Creighton University
23-11, 0
Xavier
13-26, 0
Bluejays Upended by Xavier 12-8, Settle for Series Win
4/22/2018 2:49:00 PM | Baseball
The loss dropped the Bluejays to 23-11 on the season and 3-5 in BIG EAST play, while Xavier moved to 13-26 overall and 3-6 in conference action.
The Musketeers bounced out to a 3-0 lead with three runs on three hits and two walks.
Creighton responded with three in the top of the third. Sophomore Jason Allbery laced a leadoff double to left, then junior Clark Brinkman blasted a two-run homer to left center. One out later junior Michael Emodi and sophomore Will Robertson doubled to put runners at second and third. Junior Jack Strunc followed with an RBI ground out to tie the score at 3-3.
The Musketeers pulled ahead on a solo home run from Natalie Monastra, then took advantage of a Bluejay miscue to plate three more in the frame.
Creighton junior Ryan Mantle opened the fourth with a solo shot of his own to make it 7-4, but Xavier countered with single runs in the fourth and sixth to push its edge to 9-4.
The Bluejays tightened the game to 9-7 in the eighth, scoring three runs on a hit batter, a walk and a ball that was shockingly ruled a error off the bat of junior Thomas Luevano. The Bluejay third baseman sent Xavier center fielder Ryan Fournier to the wall. A clear double off the outstretch arm of Fournier, plated Robertson to make it 9-5. Mantle and sophomore Parker Upton followed with RBI ground outs to send the game to the bottom of the eighth at 9-7.
The Musketeers, however, responded with three runs of their own as Creighton went to the plate in the ninth down 12-7.
Robertson launched a solo home run for the Bluejays with one down, but that was all for Creighton.
Xavier starter Allbry Major picked up the win (2-3), allowing four runs on 10 hits and notching 10 strikeouts in seven innings.
Creighton starter Ian Evans suffered the loss (2-1), allowing three runs on three hits and two walks in 1.2 innings.
Creighton returns to the diamond on Tuesday, April 24 as the Bluejays face off with Nebraska in Lincoln at 6:35 pm (CT).
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: MAJOR, Allbry (2-3)
L: Evans, Ian (2-1)
Batting:
2B: Robertson, Will 1 ; Allbery, Jason 1
HR: Brinkman, Clark 1 ; Robertson, Will 1 ; Mantle, Ryan 1
RBI: Brinkman, Clark 2 ; Robertson, Will 1 ; Strunc, Jack 1 ; Mantle, Ryan 2 ; Upton, Parker 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Brinkman, Clark 1 ; Emodi, Michael 1 ; Robertson, Will 2 ; Strunc, Jack 1 ; Luevano, Thomas 1 ; Mantle, Ryan 1 ; Allbery, Jason 1
SB: Luevano, Thomas 1
CS: Luevano, Thomas 1
HBP: Robertson, Will 1
Batting:
2B: ALTENBERGER, Ryan 2 ; SORIA,Nate 1
3B: GIVIN,Chris 1
HR: MONASTRA, Natale 1
RBI: GIVIN,Chris 3 ; MONASTRA, Natale 1 ; ALTENBERGER, Ryan 1 ; FOURNIER,Ryan 1 ; SEXTON, Andrew 2 ; WARKENTIN, Matt 1
Base Running:
RUNS: GELLENBECK,Joe 2 ; MONASTRA, Natale 3 ; ALTENBERGER, Ryan 3 ; SORIA,Nate 1 ; FOURNIER,Ryan 2 ; WARKENTIN, Matt 1
SB: GALLAGHER, Mitch 1
CS: GALLAGHER, Mitch 1
HBP: GRAMMES, Conor 1
