Creighton University
Toledo
Baseball Sweeps Through Opening Day
2/19/2011 2:39:00 PM | Baseball
CARY, N.C. - The Creighton baseball team started the season clicking on all cylinders, defeating Toledo 5-1 and Canisius 6-3 in the second game.
The Jays left at least one runner on base in each of the first five innings, but still pushed across four runs on seven hits in the first five frames. After leaving a runner on base in the top of the first inning, the Jays got on the board first scoring in the second inning. Senior catcher Scott Thornburg ripped a double to left center field. Alex Staehely moved Thornburg to third on a single. Freshman Mike Gerber then got his first RBI of his career, grounding out to second and scoring Thornburg.
Creighton ripped open the score in the third inning, scoring three runs on two hits and no errors, all on two outs. After Michael Mutcheson led off the inning getting hit by a pitch, Nick Judkins picked up his first Creighton hit with a single. With runners on first and second, Jimmy Swift and Trever Adams both struck out swinging. Thornburg then walked, loading the bases. Staehely came in and lined a double, hugging the left field line, and knocked in all three baserunners.
Sophomore Ty Blach and the defense kept the Rockets scoreless through the first three innings, going three-up, three-down through the first three frames. In the bottom of the fourth, Chris Dudics singled up the middle and then stole second. Wes White then drove in Dudics for the first run for the Toledos in the game. Creighton then shut down the Rockets to end the inning.
Both teams were then scoreless, leaving runners on base, until the Jays put up the final run of the game in the eighth inning. Mutcheson doubled down the left field line for his third hit of the day. He was advanced by a line drive by Judkins to the outfield, and then punched in on a sacrifice fly by Adams.
The Jays finished game one with five runs on 10 hits. Mutcheson finished with three hits on the day and two runs scored, while Staehely was two-for-five with three RBI. Blach was the winning pitcher, finishing with one earned run given up, six hits and three walks. Kyle Shaw took the loss for Toledo with four earned runs given up in 4.0 innings.
The Jays took their hot bats into game two, dinging out nine hits The second game was dominated by Jonas Dufek. The senior right hander threw a career high 11 strikeouts in five innings, allowing three earned runs on five hits.
Creighton found themselves down in the second game early, giving up a run to Canisius when Shane Zimmer drove a double down the line, scoring Chris Gruarin. It didn't take long for the Jays to get that run back, and more. Creighton scored four times in the inning. Creighton loaded the bases on walks when Swift got hit by a pitch, driving in Anthony Bemboom. Adams stood in next and drove a ball to right center. The wind held the ball up, dropping it just in front of the outfielders. Swift, Judkins and Mutcheson all scored, putting the Jays up 4-1.
Canisius again battled for acouple runs in the third inning, after Dufek loaded the bases. Gruarin singled to left field and drove in will Chomicki. Dufek walked the next batter, Jose Torralba to score. The 4-3 score would be the closest the Griffs would get in the game. Creighton scored two more runs in the bottom of the third, and then hung on the rest of the game. Staehely again got on base and was scored on Chance Ross' double down the right field line, his first RBI as a Bluejay. Judkins then reached on a fielders choice and scored Ross.
Creighton held the Griffs scoreless through the rest of the game, but would also be held scoreless. Jack VanLeur came in to close out the game on the mound earning his first save of the season, pitching 4.0 innings and not allowing a runner on base while striking out three. Swift went 2-for-3 in the game with one run scored and one RBI while Adams went 2-for-5 with three RBI.
