Creighton University
11-7
San Jose State
3-7
Bluejay Baseball Pushes Win Streak to Seven, Besting San Jose State 6-4
4/18/2021 7:36:00 PM | Baseball
The win moved Creighton to 11-7 on the season, while San Jose State fell to 3-7.
The Bluejays jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the opening frame on three singles and a sac fly. Junior David Webel and sophomore Andrew Meggs started things off with singles to right center and through the right side. One out later Mantle laced an RBI single to right center, then senior Parker Upton lifted a sac fly to right.
Creighton added single runs in the third and fourth innings. Freshman Alan Roden and Mantle sprayed doubles down the right an left field line to make it 3-0. The fourth inning saw freshman Jack Grace double to left center, then Clifford ripped an RBI triple to right center.
Creighton's scoreless inning streak of 31.1 came to an end in the top of the fifth as the Spartans touched Bluejay starter Jonah Smith for two runs on three hits. San Jose State got a leadoff triple from James Shimashita, then consecutive singles by Ruben Mercado and Jack Collettte. Smith limited the damage to two runs by retiring the next three Spartans.
Doubles by junior Garrett Gilbert and Clifford in the sixth inning pushed Creighton's edge to 5-2.
The Spartans clawed within a run in the top of the seventh on a two-run triple off the bat of Jackson Forbes to make it a 5-4 contest.
Bluejay designated hitter Roden used his wheels to add some insurance for Creighton in the seventh. Roden was hit by a pitch, then raced around to third on a passed ball. Mantle followed with a sac fly pushing Creighton's advantage to 6-4.
Smith collected his third win of the season (3-2), allowing two runs on four hits in six innings, while sophomore reliever Ryan Windham picked up his first save of the season. Windham allowed just two hits in the final three innings.
San Jose State starter Spencer Long suffered the loss (2-1), allowing five runs on 11 hits in six innings.
Mantle finished with three RBI, going 3-for-3, while Clifford was 3-for-3 with two RBI.
The Bluejays and Spartans close out their series on Monday, April 19 at 12:00 pm. The game was moved up one hour in an effort to avoid a cold and dreary forecast.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Smith, Jonah (3-2)
L: LONG, Spencer (2-1)
S: Windham, Ryan (1)
Batting:
3B: SHIMASHITA, James 1 ; FORBES, Jackson 1
RBI: MERCADO, Ruben 1 ; FORBES, Jackson 3
SH: JURADO, Andrew 1
SF: FORBES, Jackson 1
Base Running:
RUNS: SHIMASHITA, James 2 ; MERCADO, Ruben 2
CS: HAMCHUK, Robert 1
HBP: SHIMASHITA, James 1 ; MERCADO, Ruben 1
Batting:
2B: Roden, Alan 1 ; Mantle, Ryan 2 ; Gilbert, Garrett 1 ; Grace, Jack 1 ; Clifford, Nolan 1
3B: Clifford, Nolan 1
RBI: Mantle, Ryan 3 ; Upton, Parker 1 ; Clifford, Nolan 2
SH: Clifford, Nolan 1
SF: Mantle, Ryan 1 ; Upton, Parker 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Webel, David 1 ; Meggs, Andrew 1 ; Roden, Alan 2 ; Gilbert, Garrett 1 ; Grace, Jack 1
HBP: Roden, Alan 1
