Johnson Homer Lifts Creighton Over Florida Atlantic, 1-0

Lincoln, Neb. --- Abby Johnson smacked a one-out homer in the bottom of the sixth to lead sixth-seeded Creighton to a 1-0 win over third-seeded Florida Atlantic in an NCAA Region 5 elimination game at Bowlin Stadium Saturday. With the win, the Bluejays (44-16-1) advanced to tonight's 7 p.m. regional semifinal to face Nebraska, the region's No. 2 seed. The winner will take on top-seeded California at noon on Sunday.

Johnson, who had a two-run homer in the Bluejays' win over Mississippi State Friday night, finished the game 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI.

Johnson also started the game on the mound for CU and did not allow a run while giving up three hits in the first four innings of play. Junior pitcher Tammy Nielsen (28-12) was the winning pitcher, as she held the Owls scoreless on three hits in three innings of relief.

Florida Atlantic racked up six hits in the first six innings, leaving two runners on base in the fourth and sixth innings and stranding one in both the second and fifth innings. Sophomore pitcher Amanda Morin (20-8) took the loss for the Owls, allowing one run on four hits while striking out eight in six innings of work. Florida Atlantic ended the 2004 season with a 56-18 record.

Creighton Notes...Creighton's three wins at the Lincoln regional are its most ever in the NCAA Tournament...Creighton is 25-2 when producing a home run...CU is 28-1 when leading after six innings...Creighton is 20-3 in neutral site games, including 19 straight wins at neutral sites...Creighton scored its 281st run of 2004, a new single-season record.

Abby Johnson, Jr., P/IF, Creighton...Johnson homered for the second straight day in an NCAA Regional elimination game...broke the Creighton single-season record with her 43rd RBI...is 5-for-13 (.385) with two runs scored, a double, two home runs and six RBIs in Creighton's four NCAA Regional games.

Katie Ayers, Jr., OF, Creighton...Ayers produced her first double of the season...is hitting .375 (3-for-8) in regional play.

Tammy Nielsen, Jr., P, Creighton...Nielsen picked up her third win of the regional...in four games, she has allowed just two earned runs in 20 innings for a 0.70 ERA.

Jessica Braggins, Jr., OF/DP, FloridaAtlantic...hit .444 (4-for-9) in the regional with three RBIs, a double and a home run.

Amanda Morin, So., P, FloridaAtlantic...had thrown 27 consecutive scoreless innings before giving up a home run to CU's Abby Johnson in the bottom of the sixth.