Creighton University
New Mexico
Baseball Comes From Behind to Defeat New Mexico 8-7 in 11 Innings
2/27/2011 4:57:00 PM | Baseball
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - In the final game of the four game series, the Jays (7-1) and Lobos (0-8) took the game to an extended 11 innings before a winner was determined, with Creighton coming out on top 8-7. In the top of the 11th, Nick Judkins led off the inning with a single through the right side, before being advanced by Jimmy Swift with a sacrifice bunt. Judkins had heads up baserunning, advancing to an empty third base on the play. Alex Staehely then drove in the winning run on an error by the shortstop, scoring Judkins. The Bluejay defense, which committed a season high three errors on the day, held the Lobos to no runs in the bottom of the 11th, getting out of a bases loaded jam with a flyball to left field.
Creighton starter Erik Mattingly was roughed up in his first outing as a Bluejay, giving up six earned runs on seven hits in 1.1 innings of work. The Lobos started out the game with two runs in the bottom of the first. After getting the first out on a ground ball, the next two batters, Kyle Stiner and D.J. Peterson each singled. Stiner reached on a hit that Jimmy Swift made an outstanding backhand stab at, jumped and threw the ball twisting, but was unable to get a hustling Stiner. Mitchell Garver then stood in and doubled, scoring both runners.
The Lobos scored again in the bottom of the second, pushing across four runs on five hits and leaving two runners on base. The Lobos used a single followed by back-to-back infield singles on bunts to load the bases. A Brian Woodchick sacrifice fly scored Trey Porras and then Stiner singled to again load the bases. With two outs, a bases loaded walk and a Quay Grant single up the middle scored three more runs, widening the Lobos lead to 6-0. Chase Webb was called in from the left field in to shut down the Lobos through the
Creighton had just two hits in the first three innings, with Trever Adams singling and Mike Gerber sending a single straight up the middle. Adams was stranded on base in the second inning while Gerber was forced out on a ground ball double-play by the Lobos. The Jays finally got on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth inning, when the Jays pushed across two runs on three hits and left one on base. The Jays got back-to-back-to-back doubles from Adams (who picked up his second hit of the day), Alex Staehely and Scott Thornburg. Adams and Staehely both scored, pulling the game to 6-2 after four.
The two teams exchanged runs in the bottom of the fifth and top of the sixth. The Lobos put up another run on Webb in the bottom of the fifth when Twinchell led off the inning with a triple to the 428 foot right center field gap. Alex Allbritton hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield, scoring Twinchell. For the Jays, Staehely ripped his second double of the game down the left field line on a 3-2 count and then advanced to third and scored on back-to-back wild pitches. Kurt Spomer came in and shut down the Lobos in the bottom of the sixth, leaving one Lobo on base after forcing the second Creighton defensive double play of the day. Webb finished the day with 3.2 innings pitched, giving up one earned run on five hits and striking out one.
The Lobos brought in Alexi Garza to pitch in the top of the seventh and the Jays welcomed him to the game by scoring four runs on four hits, evening the score at 7-7. Chance Ross started off the inning with a double down the right field line followed by Brad McKewon reaching by a hit by pitch. Gerber then hit into what looked like an easy double play for the Lobos, but the second baseman dropped the ball and Ross hustled in to score; Gerber and McKewon both safe on the play. Jordan Mackovicka singled, picking up his first hit of the season and putting runners on all the bases.
The Jays scored three more runs in the inning, first when McKewon scored on a bases loaded walk. Swift then singled through the left side, scoring Mackovicka and Gerber. The four run deficit is the largest the Jays have had to overcome this season. Creighton brought in Jack VanLeur in the bottom of the seventh, and VanLeur held the Lobos scoreless in the seventh, giving up just one hit in 1.0 innnings of work. Spomer finished the game with 1.0 innings pitched, two hits given up but held the Lobos scoreless.
Mark Winkelman came pitched 0.2 innings for the Jays in the bottom of the eighth, giving up one hit and walking one batter. The Jays, with runners on first and third, brought in Reese McGraw with two outs in the eighth. The sub-marine style pitcher forced a pop-up on a bunt to end the eighth inning and retired the Lobos in the bottom of the ninth on a strikeout, a fly out and a caught stealing baserunner.
The Lobos appeared to threaten in the bottom of the 10th, after the Jays went three-up, three-down in the top of the inning. The Lobos had two batters reach base, the first on an error by Staehely and the second on an error by Ross. But Anthony Bemboom threw out a runner stealing third and McGraw struck out Stiner looking to end the 10th.
Creighton finished with 12 hits on the day, led by Adams with three hits and Staehely and Gerber with two a piece. Seven different Jays scored on the day, with Staehely scoring twice. The Creighton pitching staff finished the game with three strike outs and four walks, giving up 18 hits and seven earned runs.
The Jays travel to Arkansas next week for a five game swing through the state over Spring Break. Creighton first travels to Jonesboro, Ark., to take on the Arkansas State Redwolves on Fri., Sat., and Sun., March 4, 5 and 6. The Jays will then head to Conway, Ark., for midweek games with Central Arkansas on Tuesday and Wednesday. Live stats will be available on www.gocreighton.com, as well as complete updates on all your favorite Creighton teams.
Quick Hits...
The win Sunday gave the Jays their first four-game sweep since 2008, when the Jays defeated Chicago State in four straight (3/15-3/16)... Creighton is on a five game win streak, the longest since a five game streak in 2008 (4/25-5/3). Ed Servais has had streaks of five wins or more 15 times in his coaching career at Creighton, with the longest being a 15 game streak in 2006... The two teams combined for a season high 29 hits... The Jays used a season high six pitchers in the game Sunday, after using just three in each game yesterday... 34 players on the two teams combined saw playing time in the game today, 18 of which were Jays... Creighton brought the all time series record between the Jays and Lobos closer, but the Lobos still hold a 10-6 overall record... Trever Adams had a great series at New Mexico, picking up six hits (two doubles and one triple) on the weekend, while also scoring three runs... Alex Staehely continued his hot bat at the plate, with six hits on the weekend. Staehely now has gotten an extra base-hit in five of the first eight games, including both a double and triple at Kansas and two doubles in Sunday's game... Anthony Bemboom hit the first home run of his Bluejay career, and the first Reece McGraw picked up two saves on the weekend, pitching 1.0 innings in the Friday and Saturday morning games. McGraw gave up two hits and struck out two in the two appearances combined...
