Creighton University
5-4
Minnesota
4-7
Bluejays Bit By Minnesota in 12-innings, 8-6
3/7/2015 10:10:00 PM | Baseball
OMAHA, Neb. - An inability to execute in the late innings cost the Creighton Baseball team an 8-6 contest in 12 innings against Minnesota on Saturday, March 7.
The Bluejays fell to 5-4 on the season with the loss, while Minnesota moved to 4-7.
Creighton got on the board first in the opening frame as sophomore Daniel Woodrow led off for Creighton with a double to left. Two batters later junior Reagan Fowler gave the Bluejays the lead with an RBI groundout.
The Bluejays tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the third as sophomore Nicky Lopez singled, then stole second open the inning. Fowler reached on a throwing error to bring home Lopez. One out later junior Ryan Fitzgerald blooped a double into center, plating Fowler.
Creighton starter, sophomore Jeff Albrecht, cruised through six innings as he limited Minnesota to one run on four hits.
Bluejay reliever Nick Highberger allowed a run in his first inning of work, but sent Creighton into the ninth with a 3-2 lead.
Minnesota, however, scratched across the tying run in the top of the ninth with a run on one hit and three walks before sophomore David Gerber closed the door with a bases loaded strikeout of Jordan Smith.
In the bottom of the ninth Creighton had a golden chance to win the game as senior Kevin Lamb led off the frame with a triple to center. Unfortunately to ground balls to short and a liner to second sent the game to extra innings.
The Bluejays had another opportunity in the bottom of the 11th. Fitzgerald opened the inning with a bunt single and went to third with one out via a passed ball. Creighton once again came up empty handed due to a strikeout and diving catch of a sinking line drive in right by Minnesota's Matt Fiedler to end the inning.
The Golden Gophers took advantage of the momentum in the 12th, plating five runs on four hits and an error, with the big blow coming on a three-run home run to left by Michael Handel.
Creighton rallied in its half of the 12th as junior Brett Murray blasted a three-run bomb to right, but the Bluejays came up just short.
Gerber suffered the loss (0-1) despite throwing 2.2 innings of impressive relief. He allowed three runs on three hits in the 12th for the loss.
Minnesota's Brian Glowicki earned the win (1-0), holding Creighton scoreless in 3.2 innings of relief.
Minnesota and Creighton will conclude their series on Sunday with a single game beginning at 1:30 pm.
The two teams opted not to play the final game of the series as Saturday's contest as well as the single game on Sunday required a temporary fence be errected in right field due to unsafe playing conditions on the warning track. The frigid conditions in Omaha over the past month have left the field of TD Ameritrade Park Omaha frozen until this weekend. The condition of the right field warning track almost prevented Saturday's game until the temporary fence was put in place.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Brian Glowicki (1-0)
L: Gerber, David (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Connor Schaefbauer 1
3B: Matt Fiedler 1
HR: Michael Handel 1
RBI: Connor Schaefbauer 1 ; Matt Fiedler 1 ; Michael Handel 4 ; Alex Boxwell 1 ; Matt Halloran 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Dan Motl 1 ; Connor Schaefbauer 1 ; Matt Fiedler 3 ; Michael Handel 1 ; Tony Skjefte 1 ; Jordan Smith 1
SB: Matt Fiedler 1
HBP: Tyler Hanson 1
Batting:
2B: Woodrow, Daniel 1 ; Murray, Brett 1 ; Fitzgerald, Ryan 2
3B: Lamb, Kevin 1
HR: Murray, Brett 1
RBI: Fowler, Reagan 1 ; Murray, Brett 3 ; Fitzgerald, Ryan 1
SH: Lopez, Nicky 1 ; Crawford, Harrison 1 ; Connolly, Kevin 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Woodrow, Daniel 1 ; Lopez, Nicky 1 ; Fowler, Reagan 2 ; Murray, Brett 1 ; Connolly, Kevin 1
SB: Lopez, Nicky 1
PO: Fitzgerald, Ryan 1
