Creighton University
20-10
Nebraska
27-11
#23 Nebraska Outlasts Creighton Baseball, 7-6
4/14/2015 10:00:00 PM | Baseball
OMAHA, Neb. - After rallying to pull even with four runs in the seventh and eighth innings, Creighton Baseball suffered a 7-6 loss to #23 Nebraska on Tuesday, April 14.
With the loss the Bluejays fell to 20-10 on the season, while the Huskers moved to 27-11 overall.
Things started out brilliantly for the Bluejays as Creighton took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Sophomore Daniel Woodrow led off the frame with a sharp single, then sophomore Nicky Lopez blasted a double into left to put runners at second and third. Junior Reagan Fowler drove in Woodrow as he reached on an error that also allowed Lopez to come around.
Nebraska took advantage of three walks and two passed balls in the second to tie things up, then put four on the scoreboard in the third via five hits and error.
Down 6-2 reliever Connor Miller gave the Bluejays' offense a chance to recharge as the junior set down 13 straight Nebraska hitters from the final out of the third inning through the seventh.
Following the seven inning stretch the Creighton offense got a charge from junior Harrison Crawford as he belted his first home run as a Bluejay. The solo shot landed in the Bluejay bullpen beyond the left field wall. Junior Matt Gandy continued the hit parade with a single to left, then sophomore Kevin Connolly drew a walk to bring the tying run to the plate.
Nebraska countered by bringing reliever Jeff Chesnut on to face senior Kevin Lamb. The Bluejay catcher hit a hard shot through the wickets of Nebraska second baseman Jake Schleppenbach to score Gandy and send Connolly to third. Woodrow took advantage of the opportunity to drive in Connolly with a sacrifice fly to make it a 6-5 game.
The Huskers opened the top of the eighth with a leadoff double, but freshman Ethan DeCaster came on from the bullpen to get the Bluejays out of the jam unscathed.
In the bottom half of the inning Fowler rifled a double down the right field line. One out later junior Ryan Fitzgerald chased Fowler to third. Once more Nebraska went to the pen, this time for closer Josh Roeder.
The bearded fireballer struck out Harrison Crawford, but Fitzgerald swiped second. The throw bounced into center as Fowler came home to knot the game at 6-6.
The Huskers, however, opened the ninth with another leadoff double. This time Nebraska got the lead run on back-to-back singles. Creighton closer David Gerber limited the damage to just a run by inducing a ground ball double play and a sharp ground out to short to send the game to the bottom of the ninth.
After suffering his first blown save of the year, Roeder returned to the bump in the ninth. With one out in the inning, Lamb punched a single up the middle. Woodrow battled Roeder to a 2-2 count, fouling off three pitches before finally lining out to right for the second out. A ground out ended the Bluejays chances for another comeback.
DeCaster took the loss (2-1) for Creighton, allowing one run on one hit in two-thirds of an inning. Roeder, meanwhile, moved to 1-0 with 1.2 innings of scoreless relief.
Creighton returns to action on Friday, April 17 as Creighton hosts St. John's in the opening game of three with the Red Storm at 6:00 pm.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Roeder, Josh (1-0)
L: DeCaster, Ethan (2-1)
Batting:
2B: Boldt, Ryan 1 ; Miller, Ben 1 ; Cox, Christian 1 ; Schleppenbach, Jake 1
RBI: Boldt, Ryan 1 ; Placzek, Jake 1 ; Schreiber, Scott 1 ; Cox, Christian 2 ; Schleppenbach, Jake 1
SH: Darby, Austin 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Lubach, Tanner 1 ; Miller, Ben 1 ; Darby, Austin 1 ; Schreiber, Scott 2 ; Cox, Christian 1 ; Schleppenbach, Jake 1
SB: Schleppenbach, Jake 1
CS: Headley, Blake 1
Batting:
2B: Lopez, Nicky 1 ; Fowler, Reagan 1
HR: Crawford, Harrison 1
RBI: Woodrow, Daniel 1 ; Fowler, Reagan 1 ; Crawford, Harrison 1
SF: Woodrow, Daniel 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Woodrow, Daniel 1 ; Lopez, Nicky 1 ; Fowler, Reagan 1 ; Crawford, Harrison 1 ; Gandy, Matt 1 ; Connolly, Kevin 1
SB: Fitzgerald, Ryan 1
