Sunday, February 25
Davis, Calif.
3:00 pm
Creighton University
4-2
10
at
7
UC Davis
2-5
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
R
H
E
Creighton
2
1
2
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
10
15
0
UC Davis
5
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
7
11
2
Will Robertson
Photo by: Jason Bartz
Baseball Completes Sweep With 11th Inning Rally at UC Davis
2/25/2018 7:13:00 PM | Baseball
Will Robertson drives in six runs for the Bluejays
DAVIS, Calif. -- Sophomore Will Robertson as well as juniors Michael Emodi and Clark Brinkman combined to go 11-for-17 with 10 RBI to lead the Creighton Baseball team to a series sweep at UC Davis in Sunday's 10-7 victory in 11 innings.
Creighton improves to 4-2 on the year, while UC Davis dropped to 2-5.
The Bluejays jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first, scoring two runs on two hits, an error and a walk. Junior Clark Brinkman got things started with a single to left, then took second on throwing error. Sophomore Isaac Collins walked, then junior Jack Strunc dropped down a sacrifice bunt to put runners at second and third. One out later, Robertson drove a two-run single to left.
The Aggies responded with five runs in the bottom of the first, as the first five UC Davis hitters came around to score. The big blow was a three-run home run from Caleb Van Blake, chasing Bluejay starter Preston Church. Freshman Ian Evans came on from the bullpen, sitting down three straight Aggies to keep the Creighton deficit at just 5-2.
The Bluejay offense went back to work, getting a run in the second via an RBI single from Brinkman. Then in the third, Emodi opened the frame with a double to right-center, followed by a game-tying home run from Robertson.Â
Creighton continued to pile on the runs in the fourth, surging ahead on RBI singles from Emodi and Robertson.
The Bluejays held the 7-5 lead into the bottom of the ninth as Evans, transfer Ryan Connolly combined to toss seven scoreless innings. Senior Grant Spranger allowed one run in the eighth, then sophomore Mitchell Boyer was touched for the game-tying run in the ninth. Abilene Christian transfer Jonah Smith came into the ninth with two on and just one out. Smith kept the Bluejays alive by inducing a strikeout and a groundout.
Still deadlocked at 7-7 entering the 11th, the Bluejays set the table with a one-out single from Brinkman and double to right from Collins. Junior Jack Strunc was walked to set up a force at any base, but Emodi made the Aggies pay with a two-run double to left. Robertson followed with an RBI groundout.
Smith picked up his first win (1-0) as a Bluejay with 1.2 innings of scoreless relief, stranding the potential winning run in scoring position to end both the ninth and tenth innings. Junior Thomas Luevano, who entered the game as a pinch-hitter to start the 11th inning after starting the first 54 games of his CU career, stayed in to close out the contest on the mound for his first career save.
Robertson went 3-for-6 and drove in a career-high six runs, including a homer in the third inning that tied the game at 5-all.
Emodi and Brinkman both tied career-highs with four hits. Brinkman was 4-for-5 with a walk and scored three times from the leadoff spot, while Emodi went 4-for-6 with a pair of doubles, including a bases-loaded two-bagger in the top of the 11th inning to break a 7-7 tie.
Creighton returns to the diamond on Friday, March 2 as the Bluejays begin a three-game series with Central Arkansas at 4:00 pm (CT).
Creighton improves to 4-2 on the year, while UC Davis dropped to 2-5.
The Bluejays jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first, scoring two runs on two hits, an error and a walk. Junior Clark Brinkman got things started with a single to left, then took second on throwing error. Sophomore Isaac Collins walked, then junior Jack Strunc dropped down a sacrifice bunt to put runners at second and third. One out later, Robertson drove a two-run single to left.
The Aggies responded with five runs in the bottom of the first, as the first five UC Davis hitters came around to score. The big blow was a three-run home run from Caleb Van Blake, chasing Bluejay starter Preston Church. Freshman Ian Evans came on from the bullpen, sitting down three straight Aggies to keep the Creighton deficit at just 5-2.
The Bluejay offense went back to work, getting a run in the second via an RBI single from Brinkman. Then in the third, Emodi opened the frame with a double to right-center, followed by a game-tying home run from Robertson.Â
Creighton continued to pile on the runs in the fourth, surging ahead on RBI singles from Emodi and Robertson.
The Bluejays held the 7-5 lead into the bottom of the ninth as Evans, transfer Ryan Connolly combined to toss seven scoreless innings. Senior Grant Spranger allowed one run in the eighth, then sophomore Mitchell Boyer was touched for the game-tying run in the ninth. Abilene Christian transfer Jonah Smith came into the ninth with two on and just one out. Smith kept the Bluejays alive by inducing a strikeout and a groundout.
Still deadlocked at 7-7 entering the 11th, the Bluejays set the table with a one-out single from Brinkman and double to right from Collins. Junior Jack Strunc was walked to set up a force at any base, but Emodi made the Aggies pay with a two-run double to left. Robertson followed with an RBI groundout.
Smith picked up his first win (1-0) as a Bluejay with 1.2 innings of scoreless relief, stranding the potential winning run in scoring position to end both the ninth and tenth innings. Junior Thomas Luevano, who entered the game as a pinch-hitter to start the 11th inning after starting the first 54 games of his CU career, stayed in to close out the contest on the mound for his first career save.
Robertson went 3-for-6 and drove in a career-high six runs, including a homer in the third inning that tied the game at 5-all.
Emodi and Brinkman both tied career-highs with four hits. Brinkman was 4-for-5 with a walk and scored three times from the leadoff spot, while Emodi went 4-for-6 with a pair of doubles, including a bases-loaded two-bagger in the top of the 11th inning to break a 7-7 tie.
Creighton returns to the diamond on Friday, March 2 as the Bluejays begin a three-game series with Central Arkansas at 4:00 pm (CT).
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Smith, Jonah (1-0)
L: Loar, Connor (0-1)
S: Luevano, Thomas (1)
Batting:
2B: Collins, Isaac 1 ; Emodi, Michael 2
HR: Robertson, Will 1
RBI: Brinkman, Clark 1 ; Emodi, Michael 3 ; Robertson, Will 6
SH: Strunc, Jack 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Brinkman, Clark 3 ; Collins, Isaac 2 ; Strunc, Jack 1 ; Emodi, Michael 1 ; Robertson, Will 1 ; Allbery, Jason 1 ; Whitecotton, Blake 1
SB: Robertson, Will 1
Batting:
2B: Lara, Alejandro 1
HR: Van Blake, Caleb 1
RBI: Anderson, Ryan 1 ; Van Blake, Caleb 4 ; Denholm, Logan 1
SH: Denholm, Logan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hooper, Ryan 1 ; Pluschkell, Brad 1 ; Anderson, Ryan 2 ; Aguiar, Alex 1 ; Van Blake, Caleb 1 ; Lara, Alejandro 1
SB: Kelly, Garrett 1
HBP: Hooper, Ryan 1 ; Aguiar, Alex 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
5
R
3
H
4
RBI
1
dh/c
AB
6
R
1
H
4
RBI
3
AB
6
R
1
H
3
RBI
6
AB
5
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
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