By: Wichita State
OMAHA, Neb. – Liz Dike's sixth inning inside the park home run was the difference in Creighton's 1-0 victory over Wichita State Saturday afternoon at the CU Sports Complex in Omaha, Neb.
Wichita State senior Katie Armagost and Creighton junior Becca Changstrom engaged in an intense pitching duel throughout the afternoon keeping the game scoreless through the games first five innings.
Armagost matched a career high with eight strikeouts and allowed only four hits in her 17th complete game of the year. Changstrom also went the distance and recorded her conference best 12th double-digit strikeout game of the season.
After each starting pitcher recorded a pair of strikeouts in a scoreless first inning the Shockers posed the first scoring threat of the game as Ali Vandever followed Hayley Temple's one-out walk with a single to left field. Changstrom, the conference leader in wins and ERA fought back and induced a popup in foul territory to third base from Brianne Bond and struck out Abby Furstenberg to end the top half of the second.
The pitchers duel extended into the sixth inning when Dike hit a high fly ball to right centerfield that rode the wind and ricocheted off the top of the fence nearly 30 feet allowing Dike to slide in a step ahead of the throw home from Danika Miller.
The Shockers nearly registered a dramatic comeback in the top of the seventh with a bunt single by Carney, a walk to Ali Vandever, and another infield single from Brianne Bond loaded the bases with two outs. Changstrom capped her impressive outing with her tenth strikeout to end the game.
Wichita State still holds a two-game lead over Bradley for the final spot in the MVC Tournament following the Bravettes 3-0 loss to Missouri State Saturday. The Shockers clinch the final tournament berth with one win Sunday or one Bradley loss. If Bradley sweeps Sunday's home doubleheader with Missouri State and Creighton sweeps both games with WSU, Bradley will clinch the final postseason spot in the conference tournament courtesy of a better record against the top seed (Creighton).
The two teams will finish the regular season concluding three-game series Sunday at CU Sports Complex with a 12 p.m. doubleheader.
-WICHITA STATE-
