Creighton University
Saint Louis
Lewis Helps Propel Baseball To Win In Home Opener
3/9/2007 2:00:00 AM | Baseball
Junior ambidextrous pitcher Pat Venditte (1-1) finished the job then in the final 2.1 innings, as he gave up just two hits and fanned two batters to earn his first save of the season.
The Jays scored three runs in the bottom of the second and added two more in the bottom of the third to take a 5-0 lead into the fourth. SLU (1-11) would finally counter in the top of the seventh with one run, but CU countered right back, adding a run in the bottom of the eighth to win its 17th opener (17-3) at the CU Sports Complex.
CU opened up the offense in the bottom of the second after SLU starter Dave Sever issued back-to-back walks against Andy Masten and Steve Winkelmann. Andrew Small singled to load the bases, as designated hitter Brett Mieras drew an RBI walk to give CU a 1-0 lead. Following a Ryan Urzendowski pop out to first on a bunt attempt, center fielder Robbie Knight would then collect a two-RBI single to center field that gave the Bluejays a 3-0 advantage.
Sever (0-2) would take the loss for SLU going seven innigs giving up four earned runs on six hits and recording six strikeouts.
The Jays would tack on two more in the bottom of third off Sever as Chris Gradoville led off the inning with a single to the shortstop. Just one batter later, Masten would hit a ground-rule double down the right field line. That setup Winkelmann, who hit into a fielder's choice play that scored Gradoville from third and allowed Masten to score from second on an error by the second baseman as CU jumped out to a commanding 5-0 lead.
Gradoville would finish the day as the only Bluejay with multiple hits as he went 3-for-5 with a run scored. Masten would finish 1-for-3 with two runs scored as he ended the day tied with Darin Ruf a top of the CU batting average list at .333.
SLU would finally get on the board in the top of the seventh as a Casey Moore double to right center brought him in scoring position for designated hitter Greg Rodgers. Rodgers would take advantage of the situation hitting a RBI single to center field that brought
Rodgers (2-for-3, 1 RBI) was 1-of-2 Billikens to record multiple hits on the day. SLU center fielder Ryan Crespi would be the other, as he finished 2-for-4.
Venditte would then come into replace Lewis in the last third of the seventh inning, as he shut down the Billiken bats allowing just two runners on base in the final two innings.
Venditte was helped by a defensive unit in the field that turned three double plays on the day, as they continued their stellar play, committing just one error.
After Venditte got the Jays out of the seventh, they would add an extra insurance run in the bottom of the eighth. With two outs and two on base, second baseman Chad Ogden hit an RBI single to right field that brought home Urzendowski from second to end the day's scoring.
The two teams will return to action Saturday with game two of the three-game weekend set. The first pitch for the game is scheduled for 1 p.m. as the Jays will continue their eight-game home stand.
Notes: Friday's win over Saint Louis moved the Bluejays' mark to 90-6 all-time under coach Ed Servais when they out-hit their opponents... Darin Ruf was hit by a pitch in the seventh inning, giving CU 23 total HBPs as a team on the season... With the win, Creighton has now won 13 of its last 14 home openers.
