Creighton University
2-0
Arkansas-Little Rock
0-2
Offensive Explosion Fuels 13-8 Win for Bluejays
2/16/2019 5:43:00 PM | Baseball
The Bluejays got out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the second, scoring on three hits and a walk. Senior Jack Strunc opened the inning with a soft line drive single to left, then junior Jake Holton drew a walk. After a sac bunt from senior Jordan Hovey pushed both runners into scoring position, a wild pitch gave Creighton a 1-0 edge. Junior Jason Allbery followed with an RBI double, then sophomore Garrett Gilbert closed the frame with an RBI single through the left side.
Little Rock pushed across a run in the bottom of the second, but the Bluejay offense went back to work in the fourth. This time Creighton plated five runs on four hits a walk and a hit batter. Holton got things rolling once more with a leadoff walk. Hovey dropped down his second sac bunt of the game, then Allbery delivered his second RBI double of the game to make it 4-1. Gilbert continued the fun with an RBI single to right. Juniors Isaac Collins and Parker Upton pushed Creighton's advantage to 8-1 with back-to-back RBI singles up the middle.
After another single tally from the Trojans in the fourth, the middle of the order produced once more in the fifth. Holton drew his third walk of the game to lead off the frame, then Hovey singled to left. One out later Gilbert was hit by a pitch, then freshman Jared Wegner blasted a grand slam to left to push the Jays out to a 12-2 lead.
Creighton starter Denson Hull ran into a little trouble in the bottom of the fifth, allowing six runs on five hits and three walks in 4.1 innings of work. Junior Paul Bergstrom nabbed the win (1-0) tossing a scoreless inning of relief, while Little Rock starter Jose Torres took the loss (0-1) allowing seven runs (all earned) on five hits and two walks in 3.1 innings.
The bottom third of the Bluejay order closed the game 5-of-11 with six runs scored and eight RBI. Allbery and Gilbert each went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI.
Creighton goes for the series sweep on Sunday, Feb. 17, with first pitch set for 12:00 pm (CT). Senior Evan Johnson will take the hill for Creighton in the finale.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Bergstrom, Paul (1-0)
L: Torres, Jose (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Allbery, Jason 2
HR: Wegner, Jared 1
RBI: Collins, Isaac 1 ; Upton, Parker 1 ; Robertson, Will 1 ; Strunc, Jack 1 ; Allbery, Jason 2 ; Gilbert, Garrett 2 ; Wegner, Jared 4
SH: Hovey, Jordan 2
SF: Strunc, Jack 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Collins, Isaac 1 ; Upton, Parker 1 ; Strunc, Jack 1 ; Holton, Jake 3 ; Hovey, Jordan 1 ; Allbery, Jason 2 ; Gilbert, Garrett 2 ; Wegner, Jared 2
SB: Upton, Parker 1 ; Strunc, Jack 1 ; Holton, Jake 1
CS: Allbery, Jason 1
HBP: Gilbert, Garrett 1 ; Wegner, Jared 1
Batting:
2B: Coker, Chase 1 ; Jordan, Trace 1
HR: Pittman, Riley 1 ; Scott, Garrett 1
RBI: Pittman, Riley 3 ; Scott, Garrett 1 ; Jordan, Trace 3 ; Soto, Miguel 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Reyes, Christian 1 ; Pittman, Riley 1 ; Scott, Garrett 2 ; Coker, Chase 2 ; Benavidez, Ryan 1 ; Figueroa, Eldrige 1
HBP: Jordan, Trace 1 ; Figueroa, Eldrige 1
