Sunday, April 13
Rosenblatt Stadium
1:00 PM
Creighton University
3
vs
11
Wichita State
Errors Costly As #5 Wichita State Takes Two From Baseball
4/13/2008 5:45:00 PM | Baseball
OMAHA, Neb. ? Wichita State tallied eight runs in the final three
innings to ease past Creighton, 11-3, in the first of two games at
Rosenblatt Stadium on Sunday. The Shockers then scored three unearned
runs to steal a 3-2 victory from the Bluejays in the nightcap.
Wichita State improved to 27-5 and 7-3 in the Missouri Valley Conference with the sweep, while Creighton fell to 23-10 and 7-5.
In game one, the Bluejays scored a sixth-inning run to pull within one at 3-2, but the Shockers responded with three in the top of the seventh and then scored five unearned runs over the final two frames to come away with a misleading final margin of victory.
In the nightcap, Creighton committed three costly errors to allow the Shockers to tally three unearned runs and escape with the victory. The Jays took a 2-0 lead after the fourth inning, but a pair of two-out errors allowed WSU to even the score in the sixth and then an error in left field resulted in the Shockers plating the eventual winning run.
Creighton jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in both contests, as Robbie Knight scored his 12th and 13th first-inning runs of the season.
In game one, three Bluejays notched hits with 0-2 counts, including Knight who singled to left to lead off the frame. He was sacrificed to second by Elliot Soto and moved to third on a Darin Ruf single. Steve Winkelmann then ripped an 0-2 offering through the left side of the infield for an RBI single.
Wichita State evened the score at 1-1 in the top of the third on an RBI double by designated hitter Tyler Weber.
Weber came through again in the top of the fifth, notching a two-run single up the middle to score Ryan Jones and Conor Gillaspie, after the pair had stolen second and third two pitches earlier.
The Jays pulled within one at 3-2 in the sixth inning on a pair of doubles. Steve Winkelmann led off with a two-bagger down the left field line. He advanced to third on a Vicente Cafaro sacrifice, and then scored on an RBI double by T.J. Roemmich.
The Shockers, however, would respond with three runs off Roemmich in the top of the seventh to gain some breathing room. After a leadoff double by Jones and back-to-back walks, WSU's Kenny Williams, Jr. doubled to left-center to score two runs. A sacrifice fly off the bat of Kyle Sisney made it 6-2.
CU got one back in the bottom of the seventh, as Brett Mieras drew a leadoff walk and came around to score on a two-out triple by Ruf. However, WSU responded with two unearned runs in the top of the eighth and three more in the ninth to pull away.
Bluejay starting pitcher Zak Moore (4-3) suffered the loss, allowing three runs on six hits in 4.1 innings. Moore had the Shocker batters off balance early and struck out seven, before running into trouble in the fifth. Roemmich came in and surrendered three runs on two hits in 2.2 innings. Redshirt freshman Jack VanLeur did not record an out, giving up three unearned runs. Bob Lackovic then logged the final two innings, allowing two more unearned runs.
Creighton committed a season-high three errors in the opener, only to match that output in the nightcap.
Aaron Shafer (6-1) picked up the win with eight strong innings. He allowed three runs on six hits in a 119-pitch outing.
Just as in game one, the Bluejays opened the nightcap by taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. It was the same run-scoring combination as in the opener, as Knight led off with a walk. He advanced to third on a single by Ruf and scored on a single up the middle by Winkelmann.
Creighton extended its lead to 2-0 in the fourth, as Winkelmann again keyed the inning. The third baseman led off the frame with a single, advanced to second on a Roemmich sacrifice and scored on a single up the middle by Joe Servais.
Uncharacteristically poor defense by Creighton allowed the Shockers back in the game. After starter Mike Nihsen retired the first two batters in the sixth inning, the shortstop Soto committed a fielding error to extend the inning. After a walk and hit by pitch, Williams grounded an RBI single through the left side. WSU evened the game at 2-2 when Bluejay second baseman Michael Lam booted a groundball, ending the day for Nihsen.
Senior Pat Venditte came in and retired Tyler Hill to end the inning and leave the bases loaded. Venditte then registered two outs in the seventh before giving way to Kevin Dooley, who struck out Weber to end the inning.
After Dooley retired the first two batters in the eighth, Dusty Coleman singled to keep the inning alive. The next batter, Hill, singled sharply to left field. Mieras, CU's left fielder, misjudged the ball and allowed it to go past him enabling Coleman to score the go-ahead run from first.
Creighton got the leadoff batter on in both the eighth and ninth innings. After sacrifice bunts moved the runners to second on both occasions, Wichita State reliever Tyler Fleming was able to escape trouble each time and earn his fourth save of the season.
Starter Anthony Capra (6-0) picked up the win, allowing two runs on five hits in seven innings. He struck out nine and walked one in the outing.
Dooley (0-1) suffered the tough-luck loss, allowing the unearned run in the eighth. He threw the final 2.1 innings, in which he struck out four and allowed three hits and a walk.
Winkelmann led the way at the plate in the nightcap, going 3-for-4 with an RBI and run scored. The third baseman notched five hits on the day.
Creighton will finish their seven-game home stand with two midweek games at Rosenblatt Stadium. On Tuesday, the Jays will host Kansas State at 7 p.m., followed by a Wednesday meeting with Iowa.
GAME NOTES: Creighton was not hit by a pitch in game two, ending a 19-game streak with at least one HBP ... With the sixth-inning double in game one, Roemmich now has nine hits this season with six going for extra bases ... The game does not qualify as a doubleheader because of a separate gate, preserving CU's 16-game streak of sweeping twin bills ... Attendance figures were 1405 and 847, respectively ... Before allowing eight unearned runs in the twin bill, CU pitching had allowed just one unearned run in the last 134.2 innings ... CU is outscoring opponents 24-2 in the first inning of home games this season ... In game one, Shafer became the first opposing MVC pitcher to earn a win against CU in Omaha since Evansville's Ben Norton on April 23, 2006 ? a span of 19 conference games ... Shafer's win snapped a 35-game streak in which the opposing starter had not won against CU in Omaha.
Wichita State improved to 27-5 and 7-3 in the Missouri Valley Conference with the sweep, while Creighton fell to 23-10 and 7-5.
In game one, the Bluejays scored a sixth-inning run to pull within one at 3-2, but the Shockers responded with three in the top of the seventh and then scored five unearned runs over the final two frames to come away with a misleading final margin of victory.
In the nightcap, Creighton committed three costly errors to allow the Shockers to tally three unearned runs and escape with the victory. The Jays took a 2-0 lead after the fourth inning, but a pair of two-out errors allowed WSU to even the score in the sixth and then an error in left field resulted in the Shockers plating the eventual winning run.
Creighton jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in both contests, as Robbie Knight scored his 12th and 13th first-inning runs of the season.
In game one, three Bluejays notched hits with 0-2 counts, including Knight who singled to left to lead off the frame. He was sacrificed to second by Elliot Soto and moved to third on a Darin Ruf single. Steve Winkelmann then ripped an 0-2 offering through the left side of the infield for an RBI single.
Wichita State evened the score at 1-1 in the top of the third on an RBI double by designated hitter Tyler Weber.
Weber came through again in the top of the fifth, notching a two-run single up the middle to score Ryan Jones and Conor Gillaspie, after the pair had stolen second and third two pitches earlier.
The Jays pulled within one at 3-2 in the sixth inning on a pair of doubles. Steve Winkelmann led off with a two-bagger down the left field line. He advanced to third on a Vicente Cafaro sacrifice, and then scored on an RBI double by T.J. Roemmich.
The Shockers, however, would respond with three runs off Roemmich in the top of the seventh to gain some breathing room. After a leadoff double by Jones and back-to-back walks, WSU's Kenny Williams, Jr. doubled to left-center to score two runs. A sacrifice fly off the bat of Kyle Sisney made it 6-2.
CU got one back in the bottom of the seventh, as Brett Mieras drew a leadoff walk and came around to score on a two-out triple by Ruf. However, WSU responded with two unearned runs in the top of the eighth and three more in the ninth to pull away.
Bluejay starting pitcher Zak Moore (4-3) suffered the loss, allowing three runs on six hits in 4.1 innings. Moore had the Shocker batters off balance early and struck out seven, before running into trouble in the fifth. Roemmich came in and surrendered three runs on two hits in 2.2 innings. Redshirt freshman Jack VanLeur did not record an out, giving up three unearned runs. Bob Lackovic then logged the final two innings, allowing two more unearned runs.
Creighton committed a season-high three errors in the opener, only to match that output in the nightcap.
Aaron Shafer (6-1) picked up the win with eight strong innings. He allowed three runs on six hits in a 119-pitch outing.
Just as in game one, the Bluejays opened the nightcap by taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. It was the same run-scoring combination as in the opener, as Knight led off with a walk. He advanced to third on a single by Ruf and scored on a single up the middle by Winkelmann.
Creighton extended its lead to 2-0 in the fourth, as Winkelmann again keyed the inning. The third baseman led off the frame with a single, advanced to second on a Roemmich sacrifice and scored on a single up the middle by Joe Servais.
Uncharacteristically poor defense by Creighton allowed the Shockers back in the game. After starter Mike Nihsen retired the first two batters in the sixth inning, the shortstop Soto committed a fielding error to extend the inning. After a walk and hit by pitch, Williams grounded an RBI single through the left side. WSU evened the game at 2-2 when Bluejay second baseman Michael Lam booted a groundball, ending the day for Nihsen.
Senior Pat Venditte came in and retired Tyler Hill to end the inning and leave the bases loaded. Venditte then registered two outs in the seventh before giving way to Kevin Dooley, who struck out Weber to end the inning.
After Dooley retired the first two batters in the eighth, Dusty Coleman singled to keep the inning alive. The next batter, Hill, singled sharply to left field. Mieras, CU's left fielder, misjudged the ball and allowed it to go past him enabling Coleman to score the go-ahead run from first.
Creighton got the leadoff batter on in both the eighth and ninth innings. After sacrifice bunts moved the runners to second on both occasions, Wichita State reliever Tyler Fleming was able to escape trouble each time and earn his fourth save of the season.
Starter Anthony Capra (6-0) picked up the win, allowing two runs on five hits in seven innings. He struck out nine and walked one in the outing.
Dooley (0-1) suffered the tough-luck loss, allowing the unearned run in the eighth. He threw the final 2.1 innings, in which he struck out four and allowed three hits and a walk.
Winkelmann led the way at the plate in the nightcap, going 3-for-4 with an RBI and run scored. The third baseman notched five hits on the day.
Creighton will finish their seven-game home stand with two midweek games at Rosenblatt Stadium. On Tuesday, the Jays will host Kansas State at 7 p.m., followed by a Wednesday meeting with Iowa.
GAME NOTES: Creighton was not hit by a pitch in game two, ending a 19-game streak with at least one HBP ... With the sixth-inning double in game one, Roemmich now has nine hits this season with six going for extra bases ... The game does not qualify as a doubleheader because of a separate gate, preserving CU's 16-game streak of sweeping twin bills ... Attendance figures were 1405 and 847, respectively ... Before allowing eight unearned runs in the twin bill, CU pitching had allowed just one unearned run in the last 134.2 innings ... CU is outscoring opponents 24-2 in the first inning of home games this season ... In game one, Shafer became the first opposing MVC pitcher to earn a win against CU in Omaha since Evansville's Ben Norton on April 23, 2006 ? a span of 19 conference games ... Shafer's win snapped a 35-game streak in which the opposing starter had not won against CU in Omaha.
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