Wednesday, March 19
CU Sports Complex
1:30 PM
Creighton University
8
vs
5
Northern Colorado
Trio of Home Runs Propel Baseball Past Northern Colorado
3/19/2008 5:30:00 PM | Baseball
OMAHA, Neb. -- Two-run home runs from Tony Pechek, Darin Ruf and Michael Lam proved to be the difference as the Creighton baseball team defeated Northern Colorado, 8-5, Wednesday afternoon at the CU Sports Complex. Ruf's homer in the bottom of the seventh was the go-ahead shot, while Lam raced around for an inside-the-parker in the bottom of the eighth to ensure the Bluejay victory. With its sixth straight win, Creighton improves to 13-4 overall, while the Bears drop to 5-13 with their 10th straight loss.
Sophomore T.J. Roemmich, Tuesday's hero at the plate, picked up the pitching win in relief. The left-hander allowed one run on three hits in 1.1 innings. Senior Kevin Dooley came in to get the final five outs, including four by strikeout, to earn his second save in as many days against the Bears.
Northern Colorado jumped out to an early lead for the second straight game behind four second-inning singles off CU starter Greg Hellhake. The final single, a line drive up the middle by Andy Mees, drove in two runs to give UNC a 2-0 lead.
Creighton answered with a two-spot of its own in the bottom of the third, as Pechek walked and later came around to score on a well-placed bloop single down the left field line by Lam. After a sacrifice bunt by Ruf moved runners to second and third, senior Steve Winkelmann was able to score sophomore Robbie Knight on a groundout to the right side.
The Jays took the lead for the first time in the bottom of the fourth, as Pechek launched the first of the three two-run shots. After Nick Nordgren was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a Joe Servais sacrifice, the left-handed hitting Pechek took an 0-2 pitch to the opposite field for his second round tripper of the season.
Northern Colorado answered with a two-run home run of its own in the top of the sixth to tie the game at 4-all. UNC's ninth-place batter, Erik Hegstad, matched the long ball that CU nine-hole hitter Pechek launched two innings earlier. Hegstad took a 1-0 pitch from CU's Pat Venditte into the netting over the wall in left field.
The Bears then took the lead in the top of the seventh, as Chad Murray doubled and came around to score on a single by Erik Whinery.
The lead was short-lived as the defending MVC Player of the Year Ruf launched the go-ahead two-run homer over the left field wall and into the netting in the bottom of the seventh. Lam, who was hit by an 0-2 off-speed pitch to lead off the inning, scored on Ruf's blast.
Lam was not through with his big day, as the senior second baseman batted again in the eighth after a two-out double by Knight. Lam drove a ball to center field which was misplayed by a diving Hegstad. The ball rolled to the wall then ricocheted back into center field, allowing the speedy Hawaaian to circle the bases and slide head-first into home plate for the inside-the-park home run.
After coaxing a fly ball and striking out the final batter of the eighth inning, Dooley then struck out the side in the ninth to end the game.
Hellhake lasted two innings, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out three in his first collegiate start. He was followed by Matt Patterson, who threw a scoreless third inning. Venditte hurled the next three innings, surrendering the Hegstad homer and two other hits.
UNC starter Jason Banks left after giving up four runs on five hits in six innings. The right-hander struck out eight Jays in the contest. Matt Buck (0-1) came in to begin the seventh and did not record an out, as he surrendered the winning homer to Ruf. Sean Peary threw the final two innings.
Creighton was out-hit for the second consecutive day by the Bears, 11-8, but six walks and three hit batsman gave the Jays ammunition on the base paths. UNC pitchers recorded 10 strikeouts, while the Bluejay staff fanned nine.
The Jays will now turn their attention to league play, as the Missouri Valley Conference slate opens this weekend. Creighton will play three games in Springfield, Mo., against Missouri State, with the series set to begin at 3 p.m. on Friday.
Sophomore T.J. Roemmich, Tuesday's hero at the plate, picked up the pitching win in relief. The left-hander allowed one run on three hits in 1.1 innings. Senior Kevin Dooley came in to get the final five outs, including four by strikeout, to earn his second save in as many days against the Bears.
Northern Colorado jumped out to an early lead for the second straight game behind four second-inning singles off CU starter Greg Hellhake. The final single, a line drive up the middle by Andy Mees, drove in two runs to give UNC a 2-0 lead.
Creighton answered with a two-spot of its own in the bottom of the third, as Pechek walked and later came around to score on a well-placed bloop single down the left field line by Lam. After a sacrifice bunt by Ruf moved runners to second and third, senior Steve Winkelmann was able to score sophomore Robbie Knight on a groundout to the right side.
The Jays took the lead for the first time in the bottom of the fourth, as Pechek launched the first of the three two-run shots. After Nick Nordgren was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a Joe Servais sacrifice, the left-handed hitting Pechek took an 0-2 pitch to the opposite field for his second round tripper of the season.
Northern Colorado answered with a two-run home run of its own in the top of the sixth to tie the game at 4-all. UNC's ninth-place batter, Erik Hegstad, matched the long ball that CU nine-hole hitter Pechek launched two innings earlier. Hegstad took a 1-0 pitch from CU's Pat Venditte into the netting over the wall in left field.
The Bears then took the lead in the top of the seventh, as Chad Murray doubled and came around to score on a single by Erik Whinery.
The lead was short-lived as the defending MVC Player of the Year Ruf launched the go-ahead two-run homer over the left field wall and into the netting in the bottom of the seventh. Lam, who was hit by an 0-2 off-speed pitch to lead off the inning, scored on Ruf's blast.
Lam was not through with his big day, as the senior second baseman batted again in the eighth after a two-out double by Knight. Lam drove a ball to center field which was misplayed by a diving Hegstad. The ball rolled to the wall then ricocheted back into center field, allowing the speedy Hawaaian to circle the bases and slide head-first into home plate for the inside-the-park home run.
After coaxing a fly ball and striking out the final batter of the eighth inning, Dooley then struck out the side in the ninth to end the game.
Hellhake lasted two innings, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out three in his first collegiate start. He was followed by Matt Patterson, who threw a scoreless third inning. Venditte hurled the next three innings, surrendering the Hegstad homer and two other hits.
UNC starter Jason Banks left after giving up four runs on five hits in six innings. The right-hander struck out eight Jays in the contest. Matt Buck (0-1) came in to begin the seventh and did not record an out, as he surrendered the winning homer to Ruf. Sean Peary threw the final two innings.
Creighton was out-hit for the second consecutive day by the Bears, 11-8, but six walks and three hit batsman gave the Jays ammunition on the base paths. UNC pitchers recorded 10 strikeouts, while the Bluejay staff fanned nine.
The Jays will now turn their attention to league play, as the Missouri Valley Conference slate opens this weekend. Creighton will play three games in Springfield, Mo., against Missouri State, with the series set to begin at 3 p.m. on Friday.
Players Mentioned
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