBI and two stolen bases, while Mathewson was 2-for-5 with an RBI and run scored. Baker was 1-for-1 with three walks in the victory.

Changstrom pitched a 7.1 innings to improve to 3-0 on the season. The righty allowed six hits and three runs, walking one and striking out five in the win.

Five of NIU's hits were doubles, including two off the bat of Stephanie Tofft.

Creighton hitters worked 12 walks from South Dakota State pitchers en route to an 8-1 win over the Jackrabbits Friday afternoon at the Fairfield Inn & Suites Classic hosted by North Texas. The win was Creighton's sixth straight to start the season, equaling its second-best start in school history.

The Jackrabbits (0-1) scored the first run of the game on a solo home run by Emily Weber to give SDSU a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning.

Creighton (6-0) responded with a run of its own in the bottom of the third. Ellen Homan walked to start the inning and Amy Baker was then hit by a pitch. Homan stole third base and would later score on a ground out by Taylor Flodman to tie the score.

The Jays plated five runs in the fourth inning. Liz Dike singled to start the frame and after stealing second, would score on a single by Allie Mathewson. Mathewson scored the second run of the inning when Homan reached on an error by the SDSU third baseman, Tina Winter. Homan crossed the plate on an RBI single from Alexis Cantu and the Jays led 4-0. Flodman would add an RBI single and a bases loaded walk issued to Blair Lowe pushed across the fifth run of the inning.

A bases loaded walk to Baker in the fifth inning added to CU's lead and an RBI single by Homan in the sixth inning capped the game's scoring.

Baker would be walked three times in the game, to give her six walks in two games played on Friday. Homan also walked three times in the game, finishing 1-for-2 with an RBI and two runs scored. Mathewson was the only Bluejay to record more than one hit in the game, going 2-for-4 with an RBI and run scored.

Sammy Snygg (2-0) picked up her second win in as many starts for the Bluejays, hurling five innings and allowing just four hits and one run. The junior right-hander struck out six and walked two. Brittany Telecky did not allow a hit in her two innings of relief to close out the win.

Pam Nicholson (0-1) took the loss for SDSU, she lasted 3.2 innings, walked seven and allowed five hits and six runs in the season-opener for the Jackrabbits.

Creighton is 6-0 for the first time since 2007 and is 6-0 for the fourth time in school history. In two of the previous 6-0 starts, the Jays lost game seven, while the best start in Bluejay softball history was recorded by the 1987 team which started 10-0.


Drake vs. Wisconsin - Moved to Sunday, Feb. 19 at 8:30 AM
Drake vs. South Florida - Cancelled


Illinois State 10, Iowa State 2
Illinois STate 7, Iowa 3

TEMPE, Ariz. - The Illinois State softball team plated 17 runs in a pair of victories Friday afternoon at the Littlewood Classic in Tempe, Ariz., to improve to 5-1 on the season. The Redbirds bested Iowa State, 10-2, in six innings, before notching a 7-3 win over Iowa in the nightcap.

Senior Caiti Kopp led ISU offensively, finishing the day 4-for-7 at the plate with five RBI and four runs scored. Fellow senior Liz Andrews also posted a pair of multiple-hit performances and scored three times.

In the circle, senior Jordan Birch had a career day against the Hawkeyes to improve to 4-0 on the year. Birch fanned a career-high 14 opposing hitters to bring her season strikeout total to 34 in 18 innings. Fellow senior Megan Warner earned the win in game one, allowing two earned runs on six hits in the complete-game effort.

After a scoreless first, Illinois State jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the opener by plating a pair of runs in the bottom of the second. Sophomore Laura Canopy led off the inning with a solo homer to center and redshirt sophomore Nichelle Harrison drove in Kopp with a sacrifice fly to center later in the frame.

The Redbirds doubled their lead in the bottom of the third on a two-run double by junior Elizabeth Kay. Junior Lauren Kellar singled up the middle to start the inning and Andrews followed with a double, before Kay's line drive down the left field line.

Iowa State got on the board by scoring two runs on four hits in its half of the fourth, but Warner limited the damage and the Cyclones left the bases loaded. ISU answered by scoring four runs in the fifth, highlighted by sophomore Kolby Hoffman's two-run triple to right center.

Kopp delivered an RBI single up the middle in the sixth and Hoffman drew a bases-loaded walk to end the game for her third RBI of the contest to give Illinois State the 10-2 win.

In the nightcap, Iowa got to Birch early, using two-out hits in both the first and second innings to take a 2-0 lead. Katie Keim drove in Megan Blank with a two-out double in the first and Johnni Dowling drove a two-out single through the right side to score Brianna Luna in the second.

Hawkeye starter Chelsea Lyon held the Redbirds hitless for three innings, before they tied the game with a four-hit stanza in the fourth. Andrews and Canopy led off the inning with back-to-back singles and Kopp halved the Iowa advantage with a double down the left field line that scored Andrews. Harrison knotted the score at 2-2 on a short single to left to score Canopy. With the bases loaded and only one out, Lyon pitched out of the jam, getting a pair of groundouts to end the threat.

ISU opened up the game by taking advantage of a pair of Hawkeye errors, resulting in a five-run seventh. Hoffman found herself on second to start the inning, after Iowa right fielder Luna misplayed a fly ball. Kellar advanced Hoffman to third on a sacrifice bunt and junior Jhavon Hamilton gave Illinois State a 3-2 lead with a single through the right side.

After Andrews reached on a catcher's interference call and Canopy walked to load the bases, Kopp delivered the bit hit of the inning, clearing the bases with a deep double to left center that extended the Redbird margin to 6-2. Redshirt sophomore Sara Bradley capped the inning with a single to left that scored Kopp.

Birch allowed a run on two hits in the bottom of the seventh, but struck out the side for the third time in the game for her 14th strikeout.

Illinois State continues the Littlewood Classic Saturday afternoon against Central Michigan and Minnesota. The Redbirds are slated to play the Chippewas at 12 p.m.and the Golden Gophers at 4 p.m.


Missouri State 7, Sam Houston State 2
North Texas 5, Missouri State 0

Denton, Texas – The Missouri State softball team (1-1) got its first victory of the season, head coach Holly Hesse’s 600th career win, today with a 7-2 decision over Sam Houston State (0-6) at Pioneer Field in Denton, Texas. In the nightcap of the Fairfield Inn and Suites Classic, the Bears fell to host North Texas (3-3) at Lovelace Stadium, 5-0.

“We came out and played well in all three aspects of the game,” said Hesse after game one. “Our pitching was outstanding. Our defense was solid and getting double-digit hits in the first game out was great. A tremendous all-around effort in every aspect of the game in our first game out this season.”

Game 1 vs. Sam Houston State
Sophomore Ashley Brentz had a perfect game at the plate, going 4-for-4. She scored twice and drove in another run. Brentz also had a clutch relay to the plate from right field to cut down a SHSU runner to end the fifth inning.

The Bears jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first inning. Junior Kirstin Cutter reached on an error and moved to second on a single by Ashley Brentz. Cutter advanced to third when Heather Duckworth flew out to right field and scored on a double steal with two outs. Caitlin Chapin followed with a two-out RBI double just inside the line to left field.

Missouri State added to its lead in the second inning as pitcher Savannah Wiggins led off the inning with a solo home run to left field. Cutter laid down a bunt, reaching first without a throw. After a stolen base by Cutter, Brentz put the Bears up 4-0 with a two-out RBI double down the right field line.

Sam Houston State got on the board in the bottom of the third inning. The Bearkats added another run in the fifth to cut the Bears’ lead in half, 4-2.

Game 2 vs. North Texas
UNT took an early 2-0 lead with a pair of RBI hits. The Mean Green extended the lead to 4-0 in the second inning behind an RBI single and a bases loaded walk. UNT’s Maddelyn Fraley led off the third with a solo home run on the first pitch from Chelsea Jones.

The Bears threatened in the third inning. Kirstin Cutter led off the inning with a double to the right center gap. Two batters later, she advanced to third when Ashley Brentz blooped a single over the third baseman. But MSU couldn’t convert and left both runners stranded.

Jones got the start and struggled in her first collegiate outing. She got one batter into the third inning after giving up five runs, only three were earned, and walked three. But she did record two strikeouts, one in each of the first two innings.

Natalie Rose pitched the final four innings shutting down the Mean Green offense. She continued her domination of UNT, having pitched 15 innings to earn a win and a save while striking out 14 over her last three outings against UNT.

Missouri State will continue play at the Fairfield Inn and Suites Classic in Denton, Texas, on Saturday with games against South Dakota State (3:00 p.m.) and Northern Illinois (5:30 p.m.) . The Bears will wrap up the weekend against Sam Houston State at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday. Stevie Pierce drove in a run with a sharp single to center in the top of the seventh. After a walk loaded the bases, pinch hitter Chelsea Jones singled to center to drive in two more runs. The Bears headed to the bottom of the seventh, up 7-2.


Southern Illinois 10, Jacksonville State 9
Southern Illinois 11, Southeastern Louisiana 3 (5)

JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - Heavy hitting once again propelled Southern Illinois softball team to two wins at the JSU Invitational Friday.

The Salukis (4-1) combined for 17 hits, including four home runs, and drew 10 walks in just 14 innings of play as they defeated host Jacksonville State 10-9 and Southeastern Louisiana in a five-inning run-rule victory, 11-3.

In game one, the Salukis got off to an early start against the Ohio Valley Confernce preseason favorite Gamecocks (0-5), using a Haley Gorman three-run home run to take a lead after the first. They padded their lead in the second with a Taylor Orsburn three RBI double to put the Dawgs at 6-0 lead.

The offense from both sides fell seemingly quiet until the bottom of the fifth when the Gamecocks answered with three runs followed by a three run seventh inning to tie the game.

But the Salukis' bats came alive in the seventh, answering the call with four runs including home runs from Allie VadeBoncouer and Kelsea Ashton, both career firsts.

The Gamecocks scored three in the bottom of the seventh but it wasn't enough as Katie Bertelsen came in for her first save of the season giving the Dawgs the win.

Starter Brittney Lang picked up the win moving her to 2-0 on the season.

"We realize we have some young pitchers on the mound and even with Brittney as far as experienced-wise I think her and Katie threw well in their games but I'm just pleased that our offense picked us up and able to hang in there because Jacksonville State is a tough team," SIU head coach Kerri Blaylock said.

Gorman, VadeBoncouer, and Ashton all had two hits for the Salukis while Orsburn, Mallory Duran-Sellers, and Jayna Spivey all added a hit each in the contest.

In game two, the Salukis and Techsters (1-6) went scoreless for the first two innings before VadeBoncouer launched her second home run of the day, a three run shot, to take the lead.

The Techsters would score one in the top of the fourth but an eight run bottom of the inning blew things wide open for the Dawgs as they capitalized on two Techster errors.

An error helped start off the inning bringing two Salukis across the plate followed by an Ashton two RBI single followed by a Gorman RBI double.

Spivey rounded things out in the inning by hitting her first home of the season with a three run bomb to help the Salukis win in five innings.

"Our hitters are doing a good job right now of trying to figure out each pitcher we see and what to hit so right now we're pleased overall offensively there is no question," Blaylock said.

Bertelsen (2-1) earned the win over the Techsters, who scored two runs in the top of the fifth inning but fell short of stopping the run-ruled defeat.

The Salukis return to action tomorrow at the JSU Invitational at 12:30 p.m. against South Alabama.

Wiggins started and pitched into the fifth inning. She allowed just the two runs, while striking out five to earn the win. Natalie Rose entered the game in the fifth with runners on and pitched three scoreless innings to pick up the save.


Wichita State 6, Sam Houston State 4
Wichita State 4, South Dakota State 1

DENTON, Texas- The Wichita State softball team earned a pair of victories Fri. in Denton, Texas defeating Sam Houston State, 6-4, and South Dakota State, 4-1.

Against Sam Houston State the Shockers came back from a 4-0 deficit in the sixth inning exploding for six runs to take the lead. Freshman Sydney Stuever led off the decisive inning with a bunt single. Senior Brittney Osborn followed two batters later with a RBI-single through the left side of the infield to drive in Stuever. Laura Vickers added another RBI-single to drive in Osborn to cut the Sam Houston lead to 4-2. Melanie Jaegers put the Shockers ahead for good with a two-out two-run double down the left field line scoring Vickers and Sammie Shook. Brianne Bond drove in Jaegers with a single to left field to increase the Shocker lead to 6-4.

Sloan Anderson threw her third complete game of the season to earn the victory for Wichita State. Anderson, struck out three and worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the sixth inning to keep the Shockers in the game before the offensive outburst that followed in the bottom of the inning.

In the Shockers second game of the day against South Dakota State, junior Katie Armagost struck out five batters en route to pitching her first complete game of the season. The game was a pitchers duel throughout with the game remaining scoreless through four innings.

The Shockers got on the board first when Layne Greenlee, pinch running for Bond, scored on a double steal attempt from third base while Rachel Milnark occupied the defense in a run-down.

Armagost kept South Dakota State in check the next two innings collecting the last out of each inning with a strikeout.

In the top of the seventh the Shockers added three insurance runs to increase their lead to 4-0. In the inning Milnark came around to score after being hit by a pitch with two outs. Stuever added a single before Osborn belted a home run that easily cleared the right field fence.

Wichita State will play two more games on Saturday beginning with a 10 a.m. game against Northern Illinois. The Shockers will play host school North Texas in a game scheduled for 12:30 p.m.