Creighton University
South Dakota State
Ed Servais Earns 200th Win at Creighton as Baseball Wins 8-2
3/14/2009 5:30:00 PM | Baseball
OMAHA, Neb. - Head coach Ed Servais got his 200th win at Creighton, as the Bluejay baseball team defeated South Dakota State 8-2, Saturday at the CU Sports Complex. For his career at CU, Servais is 200-110-1.
South Dakota State took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first as leadoff man Beau Hanowski was hit by a Greg Hellhake pitch. Hanowski came around to score as Jackrabbit centerfielder Billy Stitz hit a single to left.
Vicente Cafaro made it a 1-1 game in the bottom of the first as he laced a double to right centerfield, plating Elliot Soto.
The Bluejays put a rally together in the bottom of the second when Nick Becker sent his fourth double of the season down the left field line. Becker scored the team's second run of the day when Robbie Knight hit his team-leading sixth double of the year down the left field line as well. It became 3-1, when Soto hit a single up the middle to score Knight. After a stolen base by Soto and a walk to Ruf, put runners on first and third with two outs. Soto came around to score when SDSU Layne Somsen threw behind Cafaro, and the ball went to the backstop. A walk to T.J. Roemmich loaded the bases, but Scott Thornburg flew out to right, ending the inning. At the end of two innings, CU led 4-1.
The Jackrabbits cut the deficit to 4-2 in the top of the third when Joel Blake hit the first home run of the year at the CU Sports Complex, sending a solo shot deep to center, over the banners on the left center wall.
Creighton extended its lead to 5-2 in the bottom of the fifth as Ian Dike hit his second home run of the year. Later in the inning Soto hit a single to center bringing home Nick Becker, to make it 6-2.
The Bluejays added insurance in the bottom of the eighth as Ruf hit a double to left before advancing to third on a wild pitch. He scored on Roemmich's sac fly. Cafaro then added the eighth run of the day, scoring on a wild pitch. He had previously walked, stolen second and advanced to third on Roemmich's sac fly.
Hellhake (1-1) got the win, going a career-high 7.0 innings. He allowed two runs on five hits. He struck out two while walking two.
Creighton and South Dakota State resume their weekend series Sunday afternoon at 12:30 p.m., at the CU Sports Complex as the teams play the first of two games on the day.
NOTES: Cafaro's double in the first gave him a nine-game hit streak....During the streak he is 13-31 (.419)...Two weeks ago against Notre Dame it took Hellhake 33 pitches to get through the first three innings...On Saturday it took him 34 pitches...He finished the game with 81 pitches...Soto had four hits on the day, tying his career-high...He previously set his career high last Saturday, March 7, against Albany...Dike's home run was just the second of his career...Creighton has now won eight consecutive home openers.
