Creighton University
IPFW
Baseball Uses Strong Pitching to Down IPFW 7-2
3/8/2009 9:30:00 PM | Baseball
CONWAY, S.C. - The Creighton baseball team defeated IPFW, 7-2, Sunday night in the final game of the Caravelle Resort Classic at Charles Watson Stadium in Conway, S.C.
Making his first career start for the Bluejays was Otto Roberts. Roberts was a bit nervous in the first inning as the first two runners for IPFW reached base. After settling down a bit, he gave up a two-out two-run double to IPFW third baseman Mark Carden, making it 2-0 after one.
Roberts regained his composure in the second inning as he struck out the side, to give him five strikeouts through two innings. Coming into the game, five strikeouts had been the season-high in a game for the CU pitching staff. He finished the day with eight strikeouts, as he went 4.0 innings, allowing just the two runs on three hits.
Creighton designated hitter Scott Thornburg posed the first offensive threat for the Jays in the third as he lined a double down the right field line. Next hitter was Robbie Knight who singled down the left field line. Thornburg tried to score on the hit, but was gunned down by IPFW left fielder Quentin Brown at the plate.
In the fourth inning CU had its first back-to-back home runs of the year as Bluejay second baseman Vicente Cafaro hit his second home run in as many days, hitting a solo shot to left center field, making it a 2-1 game. T.J. Roemmich was the next hitter, and he one-upped Cafaro by launching his third home run in as many games, on a bomb to right field, to even the score at 2-2.
The Jays took a 5-2 lead in the fifth as Robbie Knight scored from second on a throwing error by IPFW shortstop Chris Gottschall, trying to throw out Elliot Soto at first. Darin Ruf extended the lead in the next at bat, as he launched his 22nd career home run, a two-run shot, to left field, bringing in Soto.
Creighton added insurance runs in the eighth as Roemmich doubled to left to bring home Ruf, and make it 6-2. Roemmich then came home on Jimmy Swift's infield single as IPFW second baseman Koehler threw the ball away trying to get Swift.
CU will have an off day on Monday, before returning to Coastal Carolina to take on the Chanticleers on Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. The Bluejays fell just short on Saturday against CCU, losing 8-7.
NOTES: The game was delayed by more than an hour due to the Coastal Carolina-Stony Brook game that preceded it...Coastal Carolina scored the most runs in the NCAA this season, as it defeated the SeaWolves 36-3...Roberts was drafted in the 23rd round by the Cleveland Indians last summer, before deciding to attend Creighton...Jonas Dufek made his first career appearance out of the bullpen in the fifth...He threw a scoreless inning, striking out one and walking one...Prior to Sunday all three of his previous outings had been as a starter...It's the first time Creighton has scored seven-plus runs in three straight games since it did it in four straight from April 23-27, 2008...Jack VanLeur set a new career-high for strikeouts, as he struck out four in his 2.0 innings of work...As a team CU had 16 strikeouts, its highest total since having the same amount against Arkansas-Little Rock on March 3, 2007...It was the Bluejay bullpen's best effort of the year as the group combined for 5.0 scoreless innings, allowing no hits, while striking out five and walking just one...Dan Blair's first career double in the ninth inning was his first hit since a year ago to the day...He had a single on March 8, 2008.
