Friday, May 27
Mason, Ohio
5:30 PM
Creighton University
6
vs
5
Xavier
Photo by: Rooted Creative
Creighton Outlasts Xavier for 6-5 Win in Opening Round of BIG EAST Tournament
5/27/2022 9:53:00 PM | Baseball
Head Coach Ed Servais Collects 800th Career Victory
Mason, Ohio -- The Creighton Baseball squad moved to 7-0 in Opening Round contests at the BIG EAST Tournament as the Bluejays held on for a 6-5 win over Xavier on Friday, May 27.
With the win the Bluejays gave head coach Ed Servais his 800th career win, moving to 31-16 on the year, while Xavier fell to 31-26.
Xavier struck first with a pair of runs in the third on a two-run blast by Luke Franzoni.
The Bluejays answered with two runs in the fourth as senior Chris Esposito laced a two-run double into left field. Junior Jared Wegner and freshman Nolan Sailors set the table for Esposito with a leadoff walk by Wegner and a two-out single from Sailors. Esposito followed with his RBI blast on a 1-1 pitch to knot the game at 1-1.
Xavier reclaimed the lead with a run in the sixth, chasing Creighton starter Dylan Tebrake after 110 pitches. Closer Tommy Steier worked out of a bases loaded jam in the frame, striking out Franzoni to keep the Bluejays down just 3-2.
The momentum carried into Creighton's half of the sixth as Wegner singled up the middle, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from junior Sterling Hayes. Esposito walked to put two Bluejays on, then sophomore Nolan Clifford was hit by a pitch to load the bases with two down. With freshman Hogan Helligso at the plate, a wild pitch allowed Wegner to race home with the game-tying run.
Steier worked a quick 1-2-3 frame in the seventh, then the Creighton offense went back to work. Junior Andrew Meggs opened the frame by working a walk, then with one out sophomore Alan Roden blasted an RBI triple to right field to give Creighton its first lead of the game. An intentional walk to Wegner and a walk to Hayes loaded the bases with one down. Sailors made the Musketeers pay with an RBI single to right, then Esposito lifted a sacrifice fly to right to give the Bluejays a 6-3 advantage.Â
In each of the final two frames, Steier worked in and out of trouble as the Bluejay right-hander left the bags loaded. Xavier inched closer on a sacrifice fly by Jack Housinger in the eighth. With two down and the bags full, Steier induced a pop out from Tyler DeMartino to end the threat.
The final frame was an adventure as Xavier put the tying runs in scoring position with an error, a single and a wild pitch. Steier induced a pop up for the first out, then after an infield single made it 6-5, Steier punched out Jared Cushing for the second out. A misplay on a ball to shortstop loaded the bases, but Steier got another grounder to the right side from Jack Housinger to close the contest.Â
Steier picked up his fourth win of the season (4-1) with 3.1 innings of relier. Steier allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits and three walks, while notching three strikeouts. Xavier reliever Bryce Barnett took the loss (2-4), surrendering three runs on two hits and three walks in two-thirds of an inning.
Esposito and Wegner guided the Creighton offense. Esposito went 1-for-2 with three RBI, while Wegner was 2-for-3 with three runs scored
Creighton now advances to the winner's bracket to face Connecticut at 1:30 pm (CT) on Saturday, May 28, while Xavier will face Georgetown in an elimination game at 10:30 am (CT).
Notes:
Head coach Ed Servais collected his 800th career victory with the win ... Closer Tommy Steier escaped bases loaded jams in the sixth, eighth and ninth innings to earn the win ... Creighton moved to 7-0 in the opening round of the BIG EAST Tournament.
With the win the Bluejays gave head coach Ed Servais his 800th career win, moving to 31-16 on the year, while Xavier fell to 31-26.
Xavier struck first with a pair of runs in the third on a two-run blast by Luke Franzoni.
The Bluejays answered with two runs in the fourth as senior Chris Esposito laced a two-run double into left field. Junior Jared Wegner and freshman Nolan Sailors set the table for Esposito with a leadoff walk by Wegner and a two-out single from Sailors. Esposito followed with his RBI blast on a 1-1 pitch to knot the game at 1-1.
Xavier reclaimed the lead with a run in the sixth, chasing Creighton starter Dylan Tebrake after 110 pitches. Closer Tommy Steier worked out of a bases loaded jam in the frame, striking out Franzoni to keep the Bluejays down just 3-2.
The momentum carried into Creighton's half of the sixth as Wegner singled up the middle, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from junior Sterling Hayes. Esposito walked to put two Bluejays on, then sophomore Nolan Clifford was hit by a pitch to load the bases with two down. With freshman Hogan Helligso at the plate, a wild pitch allowed Wegner to race home with the game-tying run.
Steier worked a quick 1-2-3 frame in the seventh, then the Creighton offense went back to work. Junior Andrew Meggs opened the frame by working a walk, then with one out sophomore Alan Roden blasted an RBI triple to right field to give Creighton its first lead of the game. An intentional walk to Wegner and a walk to Hayes loaded the bases with one down. Sailors made the Musketeers pay with an RBI single to right, then Esposito lifted a sacrifice fly to right to give the Bluejays a 6-3 advantage.Â
In each of the final two frames, Steier worked in and out of trouble as the Bluejay right-hander left the bags loaded. Xavier inched closer on a sacrifice fly by Jack Housinger in the eighth. With two down and the bags full, Steier induced a pop out from Tyler DeMartino to end the threat.
The final frame was an adventure as Xavier put the tying runs in scoring position with an error, a single and a wild pitch. Steier induced a pop up for the first out, then after an infield single made it 6-5, Steier punched out Jared Cushing for the second out. A misplay on a ball to shortstop loaded the bases, but Steier got another grounder to the right side from Jack Housinger to close the contest.Â
Steier picked up his fourth win of the season (4-1) with 3.1 innings of relier. Steier allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits and three walks, while notching three strikeouts. Xavier reliever Bryce Barnett took the loss (2-4), surrendering three runs on two hits and three walks in two-thirds of an inning.
Esposito and Wegner guided the Creighton offense. Esposito went 1-for-2 with three RBI, while Wegner was 2-for-3 with three runs scored
Creighton now advances to the winner's bracket to face Connecticut at 1:30 pm (CT) on Saturday, May 28, while Xavier will face Georgetown in an elimination game at 10:30 am (CT).
Notes:
Head coach Ed Servais collected his 800th career victory with the win ... Closer Tommy Steier escaped bases loaded jams in the sixth, eighth and ninth innings to earn the win ... Creighton moved to 7-0 in the opening round of the BIG EAST Tournament.
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