Creighton University
Bradley
Baseball Loses In Extra Innings At Bradley, 4-3
4/6/2008 4:45:00 PM | Baseball
The loss
snaps Creighton's five-game winning streak and drops the Bluejays to 20-8
overall and 6-3 in league play. Bradley moves to 13-14 and 4-5.
The
late-inning heroics were not enough, however, as Escue drove the first pitch he
saw from T.J. Roemmich and found
space in right center field for the game-winning hit.
CU reliever
Bob Lackovic (2-1) suffered the loss
as he surrenderd a 12th inning leadoff single to Matt Fritz, who
eventually scored the game-winning run. Bradley's Kori Jensen (3-0) picked up
the win, throwing four scoreless innings.
The
Bluejays grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the second inning. Catcher Joe Servais led off with a walk, then
stole second and advanced to third on a Bradley throwing error on the play.
Left fielder Brett Mieras then
plated Servais with a sacrifice fly to left field.
Creighton
starting pitcher Mike Nihsen sailed
through the first five innings, but allowed back-to-back singles to lead off
the bottom of the sixth.
That
brought way to senior reliever Pat Venditte, who retired the first two batters he faced. But Bradley freshman Rob
Elliot took the first pitch he saw and cleared the wall down the left field
line for a three-run homer to give the Braves a 3-1 lead.
The Jays'
eighth-inning rally started with back-to-back one-out singles by Robbie Knight and Michael Lam. A Darin Ruf
groundout moved the runners to second and third with two outs. Winkelmann then
laced a ball down the right field line to plate both Knight and Lam and even
the score at 3-3.
After a
1-2-3 bottom of the eighth, Creighton threatened again in the ninth. Servais
worked a one-out walk and advanced to third on a single by Mieras. The Jays
failed to score, however, as Servais was thrown out at home on a failed safety
squeeze attempt. Knight then flew out to center field to end the inning.
The Bluejays
pitched impressively out of a bases loaded jam with no outs in the bottom of
the ninth. Venditte allowed a leadoff double to BU's Jim Clayton, bringing a
pitching change. Senior transfer Kevin Dooley came in and allowed a bunt single to BU's Elliot, then intentionally
walked Tommy Fitzgerald to load the bases.
Creighton
forced out Clayton at home on a Nick Popescu groundball to CU shortstop Elliot Soto. Dooley then struck out
pinch hitter Mike Brumleve for the second out of the frame. BU's Nick Mitidiero
flew out to center field to end the Braves' scoring threat and force extra
innings.
In the top
of the 11th, Roemmich led off with a single and advanced to second
on a sacrifice bunt by Servais. After Mieras drew a walk, Soto hit into a
fielder's choice to leave runners on the corners with two outs. The threat
ended when Soto was retired at second on another fielder's choice.
Bradley
retired the Jays in order in the top of the 12th to set up the final
sequence. Fritz singled off Lackovic, then beat out a throw to second on a
sacrifice bunt attempt by Brumleve. After another sac bunt, Roemmich came in
from right field to pitch for the second straight day, but his first offering
to Escue proved the be the game's final play.
Nihsen
allowed two runs on five hits in five-plus innings for his fifth no-decision of
the season. Venditte threw three-plus innings, allowing one run on two hits,
including the Elliot homer. Dooley was fantastic in his three innings of work,
allowing only one hit to go with three strikeouts.
Bradley
starter Collin Brennan pitched effectively, allowing only two hits in his seven
innings of work. He struck out four and allowed only one unearned run. Jon
Goebel blew a save opportunity, allowing two runs on three hits in the CU
eighth inning.
Knight and Michael Lam combined to record four of
CU's seven hits and score two of the three runs in the contest.
The Jays
will return to action on Wednesday with a doubleheader against North Dakota State at the CU Sports Complex. Game one of the twinbill is scheduled for 1 p.m.
