The Presbyterian College softball team out-hit Creighton, 5-4, but were unable to convert them to runs, falling to the Bluejays, 3-0, in the final match-up of the Rebel Spring Games held in Winter Haven, Fla.
The Blue Hose fall to 7-9 overall, while Creighton improves to 5-4. PC opens the home season next week with a doubleheader against East Tennessee State, Wed., March 11 at 2 p.m. Next for PC is a three-game series with UNC Wilmington Mar. 14-15, with a doubleheader Saturday and a single game Sunday. First pitch for both days is at 1 p.m.
PC opened the game strong with a single by Jill McLean. After stealing second she was unable to gain any more ground as the next three batters struck out and popped out to end the inning. Kensley Loudermelk struck out three the bottom of the frame to keep the Bluejays at bay.
After a quiet second for the Blue Hose, Creighton led the bottom of the inning with a walk by Jen Daro. She reached third off another walk and a sacrifice bunt, but was held up after the next two Bluejay batters fouled out and grounded out.
Creighton struck in the third off a Liz Dike sacrifice fly, that sent home Kelsey Allender, who had led off the inning with a single and advanced to third off a PC error.
The Blue Hose got close again in the top of the fourth after Shelby Petik opened the frame with a base hit to left. She stole second the next play but Creighton ended the threat, forcing two pop ups and a strikeout.
Bri McMahon doubled in the bottom of the forth and made it to third off a stolen base, but a stellar defensive play by PC that saw Kersten Legacki catch a line drive and tag out McMahon before she could get back to third, stopped a run from coming home.
Dike tripled to left center in the bottom of the fifth, driving in Erin McGonical, who was on off a walk, and Michelle Trulin, who was in off a fielder's choice, to make it 3-0 in favor of Creighton.
Petik picked up her second hit of the game with two outs in the top of the sixth, with a triple to left center. The next PC batter flied out to left to end the inning before she could score.
The Bluejays went down in order in the bottom of the sixth to set up the Blue Hose in the top of the seventh. After the first two batters popped up, Blaire Miller recorded her first single of the day with a base hit up the middle. Again, Creighton came through in the end, striking out the next batter for the final out of the game.
Creighton finished with four hits, compared to five for PC. Both team stranded five runners in the game as well.
Loudermelk took the loss for PC (3-3), going 4.1 innings and giving up two earned runs off four hits. Katie Brown came in for the final 1.2 innings, with no hits and one strikeout.
Petik paced PC offensively with two hits, followed by McLean, Rogers and Miller with one apiece.
Creighton was led by Sydnee Eck in the circle. She threw a complete game, giving up five hits and striking out seven in the shutout win (1-1).
Dike went one-for-two with three RBI to pace Creighton.
