Friday, April 21
Omaha, Neb.
7:00 pm
Creighton University
16-16, 6-1
6
vs
5
Villanova
8-21, 2-2
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9
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H
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Villanova
0
0
0
0
4
0
0
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5
9
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Creighton
0
1
0
2
0
0
0
2
1
6
13
1
Photo by: Steve Branscombe
Robertson Delivers Game-Tying Home Run, then Walk-Off Single in 6-5 Win
4/21/2017 10:47:00 PM | Baseball
Omaha, Neb. -- Down 5-3 entering the bottom of the eighth, freshman Will Robertson blasted a mammoth two-run homer to tie knot the game at 5-5, then delivered a walk-off RBI single in the ninth to give Creighton baseball a 6-5 win over Villanova on Friday, April 21.
The win evened the Bluejays' record at 16-16 on the season and moved Creighton to 6-1 in BIG EAST play. Villanova, meanwhile, fell to 8-21 overall and 2-2 in conference action.
Creighton got on the board first in the bottom of the second as Robertson led off the frame with a single to left-center, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored when senior Bryce Only bounced an RBI single through the right side.
The Bluejays got two more runs in the bottom of the fourth, capitalizing on a Wildcat miscue. As he did throughout the night the key was Robertson, who opened the inning with a double to right. Senior Riley Landuyt worked a walk to put runners at first and second, then Only sacrificed both Bluejay runners into scoring position. Freshman Parker Upton plated Robertson with a long sacrifice fly to left, then freshman Jason Allbery lifted what appeared to be a routine fly out to right. Villanova outfielder Donovan May, however, broke back on the ball then saw it slip out of his glove on a sliding attempt. Allbery was credited with an RBI double to push Creighton's lead to 3-0.
The unique play continued to the top of the fifth with the Wildcats reaping the benefit. With one out in the frame, Villanova put runners on the corners with a double and a single. Leadoff man David Gulati bounced a ball to short that could have ended the inning, but an error allowed the Wildcats to plate their first run without an out being recorded. The next batter, May, collected just the fourth walk of the season issued by Creighton starter Rollie Lacy to load the bases. Villanova's leading hitter, Todd Czinege, ripped a ball toward the left side only to watch Bluejay third baseman Only make a diving stab and throw to second. May was called safe, as Villanova pulled within a run at 3-2 with the bases still loaded. Lacy regained control with a critical strikeout, but a ground ball to third by JP Radvany took a high hop into left to give Villanova a 4-3 lead.
Villanova tacked on an insurance run in the eighth as Wildcat starter Jonathan Rosero cruised through the next three innings. Despite having thrown 108 pitches, the Wildcats sent their right-handed back out for the eighth. Sophomore Mike Emodi just missed a long home run to left as the ball tailed beyond the foul pole, then smashed a single to center. Rosero continued as Robertson battled to a 2-2 count, then crushed a no-doubter over the right field wall to knot the contest at 5-5. Villanova went to its bullpen to escape the eighth with a tie, but the damage had been done.
Creighton junior Ethan DeCaster came on in the ninth after the first Wildcat was hit by a pitch from senior Brennan Hammer, retiring all three men he faced.
In the bottom half of the frame, freshman Isaac Collins drew a one out walk, prompting another call to the bullpen. This time Villanova went to southpaw Tyler Arella, who induced a groundout by sophomore Thomas Luevano that sent Collins to second. The Wildcats choose to intentionally walk Emodi, but a balk allowed Collins to take third. Once the intentional pass was completed the Bluejays had men at the corners with two down. Arella got in front of Robertson, working the count to 1-2. The Missouri native was unphased, fighting of a breaking pitch toward the left side that scouted under Arella's glove to give the Bluejays the 6-5 win.
DeCaster snagged the victory (1-1) with one inning of scoreless relief, while Villanova's Jason Applegate took the loss (1-2) allowing one run on one hit in 1.1 innings of work.
Robertson was the hero of the contest, finished 4-for-5 with three RBI and three runs scored.
The Bluejays and Wildcats continue their three-game series on Saturday, April 22 at 6:30 pm. Villanova is scheduled to send the BIG EAST Preseason Pitcher of the Year, Hunter Schryver, to the mound. Creighton will counter with senior Jeff Albrecht.
The win evened the Bluejays' record at 16-16 on the season and moved Creighton to 6-1 in BIG EAST play. Villanova, meanwhile, fell to 8-21 overall and 2-2 in conference action.
Creighton got on the board first in the bottom of the second as Robertson led off the frame with a single to left-center, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored when senior Bryce Only bounced an RBI single through the right side.
The Bluejays got two more runs in the bottom of the fourth, capitalizing on a Wildcat miscue. As he did throughout the night the key was Robertson, who opened the inning with a double to right. Senior Riley Landuyt worked a walk to put runners at first and second, then Only sacrificed both Bluejay runners into scoring position. Freshman Parker Upton plated Robertson with a long sacrifice fly to left, then freshman Jason Allbery lifted what appeared to be a routine fly out to right. Villanova outfielder Donovan May, however, broke back on the ball then saw it slip out of his glove on a sliding attempt. Allbery was credited with an RBI double to push Creighton's lead to 3-0.
The unique play continued to the top of the fifth with the Wildcats reaping the benefit. With one out in the frame, Villanova put runners on the corners with a double and a single. Leadoff man David Gulati bounced a ball to short that could have ended the inning, but an error allowed the Wildcats to plate their first run without an out being recorded. The next batter, May, collected just the fourth walk of the season issued by Creighton starter Rollie Lacy to load the bases. Villanova's leading hitter, Todd Czinege, ripped a ball toward the left side only to watch Bluejay third baseman Only make a diving stab and throw to second. May was called safe, as Villanova pulled within a run at 3-2 with the bases still loaded. Lacy regained control with a critical strikeout, but a ground ball to third by JP Radvany took a high hop into left to give Villanova a 4-3 lead.
Villanova tacked on an insurance run in the eighth as Wildcat starter Jonathan Rosero cruised through the next three innings. Despite having thrown 108 pitches, the Wildcats sent their right-handed back out for the eighth. Sophomore Mike Emodi just missed a long home run to left as the ball tailed beyond the foul pole, then smashed a single to center. Rosero continued as Robertson battled to a 2-2 count, then crushed a no-doubter over the right field wall to knot the contest at 5-5. Villanova went to its bullpen to escape the eighth with a tie, but the damage had been done.
Creighton junior Ethan DeCaster came on in the ninth after the first Wildcat was hit by a pitch from senior Brennan Hammer, retiring all three men he faced.
In the bottom half of the frame, freshman Isaac Collins drew a one out walk, prompting another call to the bullpen. This time Villanova went to southpaw Tyler Arella, who induced a groundout by sophomore Thomas Luevano that sent Collins to second. The Wildcats choose to intentionally walk Emodi, but a balk allowed Collins to take third. Once the intentional pass was completed the Bluejays had men at the corners with two down. Arella got in front of Robertson, working the count to 1-2. The Missouri native was unphased, fighting of a breaking pitch toward the left side that scouted under Arella's glove to give the Bluejays the 6-5 win.
DeCaster snagged the victory (1-1) with one inning of scoreless relief, while Villanova's Jason Applegate took the loss (1-2) allowing one run on one hit in 1.1 innings of work.
Robertson was the hero of the contest, finished 4-for-5 with three RBI and three runs scored.
The Bluejays and Wildcats continue their three-game series on Saturday, April 22 at 6:30 pm. Villanova is scheduled to send the BIG EAST Preseason Pitcher of the Year, Hunter Schryver, to the mound. Creighton will counter with senior Jeff Albrecht.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: DeCaster, Ethan (1-1)
L: Jason Applegate (1-2)
Batting:
2B: Ryan Toohers 1 ; Timothy Lilly 1
RBI: David Gulati 1 ; Todd Czinege 1 ; JP Radvany 2 ; Timothy Lilly 1
SH: David Rodgers 1
Base Running:
RUNS: David Gulati 1 ; Donovan May 1 ; Tyler Bruno 1 ; Ryan Toohers 1 ; Timothy Lilly 1
HBP: Donovan May 1 ; David Rodgers 1
Batting:
2B: Robertson, Will 1 ; Allbery, Jason 1
HR: Robertson, Will 1
RBI: Robertson, Will 3 ; Only, Bryce 1 ; Upton, Parker 1 ; Allbery, Jason 1
SH: Only, Bryce 1
SF: Upton, Parker 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Collins, Isaac 1 ; Emodi, Michael 1 ; Robertson, Will 3 ; Landuyt, Riley 1
SB: Brinkman, Clark 1 ; Collins, Isaac 1 ; Upton, Parker 1
CS: Brinkman, Clark 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
5
R
3
H
4
RBI
3
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
LHP
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OF/INF
/ Baseball
INF
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RHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
INF/RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballOF
/ BaseballINF
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