Creighton University
1-1, 0
Northeastern
1-1, 0
Baseball Downed 12-7 by Northeastern
2/17/2018 5:54:00 PM | Baseball
The Huskies broke out on top with a run in the first, but Creighton responded with two in the top of the third.
Sophomore Jason Allbery opened the third with a double to left-center. Two outs later junior Clark Brinkman ripped an RBI triple down the left field line, then sophomore Isaac Collins put Creighton ahead on an RBI double to left-center.
Northeastern wasted little time getting even, scoring one in the bottom of the third on three hits, but Bluejay starter Mitch Ragan limited the damage to one to keep the game knotted at 2-2.
In the bottom of the fifth the Bluejays ran into a bit of back luck, as a bad hop off the infield seam put Northeastern up 3-2. The Huskies took full advantage, chasing Ragan with three more in the frame to go up 6-2.
Creighton set the table in the top of the sixth with a leadoff single from junior Jack Strunc, a walk to junior Michael Emodi and a single through the right side from sophomore Will Robertson to load the bases with nobody out. Unfortunately the Bluejays were limited to just one run.
Trailing 6-3 heading to the bottom of the sixth, Northeastern took advantage of two errors to push its lead to 12-3, scoring five runs (one earned) in the inning.
Creighton rallied in the top of the ninth as junior Thomas Luevano doubled, senior Blake Whitecotton walked as a pinch hitter, then one out later sophomore Parker Upton loaded the bags with a single to center. This time the Bluejays took full advantage as Brinkman smashed a grand slam to left to make it 12-7.
Ragan fell to 0-1 on the season with the loss, allowing four runs on nine hits and one walk in 4+ innings of work. Northeastern's Tyler Brown picked up the win (1-0), holding the Bluejays to two runs on four hits and one walk in five innings.
Offensively Brinkman led Creighton, collected two hits and five RBI in the contest.
Creighton and Northeastern will play the rubber game of their three-game series on Sunday at 10 am (CT).
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Brown, Tyler (1-0)
L: Ragan, Mitch (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Collins, Isaac 1 ; Luevano, Thomas 1 ; Allbery, Jason 1
3B: Brinkman, Clark 1
HR: Brinkman, Clark 1
RBI: Brinkman, Clark 5 ; Collins, Isaac 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Brinkman, Clark 2 ; Strunc, Jack 1 ; Luevano, Thomas 1 ; Allbery, Jason 1 ; Whitecotton, Blake 1 ; Upton, Parker 1
SB: Brinkman, Clark 1 ; Luevano, Thomas 1
PO: Collins, Isaac 1
Batting:
2B: McConnell, Charlie 1 ; Burt, Max 1 ; Farrell, Jake 1 ; Koppens, Mason 1
HR: Farrell, Jake 1
RBI: Lang, Nolan 1 ; Holzwasser, Scott 1 ; Peterson, Kyle 3 ; Burt, Max 1 ; Farrell, Jake 4
SF: Peterson, Kyle 1
Base Running:
RUNS: McConnell, Charlie 4 ; Lang, Nolan 2 ; Holzwasser, Scott 1 ; Peterson, Kyle 1 ; Solomon, Ryan 2 ; Farrell, Jake 1 ; Koppens, Mason 1
SB: McConnell, Charlie 2
CS: Holzwasser, Scott 1 ; Farrell, Jake 1
