Missouri State Rallies To Win MVC Baseball Opener

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Missouri State tallied two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to break a 7-all tie and held off a Bluejay rally in the ninth for a 9-8 victory over the Creighton baseball team Friday afternoon in the Missouri Valley Conference opener for both teams at Hammons Field. The Bears rallied from an early five-run deficit to end CU's six game winning streak.

Creighton (13-5) jumped to an early 5-0 lead after scoring three runs in the first and two in the third, before giving up seven consecutive runs. After tying things at 7-7 in the sixth, Missouri State (13-4) recorded three hits for its two runs in the deciding eighth inning. Reliever Pat Venditte (1-2) suffered the loss for the Jays, allowing five runs on six hits in 4.1 innings.

The Bluejays scored three two-out runs in the top of the first. Sophomore Robbie Knight led off with a single and came around to score his seventh first-inning run of the season on an RBI single by right fielder Nick Nordgren. Then with the bases loaded, MSU starting pitcher Buddy Baumann hit and walked consecutive batters as CU's Brett Mieras and Tony Pechek picked up RBIs, respectively.

Creighton plated two more runs in the third inning thanks to MSU miscues. Third baseman Steve Winkelmann led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a balk by Baumann. Vicente Cafaro then laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Winkelmann to third base. While attempting to retire Cafaro at first base on the play, Baumann threw the ball away to allow Cafaro to reach and Winkelmann to score. An RBI fielder's choice by Pechek made the score 5-0.

Missouri State answered with a furious rally, scoring four runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth to take a 7-5 lead. The Bears notched seven hits in the fourth inning, with a two-run single by Curt Courtwright the big blow. In the fifth, it was a three-run homer by MSU's Dallas Hord off Venditte that gave the Bears their first lead of the game.

Creighton responded to even the score with a two-run sixth inning. Pechek led off the frame with a single and then came around to score on an opposite field triple by Knight. A groundout by second baseman Michael Lam plated Knight and knotted the score. The Jays missed on a chance to take the lead, as CU stranded runners at second and third following a double by Winkelmann.

The Jays threatened in the top of the seventh, as a Nordgren single and two walks loaded the bases with one out. CU was unable to capitalize, however, as Knight struck out and Lam hit into an inning-ending fielder's choice.

Courtwright put the Bears back in front with an RBI single with one out in the eighth. An RBI double by reigning MVC Player of the Week Ben Woodbury gave Missouri State a needed insurance run.

MSU's Matt Frevert (3-0) walked Mieras and Pechek to begin the ninth. After back-to-back strikeouts, Lam pulled Creighton within one with an RBI single through the left side of the infield. However, Frevert was able to strike out reigning 2007 Player of the Year Darin Ruf to end the game.

CU batters fanned a season-high 11 times in the game. The Jays also matched a season-high by stranding 13 runners on base, including twice with the bases loaded.

Starting pitcher Jeremy Hauer struggled for the first time as a starter, giving up four runs and seven hits in 3.2 innings. Baumann also labored, allowing five runs on five hits in only 2.1 innings.

Nordgren and Winkelmann each tallied three hits for Creighton, combining for half of the Jays hits in the contest. Knight added two hits and two runs, but struck out three times.

The teams will continue their three-game series Saturday at 2 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

Vicente Cafaro

Jeremy Hauer

Robbie Knight

Brett Mieras

Nick Nordgren

Tony Pechek

Tony Pechek

Darin Ruf

Pat Venditte

Steve Winkelmann