Creighton University
Northern Iowa
Baseball Loses to Northern Iowa 2-0
4/11/2009 5:45:00 PM | Baseball
OMAHA, Neb. - The Creighton baseball team was shutout for just the second time this season, falling to Northern Iowa, 2-0, Saturday at Rosenblatt Stadium.
Starter Jonas Dufek got into trouble in the second inning, surrendering a pair of singles, to put UNI runners at first and third with just one out. Dufek would get out of the jam by getting Andy Steichen and Levi Ferguson to end the threat, and keep the game at 0-0.
Northern Iowa would finally get the lead in the top of the fourth as runners were on first and second with one out. Andy Steichen delivered a double to left field, that plated Jeff Taliaferro from second, and made it 1-0.
The Bluejays threatened to put a two-out rally together in the sixth, when Vicente Cafaro was hit by a pitch followed by a T.J. Roemmich walk. Unfortunately for the Jays, Jimmy Swift hit into a fielder's choice as Roemmich was forced out at second.
After a couple of bloop hits by the Panthers in the seventh put runners at second and third with no outs. Brett Douglas would drive in the second run of the game, on a groundout to second, that allowed Gabe Schultz to score from third, and make it 2-0 UNI.
In the bottom of the eighth, Creighton had yet another chance to score as Elliot Soto doubled to left-center, followed by a walk to Darin Ruf. After a strikeout by Cafaro, Roemmich flew to left, ending the inning.
The Bluejays and Panthers will finish their series Sunday afternoon at the CU Sports Complex beginning at 1:00 p.m.
NOTES: It took Dufek just seven pitches to get out of the first inning...It was the fourth straight start he has gone 6.0+ innings...In his last four starts he has allowed just nine runs in 26.1 innings good for a 3.07 ERA...The game marked just the second time this season Creighton has been shutout...The only other time came against Coastal Carolina on March 10, in a 1-0 loss...Dufek got the start that day going 7.2 innings, allowing just the one run...Soto extended his hitting streak to 12 games, going 2-4 Saturday.
