Creighton University
Saint Louis
Jays Baseball Breaks Out The Bats For 14 Runs In Sweep Of SLU
3/11/2007 3:00:00 AM | Baseball
OMAHA, Neb. - A big sixth inning broke the game wide open for the Creighton baseball team as completed their three-game sweep of Saint Louis Sunday afternoon, 14-0, at the CU Sports Complex. With CU (8-6) up 3-0 going into the bottom of the sixth inning, the Bluejays exploded for seven runs to take a commanding 10-0 lead, as the Jays pitching staff who used seven different pitchers on the day, combined for a seven-hit shutout.
Picking up the win for CU was junior Ben Mancuso (1-0), who made his first start of the season coming back from injury going two innings, giving up just three hits and striking out one. Others seeing action out of the pen in the shutout were Ty Johnston, Dan Stanley, Chris Marchildon, Pat Venditte, David Merchant and Bob Lackovic.
Leading the way at the plate for CU on the day was senior catcher Chris Gradoville, who finished the day 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored. Also getting multiple hits were Darin Ruf (2-for-4) and Andrew Small (2-for-5), as the Jays collected 13 hits on the day.
Taking the loss for SLU was right-hander Brock Hewitt (0-4) who went 5.2 innings giving up eight runs (four earned) on six hits, striking out five.
Hewitt kept the Jays to just three runs through five, as the Jays collected a single run in the first and two in the third, but in the sixth with two outs, the game started to get away from him. With bases loaded, Bluejays' center fielder Robbie Knight delievered an RBI single through the left side that scored Small trom third to give CU a 4-0 lead. The lead would increase as next up Chad Ogden reached base on an error by the shortstop that plated Brett Mieras to make it 5-0.
Hewitt would then be replaced by reliever Dan Cowsert, who like Hewitt, couldn't stop the SLU bleeding.
Following the sub, Gradoville plated two with a single to left that was misplayed by the left fielder allowing him to advance to third. Ruf would then triple to left center to plate Gradoville from second. Small would then left field to bring in Ruf as CU scored seven runs in an inning for the first time since eighth inning in a game last season against Missouri State (5/5).
Cowsert ended the game going a third of an inning giving up two runs on three hits..
The Jays started the day's scoring in the bottom of the first, as after Knight singled and stole second base, Gradoville brought home his first runner of the day with single to center. Gradoville also helped bring home the first run in the third as his single to short allowed a run to score after the shortstop threw the ball past the third baseman. Ruf would then double to right center before Steve Winkelmann platted Gradoville from third with a single to third that gave CU an early 3-0 lead.
CU would add three runs in the seventh after the big sixth, as Ogden, Brandon Knox and Ruf all collected RBI. Knox would then pick up his second RBI in the eighth as he reached first on an RBI fielder's choice that scored Dan Blair to end the day's scoring,
The Jays ended the day being hit by a pitch four times to bring their season team total to 29. Knight was hit by his 10th pitch of the season as he continues his pursuit of the single-season HBP record of 21 for CU held by Chad McConnell (1992). CU also turned one double play in the game giving them 18 for the year and an average of 1.29 a game, which is ahead of the average for the 2005 team that led the nation with 85 doubleplays as they averaged 1.25 DPs a game.
Up next for the Bluejays is a Tuesday home showdown with the South Dakota State Jackrabbits, a CU will continue its eight-game home stand. The Jays and Jackrabbits will throw out the first pitch at 4 p.m.
Notes: CU is now 50-7 under coach Ed Servais when leading after the first inning and 91-6 when out-hitting its opponent ... CU is also now 93-11 under Servais when scoring five or more runs, including 41-2 when scoring 10+ runs ... Pat Venditte recorded two strikeouts in the game with bothing coming with his right hand.
