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Creighton won't give Arkansas-Pine Bluff a chance to get familiar with its lineup this weekend.

The Bluejays plan to use the rare four-game softball series, with doubleheaders Saturday at noon and Sunday at 11 a.m., to parcel out playing time to as many Bluejays as possible.

"That's one of the goals this weekend," Creighton coach Brent Vigness said. "We may start four to five different people the second game."

Creighton had originally planned to play in a tournament, but when those plans fell through they had to find a last-minute replacement. Hence the four-game series instead of the usual three.

While not the best scenario, the Bluejays still headed out on the 11-hour bus ride Friday thrilled to escape the snow and cold in Omaha.

"No white stuff and sunny," Vigness said. "That will work."

Although still young, 13 Bluejays return who started at least 12 games last season. The pitching staff is deeper, the returning players older and wiser and, Vigness said, the hitting should be improved.

Sophomore pitcher Becca Changstrom, 18-11 last spring with a 1.96 ERA, will start the first game of the series, with Texas-Arlington transfer Alexis Cantu getting the nod in the second. Sammy Snygg, finally healthy after battling tendonitis and foot problems; Brittany Telecky, who came on strong in the second half of last season, and senior Kylie Hovinga give the Bluejays plenty of options in the circle.

All five have completely different pitches, Vigness said.

"They will really complement each other," he said. "If one is off or one is getting hit, we have other options to give teams another look. Any of them can come in relief. That's going to be important as the season goes on.''

The Bluejays, picked to finish fifth in the Missouri Valley Conference, brought in five new players — three will start in the opener. Liz Dike, who left Lincoln Southwest early to enroll at CU, will start at shortstop. Allie Mathewson, from Papillion-La Vista South, gets the nod at first base and will bat leadoff. Cantu will be the designated player.

The rotating roster will continue until Vigness finds his strongest lineup for the start of Valley play March 17 at Bradley.

"Our goals are to compete for the championship in the Missouri Valley," he said. "We were .500 last year and we were young and had injuries. I feel like we're stronger all the way around."

* * *

Creighton softball roster

1B ALLIE MATHEWSON: The freshman from Papillion-La Vista South will bat leadoff. A catcher in high school, she'll see time at first base and in the outfield.

OF EMILY PERRY: The junior from Papillion-La Vista South started 24 games in right field but also appeared as a pinch-runner 14 times.

P/1B ALEXIS CANTU: The transfer started 34 of 39 games for Texas-Arlington. She'll see time this weekend in the circle and as a designated player.

C BRIANNE LINGL: The freshman will spell Amy Baker, who played about every pitch last year at catcher.

P BECCA CHANGSTROM: The second-team All-Valley pitcher was 18-11 with a 1.96 ERA last season. The eight shutouts by the Lincoln Southwest sophomore were the most ever by a Bluejay freshman.

1B McKENNA SETLIK: Top bat off the bench, the sophomore from Omaha Skutt went 5 for 17 (.294) with three RBIs as a pinch-hitter last season.

IF ASHLEY FRUTOS: After coming off the bench, she started 23 games. The junior tied for the lead with eight sacrifice bunts in league play.

OF BLAIR LOWE: The sophomore played in 29 games off the bench, 16 as a pinch-runner and 13 as a pinch-hitter last year.

IF TAYLOR FLODMAN: Newcomer from Lincoln North Star has showed her versatility, working out at third, shortstop and second.

OF ELLEN HOMAN: The sophomore from Omaha Skutt led the team in batting average (.308), at-bats (169), hits (52), runs (25) and doubles (6).

P KYLIE HOVINGA: She was 3-3 last year with a 4.61 ERA. The senior from Papillion-La Vista had three complete games and a five-inning no-hitter.

SS LIZ DIKE: Freshman from Lincoln Southwest enrolled early, and will start at shortstop.

OF CHRISTA RUF: Started every game in center to run her consecutive-starts streak to 88. The senior from Omaha Westside ranked second on the team with home runs (9), RBIs (32) and walks (21).

P/1B SAMMY SNYGG: The junior is finally healthy. Ranked second on the team with 170 putouts and led the team with a .995 fielding percentage.

IF MaKENZIE MICHAEL: Ranked second on the team with a .300 average. The sophomore from Bellevue East hit .400 (10 for 25) with runners in scoring position.

C AMY BAKER: The Omaha Westside grad led the Valley last season with 18 home runs, the most by a sophomore in school history, the second-most in CU single-season history and the third highest total in league history.

IF BRITTNIE KREISER: The sophomore from Council Bluffs Lewis Central ranked third on the team with 14 walks, despite ranking ninth in plate appearances. Half of her 10 hits went for extra bases.

P BRITTANY TELECKY: Her 16 relief appearances were the most by a Jay since 1997. The sophomore from Seward led the team with a 1.95 ERA in Valley games.

Contact the writer:

402-444-1034, marjie.ducey@owh.com

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