Creighton University
25-11, 10-1
Xavier
21-23, 5-6
Early Pitching Duel Turns into Slugfest as Baseball Takes Series with 11-9 Win
4/30/2022 4:33:00 PM | Baseball
The victory pushed the Bluejays to 25-11 overall and 10-1 in BIG EAST action, while Xavier dropped to 21-23 on the season and 5-7 in conference play.
Creighton jumped out to a 1-0 lead as junior Andrew Meggs lifted a leadoff single to left, followed by a walk to sophomore Kyle Hess and an RBI double from sophomore Alan Roden.
Bluejay starter Dominic Cancellieri retired the first two hitters, then worked around a single and hit batter to post a zero. The Bluejay sophomore went on to retire seven straight to move the contest into the fourth.
Cancellieri continued to cruise into the fifth, but with two down and a runner at first in the fifth Xavier shortstop Jack Housinger jumped on a 1-2 pitch for his second home run of the series. The result gave the Musketeers a 2-1 edge.
The game moved to the seventh as Xavier went to the bullpen for closer Jerry Huntzinger. Two walks and a hit batter loaded the bases for Creighton designated hitter Jack Grace. The Illinois native jumped on an 0-1 slider to change the game with grand slam to left-center.
Each squad scratched the scoreboard with a run in the eighth, sending Creighton into the ninth with a 6-3 edge.
The final frame saw fireworks from both sides as the Bluejays plated five runs on five hits and two walks, highlighted by an RBI single from sophomore Nolan Clifford, a two-run single from Roden and an RBI knock by junior Jared Wegner.
Xavier's offense rallied for six runs in the ninth, eventually sending the tying run to the plate with one down. Creighton head coach Ed Servais countered by bringing reliever Marc Lidd on for the final two outs as he earned his second save in as many days and third of the season.
Canellieri earned his fifth win (5-1) of the year, limiting Xavier to three runs on six hits in seven innings.
Huntzinger took the loss (0-2), allowing five runs on three hits in two innings of work.
Grace and Roden closed the contest 3-for-6 with four RBI each to guide the Bluejay offense.
The Bluejays and Musketeers close out the three-game series on Sunday, May 1 with game time set for 12:00 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Cancellieri, Dominic (5-1)
L: HUNTZINGER, Jerry (0-2)
S: Lidd, Marc (3)
Batting:
2B: Roden, Alan 1 ; Sailors, Nolan 1 ; Clifford, Nolan 1 ; Helligso, Hogan 1
HR: Grace, Jack 1
RBI: Roden, Alan 4 ; Wegner, Jared 1 ; Grace, Jack 4 ; Clifford, Nolan 1
SH: Helligso, Hogan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Meggs, Andrew 3 ; Hess, Kyle 1 ; Roden, Alan 1 ; Wegner, Jared 1 ; Grace, Jack 1 ; Sailors, Nolan 1 ; Clifford, Nolan 2 ; Helligso, Hogan 1
SB: Wegner, Jared 1 ; Sailors, Nolan 1
HBP: Hess, Kyle 2
Batting:
2B: FLAMM, Lane 1
HR: HOUSINGER, Jack 1
RBI: HOUSINGER, Jack 2 ; FRANZONI, Luke 1 ; DEMARTINO, Tyler 1 ; WALKER, Andrew 1 ; SCHULTZ, Garrett 1 ; RIVERO, Eddie 1 ; FLAMM, Lane 2
SH: CUSHING, Jared 1
Base Running:
RUNS: HOUSINGER, Jack 2 ; FRANZONI, Luke 2 ; DEMARTINO, Tyler 1 ; WALKER, Andrew 1 ; SCHULTZ, Garrett 1 ; DEPREY, Matthew 1 ; CUSHING, Jared 1
CS: FRANZONI, Luke 1
HBP: DEMARTINO, Tyler 1
