Creighton University
Evansville
Baseball Falls 8-4 in Series Opener Against Evansville
3/30/2012 5:28:00 PM | Baseball
OMAHA, Neb. - The Creighton baseball team dropped the opening game of the series against Evansville on Friday night, falling 8-4. The Bluejays drop to 11-12 on the season, 0-4 in the Missouri Valley Conference, while Evansville improved to 17-9, 2-2 in conference play.
Reese McGraw takes the loss for the Bluejays, falling to 2-4 on the season, while Josh Biggs of Evansville improves to 2-0.
Evansville scored the first four runs of the ballgame, pushing across single runs in the first and third innings and a two-spot in the second off Bluejay starter Ty Blach. After allowing five hits in the first three innings of his eighth start of the season, Blach shut down the Purple Aces in the next three innings, finishing the day with 6.0 innings of work, allowing four runs on six hits and striking out one batter.
Creighton got on the board in the bottom of the third inning, pushing across one run after Chance Ross singled to lead off the frame. Brad McKewon then walked before Nick Judkins moved both runners with a sacrifice bunt. A foul ball, sacrifice fly off the bat of Anthony Bemboom pushed across Creighton's first run, but a ground out ended the inning with one man left on base.
The Bluejays evened up the game 4-4 in the bottom of the seventh inning, scoring three runs on two hits, but again stranded two runners on base. The Bluejays used base hits from Jake Peter, Nick Judkins and a hit-by-pitch to Ross to load the bases before Jake Naumann walked in the first run of the inning. Josh Biggs then balked in another run before Scott Thornburg hit into a fielder's choice, pushing across Creighton's fourth and final run of the night.
After being held scoreless for five straight innings, the Purple Aces used a pair of hits, coupled with a walk, two wild pitches and a throwing error by the Bluejays to push across four runs.
Creighton stranded 13 runners on base, including a pair of baserunners in each of the seventh, eighth and ninth innings.
The two teams will play the second game of the series tomorrow afternoon, with first pitch set for 2:00 p.m. from TD Ameritrade Park Omaha.
NOTES: Creighton stranded 13 baserunners on Friday night, leaving at least one runner on base in each of the nine and a pair of runners on base in four different frames ... Chase Webb has now thrown 10.2 consecutive scoreless innings, including coming in tonight with a runner on second and no outs and not allowing the run to come home ... The last time a Creighton team dropped five straight games was May 8 - May 15, 2009 ...
