Sunday, April 10
Omaha, Neb.
12:00 pm
Creighton University
4
vs
5
Seton Hall
Photo by: Steve Branscombe
Rough Fifth Proves to Be Undoing for Baseball, Bluejays Fall to Pirates 5-4
4/10/2016 3:34:00 PM | Baseball
Omaha, Neb. -- An uncharacteristically sloppy fifth inning was the difference as the Creighton Baseball team suffered its first BIG EAST loss, 5-4 to Seton Hall on Friday, April 10.
The loss dropped the Bluejays to 20-7 on the season and 2-1 in BIG EAST action, while Seton Hall headed home at 22-10 overall and 1-2 in conference play.
Senior Matt Gandy got Creighton off to a good start in the bottom of the third, launching his first home run as a Bluejay over the left field wall. Seton Hall, however, used its speed to pull even in the top of the fourth as the NCAA stolen base leader Derek Jenkins drew a one-out walk, stole second and came home via an RBI single from Zach Wiegel.
Creighton reclaimed the lead with a run in the fourth as junior Nicky Lopez blasted a triple to straight-away center, then scampered home on a sac fly off the bat of senior Reagan Fowler.
Leading 2-1 the Bluejays surrendered four runs to Seton Hall in the top of the fifth. The most difficult part of the inning was the Pirates had just one hit in the frame. Creighton issued two walks to open the inning and committed two errors before an out was recorded to help Seton Hall to a 5-2 lead.
The Bluejays battled back with two runs in the eighth as junior Kevin Connolly ripped a double down the left field line to open the frame, then pinch-hitter Riley Landuyt blasted a ball into deep left-center. Seton Hall's Jenkins raced under the ball but was unable to make the grab, chasing Connolly home to make it 5-3. After a groundout sent Landuyt to third, senior Ryan Fitzgerald smashed a ball to the warning track in left field for a sacrifice fly to pull Creighton within a run at 5-4.
Creighton had one last gasp in the ninth as Brett Murray reached second via an error, but Pirate closer Zach Schellenger shut the door to earn his fourth save of the season. Pirate starter Zach Predergast earned the win (4-3), holding the Bluejays to two runs on five hits over seven innings. Creighton starter Keith Rogalla took the loss (3-2), allowing three runs on a hit and three walks in four innings.
The unsung hero that gave Creighton the chance to make it a game in the late innings was senior reliever Nick Highberger, who tossed a career-high four innings of scoreless relief. Highberger allowed just one hit in his outing.
The Bluejays return to action on Tuesday, April 12 as Creighton hosts local rival Nebraska at 7:00 pm.
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The loss dropped the Bluejays to 20-7 on the season and 2-1 in BIG EAST action, while Seton Hall headed home at 22-10 overall and 1-2 in conference play.
Senior Matt Gandy got Creighton off to a good start in the bottom of the third, launching his first home run as a Bluejay over the left field wall. Seton Hall, however, used its speed to pull even in the top of the fourth as the NCAA stolen base leader Derek Jenkins drew a one-out walk, stole second and came home via an RBI single from Zach Wiegel.
Creighton reclaimed the lead with a run in the fourth as junior Nicky Lopez blasted a triple to straight-away center, then scampered home on a sac fly off the bat of senior Reagan Fowler.
Leading 2-1 the Bluejays surrendered four runs to Seton Hall in the top of the fifth. The most difficult part of the inning was the Pirates had just one hit in the frame. Creighton issued two walks to open the inning and committed two errors before an out was recorded to help Seton Hall to a 5-2 lead.
The Bluejays battled back with two runs in the eighth as junior Kevin Connolly ripped a double down the left field line to open the frame, then pinch-hitter Riley Landuyt blasted a ball into deep left-center. Seton Hall's Jenkins raced under the ball but was unable to make the grab, chasing Connolly home to make it 5-3. After a groundout sent Landuyt to third, senior Ryan Fitzgerald smashed a ball to the warning track in left field for a sacrifice fly to pull Creighton within a run at 5-4.
Creighton had one last gasp in the ninth as Brett Murray reached second via an error, but Pirate closer Zach Schellenger shut the door to earn his fourth save of the season. Pirate starter Zach Predergast earned the win (4-3), holding the Bluejays to two runs on five hits over seven innings. Creighton starter Keith Rogalla took the loss (3-2), allowing three runs on a hit and three walks in four innings.
The unsung hero that gave Creighton the chance to make it a game in the late innings was senior reliever Nick Highberger, who tossed a career-high four innings of scoreless relief. Highberger allowed just one hit in his outing.
The Bluejays return to action on Tuesday, April 12 as Creighton hosts local rival Nebraska at 7:00 pm.
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Players Mentioned
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