Creighton University
South Dakota State
Four SDSU Home Runs Too Much For Jays Baseball To Overcome
3/13/2007 3:00:00 AM | Baseball
Omaha, Neb. - Four home runs and 16 hits propelled the South Dakota State Jackrabbitts to a 13-4 victory over the Creighton baseball team Tuesday afternoon in front 477 at the CU Sports Complex. Six SDSU (9-9) batters collected multiple hits and four had multiple RBI as the Jays (8-7) used a season-high 10 different pitchers on the day.
SDSU third baseman Cal Lewis led all Jackrabbitt batters with two home runs as he went 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored as SDSU scored two runs in the top of the second to take an early lead they wouldn't look back from. The Jackrabbitts added a single run in the fourth, three in the fifth and one in the sixth before exploding for five in the seventh, adding a single run in the top of the ninth.
SDSU's Mike Robinson (1-1) earned the win pitching five strong innings allowing just five hits, as he fanned three Bluejay batters.
CU freshman Casey Schmidt (0-1) was saddled with the loss in just his second career start. Schmidt pitched two innings giving up two runs on four hits while striking out two. Others seeing action on the day for the Jays were Ty Johnston, Chris Marchildon, Dan Stanley, Pat Venditte, Scott Reese, David Merchant, Teddy Ogilvie, Matt Bowers and Bob Lackovic.
After Schmidt retired the SDSU side in the first, CU managed to only get one runner on base in the bottom of the first. Chad Ogden reached on an error by the third baseman, just before Chris Gradoville and Darin Ruf struck out swinging to end the inning as the Jays blew an early opportunity to control the game.
With CU not capitalizing on Schmidt's first inning, SDSU seized the opportunity to take the early momentum and did so adding two runs in the top of the second. After Nick Adams pounded a single to right field, Jackrabbitts' left fielder Craig Parry hit a two-run homer to straight center field to give SDSU an early 2-0 advantage. Lewis' first home run would add another run in the top of the fourth, as like Parry he went to the deepest part of the park off CU's Johnston to make it 3-0.
That all came just before the Jackrabbitts added three more in the top of the fifth. With two outs and one on, SDSU's Tyson Fisher doubled down the left field line off Stanley, which brought a call to the bullpen for Venditte. Venditte's first batter would be Adams who proceeded to hit a three-run homer to right field, giving the Jackrabbitts a 6-0 edge.
Finally after SDSU added another run in the top half of the sixth, the Bluejays woke up their sleeping bats. Isacc Johnson replaced Robinson the mound and after an Ogden ground out to third, back-to-back doubles by Gradoville and Ruf brought the game the 6-1.
Gradoville would finish the day 1-for-3 with two runs scored, while Ruf went 3-for-4 with an RBI and one run scored.
Then with Ruf on second and just one out, left fielder Andy Masten hit a two-run blast to left field for his first collegiate home run, as the Jays were back in it at 7-3. The home run also gave Masten his first two RBI of the season, as he finished 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored.
SDSU wouldn't let the CU back in it though for long, as they crushed any thought of a comeback in the top of the seventh, scoring five runs. Three different SDSU players collected RBI singles and another drew an RBI walk as they took a commanding 12-3 lead.
Senior Andrew Small would collect an RBI single for the Jays in the bottom of the eighth, but it was too little too late, as CU dropped its first home game of the season. The Jays left seven runners on base on the day as they collected 11 hits, including three extra-baggers.
The Bluejays will return the field on Friday when they host North Dakota State in game one of four on the weekend. First pitch for Friday between the Bluejays and Bison is scheduled for 4 p.m.
Notes: SDSU's head coach Reggie Christiansen didn't make the trip with flu-like symptoms as pitching coach Chris Smart filled in from him... Robbie Knight was hit by a pitch in the game, which now gives him 11 on the season... The nine run loss was the worst loss for the Bluejays at the CU Sports Complex since a 17-7 loss to UNI on May 6, 2005.
