Creighton University
Coastal Carolina
Baseball Loses Heartbreaker to No. 16 Coastal Caroina, 8-7
3/7/2009 6:30:00 PM | Baseball
CONWAY, S.C. - The baseball team lost a heartbreaker, 8-7 to No. 16 Coastal Carolina Saturday afternoon at Watson Stadium, in Conway S.C., as part of the Caravelle Resort Classic. The Bluejays had the goahead run at the plate when the last out was recorded.
Creighton got on the board in the top of the first as Elliot Soto sent a double down the left field line. He advanced to third on Coastal Carolina starting pitcher Austin Fleet's failed pickoff attempt. Darin Ruf picked up his 12th RBI of the year, on a single to center, bringing in Soto and making it 1-0 Bluejays.
Coastal Carolina answered in the bottom of the first as the first two men reached to make it runners on second and third with no one out. Chanticleer catcher Jose Iglesias tied the game at one as he sent a ground ball to third. Jimmy Swift's only play was to first, and the Bluejays got the out, conceding the run. The next batter, Adam Rice then had an infield single, bringing in the second run of the inning. After a walk to David Anderson, CCU rightfielder Dan Bowman hit a home run to right center field, making it 5-1 after one.
T.J. Roemmich got CU right back on the board in the second as he hit a solo home run to straight away center field.
Ruf then got his second RBI of the game in the top of the third, as he sent a double down the left field line to bring home leadoff man Robbie Knight. Roemmich came up two batters later and also got his second RBI as his single down the right field line, made it a 5-4 game. The Bluejays tied up the game at five when Carson Vitale hit a single to left plating Roemmich.
Creighton put together yet another rally in the top of the sixth as Ian Dike, Scott Thornburg and Knight all had consecutive singles to load the bases with just one out. Unfortunately Elliot Soto hit into an inning ending 6-4-3 double play, keeping the game locked at 5-5.
Coastal Carolina took a 6-5 lead in the bottom of the sixth as preseason All-American David Anderson hit a double down the left field line, scoring Chanticleer Adam Rice.
CCU added some insurance in the bottom of the eighth as Chance Gilmore scored the team's seventh run on an Anderson RBI single to left. Taylor Motter then singled past third baseman Swift to bring in Anderson and make it 8-5 heading into the ninth.
The Bluejays put together a ninth inning rally as leadoff man Knight doubled down the left field line. Two batters later Ruf homered to left, to make it an 8-7 game with just one out. Vicente Cafaro then sent a shot up the middle and was able to reach first by diving to the base, in order to beat the throw. Roemmich then reached base thanks to a catcher's interference, putting runners at first and second. After a strikeout by Swift, pinch hitter Dan Blair struck out to end the game.
Creighton will return to action Sunday evening as the team takes on IPFW at 5:30 p.m. Bluejay assistant coach Brent Alwine is a graduate of IPFW and coached for the team the last two seasons before coming to Omaha.
NOTES: After needing just 33 pitches to get through the first three innings last Sunday against Notre Dame, it took starter Greg Hellhake 40 pitches to get through first inning...Hellhake tied his career-high striking out five CCU batters...Bluejay relief pitcher Jack VanLeur had his best outing of the year....He went 1.2 innings without allowing a run...He did not allow a hit, and stuck out one...It was the first ranked team CU has faced this season.
