Creighton University
Missouri State
Ogden Helps Produce All Three Runs In 3-2 Win For Bluejay Baseball
5/18/2007 3:00:00 AM | Baseball
Ogden, who was playing in his second to last home game, finished his day 1-for-1 with two runs scored and two RBI's. Moore, who got his 15th start of the season, fanned five MSU batters on the day as he got senior Scott Reese (3-0) in line in the seventh to earn his third win of the season. Senior Andy Masten then converted his second-straight save in the series, pitching a hitless ninth to earn his 15th save of the season.
The win for the Jays came despite their struggles at the plate for the second day in a row, as MSU starting right-hander Scott Carroll struck out 12 batters in seven innings of work, but allowed three runs on three hits. The loss moved Carroll to 4-4 on the season, as CU came from behind for the second time in the last four games to earn the victory after trailing 2-0 after the top half of the third.
The Bears got the scoring started in the top of the third inning as they platted two runs on Moore after he retired the first two MSU batters. Center fielder Ben Woodbury singled to left before Chris Taylor followed with a ground rule double to right. With runners on the corners and still two outs, Nolan Keane tripled to center to bring home both Woodbury and Taylor to give the Bears the early 2-0 edge. Moore was able to recover though before MSU was able to do any more damage as he got Josh Mazzola to hit into an inning-ending groundout.
It wouldn't take long for CU to respond though, as after Carroll struck out five of the first six Bluejay batters he faced, Ogden was able ruin his parade to leadoff the bottom of the third. With the count at 2-2, Ogden got around on a pitch from Carroll and put it deep over the fence in left for his fifth home run of the season, which brought the game to 2-1.
Moore would allow just one MSU batter on base in the fourth and fifth, as the Bluejays were then able to complete their comeback in the bottom half of the fifth. Ogden was once again apart of the scoring, as after a leadoff strikeout, he was able to draw a five-pitch walk from Carroll. He then stole second as Carroll got Brandon Knox to go down swinging for the second out. That put Ogden in scoring position though from Michael Lam, who was able to drive him in on a base hit to center that tied the game.
Moore would allow just one hit in the MSU sixth then, as Reese replaced him with one out in the seventh and continued to keep the Bears at bay.
CU took its first lead of the game then in the bottom of the seventh, as Ogden for the third time in the game was able to produce another run. Andrew Small led-off the CU seventh with a walk and stold second base before getting advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Steve Winkelmann. That brought Ogden to the plate, who got ahold of 1-1 pitch and was able to hit it deep enough to right center on the fly out, that Small was able to score from third to make it 3-2.
Reese continued his hot pitching then as he allowed just one MSU hit in the eighth, before Masten shut the door in the ninth to move into tie for fourth-place on the all-time CU saves list and continue to improve upon his single-season school record.
With the win, the Jays moved to 40-12 on the season and 19-4 in Missouri Valley Conference play. The loss dropped MSU to 21-32 and 6-17 in league play.
The two teams will conclude their series tomorrow as CU honors its 10 graduating seniors with ?Senior Day? at 1 p.m. Junior Ben Mancuso (9-1, 2.14 ERA) will be getting the start for the Bluejays against the Bears' Tim Clubb (5-3, 4.18 ERA)
Notes: Creighton has never won 21 of 22 games in its recorded history, going back to 1966 ... Creighton is now 11-4 in one-run games this season and have won 45-straight games when leading after eight innings ... Andy Masten has now converted 11 save opportunities in a row and is now tied for third on the all-time MVC single-season list for saves ... The win moved Scott Reese's career-winning percentage to .708, which is sixth all-time in CU history ... CU has now won 14 of the last 16 games Reese has pitched in ... The Jays are now 23-1 when Michael Lam starts at second and 21-1 when Chad Ogden starts at short ... Tomorrow's game will be the final home game for Chris Gradoville, Marc Lewis, Chris Marchildon, Andy Masten, Chad Ogden, Teddy Ogilvie, Scott Reese, Ross Sinclair, Andrew Small and Ryan Urzendowski.
