Creighton University
Gonzaga
Bulldogs Beat Bluejay Baseball 11-3
2/28/2009 8:45:00 PM | Baseball
PHOENIX, Ariz. - The baseball team lost its sixth straight game, 11-3 to Gonzaga, Saturday to fall to 0-6 on the season.
Gonzaga took a 2-0 lead in the second as the leadoff man Elvis Ortiz reached first on a hit-by-pitch. He then got to second after a Mike Nihsen wild pitch. After getting to third off a fielder's choice, he scored when Jason Chatwood sent a ground ball to Creighton shortstop Elliot Soto. Soto then had a throwing error trying to throw Ortiz out at home. Chatwood advanced to second on the throw and later scored on a Drew Heid single.
Creighton answered in the bottom of the inning as Robbie Knight drew a lead off walk, and then stole second. A Darin Ruf walk put men at first and second with two out and T.J. Roemmich singled to center bringing home Knight and cutting the deficit to 2-1.
After a run in the top of the inning by the Bulldogs made it 3-1, Creighton threatened to make some noise in the bottom of the fourth. The Bluejays had runners on first and second with no one out. Carson Vitale then popped up a bunt to the catcher for the first out. Soto followed with a single to center, and Nick Becker came around third trying to score, but was gunned down by Gonzaga centerfielder Heid. Creighton was still able to load the bases with two out, but Robbie Knight flew out to right, ending the rally.
Gonzaga pushed the lead even further in the top of the fifth as Evan Wells drew a leadoff walk. He then stole second and was brought home on a Ryan Wiegand RBI single. Wiegand then made the lead 5-1 on Tyson Van Winkle's double to left.
The game got put out of reach in the top of the 6th as the Bulldogs loaded the bases with two outs. Wiegand then knocked in his second and third runs of the game with a double to right. Van Winkle followed with a single to center, also bringing in two and making the score 9-1.
Creighton put together some offense late in the game, as the team got three straight men on to start the bottom of the 7th, making the game 9-2. A wild pitch then allowed Vicente Cafaro to plate home, making the game 9-3.
Gonzaga tacked on two runs in the top of the eighth to make it an 11-3 advantage.
Starter Mike Nihsen got the loss, as he is now 0-1 on the year. He threw 4.1 innings, allowing four runs on five hits. He walked one and struck out one.
Creighton will wrap up the Phoenix Classic Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m. Mountain Time, as it takes on Notre Dame.
NOTES: Creighton is now 0-6 for the first time in its recorded history...The Bluejays are in the midst of a six-game losing streak for the first time since April 18-25, 2003...It was the first game Creighton has played in this year, that was not decided by two runs or less...Gonzaga's starter was 2008 freshman All-American Cody Martin...Martin went 4.0 innings allowing one run on six hits...Pitching coach Rob Smith was ejected in the top of the eighth after a dispute on the count...The umpires had 3-2 on the field, however the Creighton dugout had 2-2...Brandon Koenigstein made his first career appearance, coming in relief of T.J. Roemmich in the eighth inning...He threw 1.1 scoreless innings
