Creighton University
Nebraska
Cafaro Leads Bluejays in 15-0 Rout Over Huskers
4/7/2009 10:30:00 PM | Baseball
LINCOLN, Neb. - Vicente Cafaro set a career-high going 5-5 while also scoring a career-high five runs, as the Creighton baseball team routed Nebraska, 15-0 in Lincoln Tuesday night.
Creighton got on the board first, as T.J. Roemmich ripped a double down the right field line in the second, scoring Cafaro from first. Jimmy Swift bunted Roemmich over to third with one out, but that is as far as the rally would go, as Carson Vitale grounded out to the pitcher before Ian Dike grounded out to second.
In the fourth, Cafaro led off with a double to center, and advanced to third on a wild pitch. He scored his second run of the game when Swift singled to center putting runners on first and second with no outs. Vitale bunted the runners over to second and third before Ian Dike drew an intentional walk to load the bases with just one out. Nick Becker also received a base on balls, bringing in Roemmich for the second run of the inning, and making it 3-0 CU.
Cafaro was at it again in the fifth, picking up his third hit of the day on a bloop single to left. He stole second and advanced to third on an error by the catcher, before scoring his third run of the day on Roemmich's sacrifice fly to right.
In the seventh, Robbie Knight was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Runners were on first and third with one out when Ruf singled to left. Cafaro gave the Jays more insurance as he doubled down the left field line before advancing to third on a fielding error by Nebraska second baseman Kyle Bubak. Knight and Ruf came around to score on the play. Roemmich then followed with a double of his own down the left field line, allowing Cafaro to score.
CU added even more in the eighth when the team drew three walks to load the bases. Ruf singled up the middle to score Becker and Knight. After back-to-back walks by Cafaro and Roemmich, Swift was hit by a pitch. Vitale then drew a walk and Scott Thornburg singled to center, bringing in the sixth and seventh runs of the inning. Becker then came up again and singled home Vitale for the last run of the inning. In the inning, the Bluejays scored eight runs on three hits, and drew six walks and a hit-by-pitch, to make the score 15-0 after eight.
Mike Nihsen (3-1) got the win, going 5.0 shutout innings, allowing just three hits while striking out two and walking two.
The Bluejays return to action Friday night at 6:00, as the team takes on Northern Iowa at Rosenblatt Stadium.
NOTES: Starter Greg Hellhake went just one inning, before giving way to Mike Nihsen...He threw 29 pitches in his lone frame of work...It snapped a seven-game streak of CU starters going at least 5.0 innings...With his single in the third, Elliot Soto extended his hit streak to 10 games...During the streak he has gone 13-40 (.325) with a triple and seven RBI...Nebraska didn't get its first hit until two outs in the fourth inning...Cafaro's three doubles was the most by a Bluejay since Dan Norquist did it against Illinois State on Feb., 11, 2005...His five hits were the most by a Creighton player since May 6, last year when Knight accomplished the feat against Missouri...Knight's hit-by-pitch in the seventh was the 66th of his career, moving him into eighth place alone on the all-time list...Creighton has now outscored its opponents 33-10 in the seventh inning...At one point in the eighth, 10 straight men reached base...Creighton's eight runs scored in the eighth was the second time this season the team has done that, last doing it on March 7 against Albany when the team also put up eight in the fifth...Kirk Clark picked up his second career save, as he went a career-high 3.0 innings...It was the largest margin of victory over Nebraska since April 1, 1993, when the team defeated NU 19-1...It was the first shutout over NU since April 4, 1990, when the Jays did the trick 6-0...It was the first combined shutout since May 3, 2008, when Jeremy Hauer (7.2 IP) and Pat Venditte (1.1), accomplished the feat against Southern Illinois.
