OMAHA, Neb. –- Freshman Rachel Huggins (Mt. Zion, Ill./Mt. Zion) had a two-out, two-run pinch hit double in the top of the seventh, but Bradley was unable to push the tying run across as the Braves fell to league-leading Creighton 3-2 Sunday afternoon at the Creighton Sports Complex.

Creighton (21-11 overall, 7-2 MVC) got out to an early lead with Amy Baker belting her conference-leading 13th home run of the season with a solo shot in the bottom of the first to give the Bluejays an early 1-0 advantage. 

Bradley (20-14 overall, 5-3 MVC) managed just four hits in the first five innings off Creighton starter Becca Changstrom and the Bluejays added another run in the bottom of the fourth to push the lead to 2-0.  Blair Lowe led off the inning with a bunt single and pinch hitter Kim Jacobson drove in a run with a two-out single up the middle.

Creighton loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the fifth with a pair of walks and a single for Lowe, who pushed the Bluejays' advantage to 3-0 with a single down the left field line.  Junior Madeline Lynch-Crumrine (Sedro-Woolley, Wash./Sedro-Woolley) got the next two batters to hit into fielder's choices and BU threw out runners at the plate to get out of the jam. 

Bradley mounted a rally attempt in the top of the seventh.  Junior Alex Chandler (Needles, Calif./Needles) had a one-out single and sophomore Shannon King (San Jose, Calif./Archbishop Mitty) had a two-out single down the left field line to put runners at first and second.  Huggins, who entered the game 5-for-13 at the plate over her last nine games, delivered a pinch hit double to left center to trim the Creighton lead to 3-2 and put the potential tying run at second base.  Changstrom (15-6) struck out the next batter she faced, however, to close out the win for the Bluejays as they held onto first-place in the Valley standings with the victory. 

Lynch-Crumrine suffered the loss for Bradley to fall to 12-7 on the season.  In addition to a 2-for-3 day at he plate, she struck out six and walked five in the complete game effort.  Chandler and junior Bailiegh Basham (Mattoon, Ill./Mattoon) also went 2-for-3 to help highlight an eight-hit day for the Braves.

Bradley will host SIU Edwardsville Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Laura Bradley Park in the final non-conference game of the 2013 season.