Creighton University
Bradley
Mancuso's Career-High Strikeout Performance Leads Baseball To Sweep
4/15/2007 3:00:00 AM | Baseball
Like the previous two games of the series, Sunday's contest quickly became another pitcher's duel, as Mancuso bested Braves right-hander Chris Wright (2-1), who also worked 6.1 innings allowing two earned runs on six hits and recording five strikeouts in earning his first loss of the season. CU reliever Andy Masten picked up his third save then of the week and ninth of the season, pitching a scoreless final two innings, allowing no hits and striking out three, as the Bluejays totaled 12 strikeouts for the afternoon.
Jays' senior outfielder Andrew Small would provide all the offense that CU would need to complete the sweep, as his two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth would prove to be the game-winning hit as the Jays won their fourth game in a row and went a perfect 4-0 on the week. Small finished his day going 1-for-4 at the plate with two RBI's and a run scored.
The Bluejays got a single run in the fifth and two in the sixth, as the Braves got a single run in the first and added another in the seventh. BU started the game with a 1-0 lead though as they came out looking to steal at least of the three games, getting solid pitching early from Wright as they got on the board in the first inning.
After Mancuso induced two fly-outs to right to start the game, BU shortstop Dan Brewer quickly turned the tides of the inning, sending a double down the left field line to get in scoring position. That brought up the Braves top hitter in second baseman Ryan Curry, who pounded a 2-2 pitch for a single up the middle that scored Brewer from second to give the Braves the early 1-0 lead. The next at bat though, Mancuso got catcher Ryan Eigsti to go down swinging for his first strikeout of the day before anymore damage could be done.
Mancuso and Wright would allow just two hits each over the next three and a half innings, till CU finally got themselves on the board. Steve Winkelmann reached base to leadoff the CU fifth inning on a throwing error by Brewer that sailed well over the first baseman's head. He then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt laid down by Masten to get into scoring position for center fielder Ross Sinclair. Sinclair followed with a single to right center that platted Winkelmann from second to notch the game up at 1-1.
CU got a big spark from Mancuso, who broke his career-high strikeout mark in the top half of the sixth, as he fanned all three BU batters he faced in the inning to notch his sixth, seventh and eighth strikeouts of the day. For Mancuso, it was the second time this season the Omaha native has eclisped his career-mark, as he broke his previous mark back on Mar. 25 at Evansville where he struck out six.
Riding the new momentum and energy produced by the former Creighton Prep star, the Jays took the lead the for good in the bottom half of the inning. After two groundouts to start the inning, first baseman Darin Ruf drew a 3-2 walk to reach base. He would be followed by Small, who came into the game with already two extra-base hits for the weekend, as he collected doubles in each of the first two games. With Ruf on first and two outs, Small took a 1-1 pitch from Wright and sent it deep over the fence in left for a two-run shot, giving the Jays a 3-1 lead.
Mancuso returned to the mound for the first out then of the seventh, picking up his final strikeout of the game before being relieved by Pat Venditte for the final 0.2 innings. Venditte and Masten wouldn't allow another Brave hit then in the final 2.2 innings, as CU picked up its fifth series sweep of the season.
The wins moved the Jays to 23-11 overall and 9-3 in MVC action, while BU fell to 15-15 overall and 2-7 in MVC competition.
The Bluejays will return to the field on Tuesday evening when they head to Lincoln, Neb. for their second meeting with the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Game time is set for 6:35 p.m. at Haymarket Park, as CU freshman right-hander Casey Schmidt (2-1) will be getting his fifth start of the season.
Notes: Andy Masten's ninth save of the season places him in a sixth-place tie on the CU record list for saves in a single season ... The Jays were without the services of Robbie Knight and Ryan Urzendowski on the day after the two sustained injuries in Saturday's 4-2 win ... CU is now 7-3 in one-run games, 18-6 against starting right-handers, 11-5 when scoring between three and five runs, 8-8 when its opponent scores first and 19-1 when out-hitting its opponent this season ... Darin Ruf currently leads the Jays with a four-game hitting streak ... Ben Mancuso's nine strikeouts gives him 25 for the season, which ties his season-high set last year.
