Freshman Keegan Mayhue hit a three-run walk-off home run in the seventh inning to give the Creighton softball team an 11-10 win over Villanova in the series opener on March 20 at Creighton Softball Stadium.
The game was marked by several lead changes, with both teams rallying throughout. The victory improved Creighton’s record to 13-17 overall and 5-2 in league play, while Villanova dropped to 6-23 and 2-5 in conference games.
Mayhue, who had been hitless in her previous five games, finished with four runs batted in and two hits. Her home run was the first walk-off homer at the new stadium and the first for Creighton since Sydney Potter’s against Purdue Fort Wayne in 2025. “Mayhue entered the day hitless in her last five games before producing four RBI and two hits, including Creighton’s first walkoff home run since Sydney Potter vs. Purdue Fort Wayne in 2025 while recording the first walkoff homer at the new Creighton Softball Stadium,” according to the team.
Villanova took an early lead after Maddie Burrows scored on an RBI fielder’s choice from Lilly St. Jean. Creighton responded quickly with two runs in their half of the first inning, highlighted by a two-run single from Tara Vandewater. Senior Erika Perez added a solo home run in the second inning for her sixth of the season.
The teams traded leads multiple times. Villanova rallied for six runs in the fourth inning to go ahead, but Kaelan Schultz put Creighton back on top with a two-run homer. In the fifth, Villanova regained control with a three-run double from Runco before Mayhue’s decisive blast ended it for Creighton.
Vandewater led all Bluejay hitters with three hits and three RBI, while freshman pitcher Audrey Gilman earned her seventh win of the year after pitching more than six innings. The series between Creighton and Villanova will continue Saturday afternoon at Creighton Softball Stadium.
