Creighton University
10-7
South Dakota State
7-10
Connolly's Bat and Bullpen's Will Push Baseball Past SDSU, 4-2
3/17/2015 10:54:00 PM | Baseball
OMAHA, Neb - Two RBI from sophomore Kevin Connolly and a dominant final six innings from the Bluejays bullpen propelled the Creighton Baseball team to a 4-2 win over South Dakota State on Tuesday, March 17.
With the win the Bluejays moved to 10-7 on the season, while South Dakota State dropped its fourth consecutive contest to fall to 7-10.
Connolly got Creighton on the board in the bottom of the second with a sharp single to center to drive home junior Brett Murray.
South Dakota State answered with two runs in top of the third, to take a 2-1. In the frame the Jackrabbits took advantage of a little wildness from Bluejay starter Connor Miller as two runners moved up two bases via wild pitches.
At the dish for the second time in the game with the bags juiced, Connolly delivered again in the sixth pounding an RBI groundout to third. Moments later it was Creighton's turn to benefit from an errant pitch as Murrary scampered home to give the Bluejays a 3-2 edge.
South Dakota State seemed poised to knot the game in the top of the seventh as the Jackrabbits put runners at second and third with just one down. Junior Will Bamesberger, however, came out of the bullpen to deliver a game-changing strikeout. Freshman Ethan DeCaster followed with a punch out of his own to end the threat.
DeCaster went on to toss an quiet eighth inning and sophomore David Gerber worked a flawless ninth for his third save. Junior Nick Highberger claimed the win, tossing an inning of scoreless relief to move to 2-0 on the year.
Connolly led the offense with two RBI, while junior Harrison Crawford was 2-for-2 with two walks.
Creighton hits the road this weekend as the Bluejays face Stony Brook in a three-game in New York beginning Friday night.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Highberger, Nick (2-0)
L: Ethan Kenkel (0-1)
S: Gerber, David (3)
Batting:
RBI: Tony Kjolsing 1
SH: Eric Danforth 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Zach Coppola 1 ; Cody Sharrow 1
SB: Zach Coppola 1 ; Tony Kjolsing 1
Batting:
2B: Fitzgerald, Ryan 1
3B: Woodrow, Daniel 1 ; Lopez, Nicky 1 ; Crawford, Harrison 1
RBI: Lopez, Nicky 1 ; Connolly, Kevin 2
SH: Fitzgerald, Ryan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Woodrow, Daniel 1 ; Fowler, Reagan 1 ; Murray, Brett 2
CS: Crawford, Harrison 1
