Creighton University
8-6
Minnesota
5-14
Baseball Blasts MInnesota 14-7
3/19/2022 7:48:00 PM | Baseball
Creighton climbed to 8-6 on the season with Saturday's victory, while Minnesota fell to 5-14 on the season.
The Bluejays struck first with a pair of runs without a hit in the third, using three Minnesota errors to jump out to a 2-0 edge.
Minnesota pulled even in the top of the fourth, getting RBI singles from Boston Merlia and Otto Grimm.
The bottom of the fourth didn't really begin until the Bluejays had two men out. The inning starter with a groud out, then a walk to junior Sterling Hayes, followed by a strikeout looking for Creighton's second out. Sophomore Nolan Clifford ripped an RBI double into right field, then freshman Hogan Helligson delivered an RBI single to put Creighton back up two at 4-2. A single through the left side from junior Andrew Meggs put runners at the corners, while sophomore Alan Roden worked a walk to load the bases. Junior Jared Wegner blasted a two-run double to center that was bobbled, allowing Roden to score and give the Bluejays a 7-2 advantage. Another walk ended the afternoon for Minnesota starter J.P. Massey after 3.2 innings.
Golden Gopher reliever Jack Liffrig was greeted by an RBI single from senior Chris Esposito as well as another outfield error allowing the seventh run of the inning to cross. Hayes continued the Bluejay hit parade with another RBI single to make it 10-2.
Creighton added three runs in the fifth on a solo home run from Helligso, an RBI triple from Roden and an RBI ground out by freshman Brant Voth to extend the lead to 13-3. The Bluejays' final run came on a sac fly by Kyle Hess in the seventh.
Meggs led the Bluejay attack with three hits and two runs scored, finishing 3-for-6 on the day.
Bluejay starter Dominic Cancellieri earned the win (2-1), holding Minnesota to five runs on seven hits and two walks in six innings of work, while Gopher starter J.P Massey took the loss (1-2). Massey was responsible for nine runs (seven earned), allowing four hits, four walks and a hit batter in 3.2 frames.
Creighton goes for the series sweep on Sunday, trying to earn its ninth win in 11 games. First pitch is set for 12:00 pm.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Cancellieri, Dominic (2-1)
L: Massey, J.P. (1-2)
Batting:
2B: Stahl, Drew 1 ; Grimm, Otto 1
3B: Bateman, Brett 1
HR: Kelly, Jack 1
RBI: Stahl, Drew 1 ; Kelly, Jack 1 ; Merila, Boston 1 ; Grimm, Otto 2 ; Perry, Jake 1 ; Counsell, Brady 1
SF: Counsell, Brady 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Bateman, Brett 1 ; Stahl, Drew 1 ; Stanke, Chase 1 ; Kelly, Jack 1 ; Merila, Boston 2 ; Grimm, Otto 1
HBP: Larson, Jake 1
Batting:
2B: Wegner, Jared 1 ; Clifford, Nolan 1
3B: Roden, Alan 1
HR: Helligso, Hogan 1
RBI: Meggs, Andrew 1 ; Roden, Alan 1 ; Wegner, Jared 2 ; Voth, Brant 1 ; Esposito, Chris 1 ; Hayes, Sterling 1 ; Hess, Kyle 1 ; Clifford, Nolan 1 ; Helligso, Hogan 2
SF: Hess, Kyle 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Meggs, Andrew 2 ; Roden, Alan 2 ; Wegner, Jared 1 ; Voth, Brant 1 ; Witt, Ivan 1 ; Esposito, Chris 1 ; Hayes, Sterling 1 ; Hess, Kyle 1 ; Clifford, Nolan 1 ; Helligso, Hogan 3
SB: Hayes, Sterling 1
HBP: Roden, Alan 1 ; Wegner, Jared 1 ; Hess, Kyle 2
