Sunday, February 19
Lake Charles, La.
1:00 PM
Creighton University
2-1
5
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McNeese State
1-2
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9
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Creighton
1
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McNeese State
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Photo by: Leighton Chamblee
Kleinsorge Shines as Bluejay Baseball Claims Series with 5-1 Win
2/19/2023 4:29:00 PM | Baseball
Sailors Caps Four-Run Ninth with Two-Run Blast
Lake Charles, La. -- Pressed into a spot start, graduate transfer Justin Kleinsorge was flawless over six innings as Creighton Baseball claimed the opening series of 2023 with a 5-1 win on Sunday, February 19.
The victory pushed Creighton to 2-1 on the season, while McNeese dropped to 1-2 in 2023.
The Bluejays jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the opening frame as leadoff hitter Andrew Meggs blasted a double to left, then moved to third on a wild pitch. Sophomore Nolan Sailors plated Meggs with an RBI grounder to first.
Kleinsorge stepped to the bump in the first, working around a hit batter to post a scoreless frame.
The 1-0 score remained throughout Kleinsorge's six innnigs as the graduate transfer limited McNeese to three baserunners on two hits and the HBP. He struck out six, working around a leadoff double in the sixth inning.
Closer Tommy Steier came into the game in the seventh and equally worked around a leadoff double with a strikeout, a fly out and a pop out.
With Creighton still holding a 1-0 edge, the game moved into the ninth.
The Bluejays left no doubt with their final turn at the dish, plating four runs on three hits, a walk and an error. Senior Sterling Hayes opened the inning by earning a walk. After moving to second on a sacrifice bunt from freshman Tate Gillen, sophomore Hogan Helligso blasted an RBI double to right-center. Meggs followed with a two-out RBI double, then Sailors capped the frame with a two-run home run to right-center.
Steier allowed a solo home run to McNees in the ninth, but went on to earn his first save of the season. Kleinsorge nabbed the win (1-0), while McNeese starter Zach Voss took the loss (0-1). Voss allowed one run on two hits in three innings.
Meggs closed the game with two hits, two runs scored and an RBI, while Sailors was 1-for-3 with three RBI.
Creighton heads to Coastal Carolina for a three-game set next weekend, beginning on Friday, February 24 at 3:00 p.m.
The victory pushed Creighton to 2-1 on the season, while McNeese dropped to 1-2 in 2023.
The Bluejays jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the opening frame as leadoff hitter Andrew Meggs blasted a double to left, then moved to third on a wild pitch. Sophomore Nolan Sailors plated Meggs with an RBI grounder to first.
Kleinsorge stepped to the bump in the first, working around a hit batter to post a scoreless frame.
The 1-0 score remained throughout Kleinsorge's six innnigs as the graduate transfer limited McNeese to three baserunners on two hits and the HBP. He struck out six, working around a leadoff double in the sixth inning.
Closer Tommy Steier came into the game in the seventh and equally worked around a leadoff double with a strikeout, a fly out and a pop out.
With Creighton still holding a 1-0 edge, the game moved into the ninth.
The Bluejays left no doubt with their final turn at the dish, plating four runs on three hits, a walk and an error. Senior Sterling Hayes opened the inning by earning a walk. After moving to second on a sacrifice bunt from freshman Tate Gillen, sophomore Hogan Helligso blasted an RBI double to right-center. Meggs followed with a two-out RBI double, then Sailors capped the frame with a two-run home run to right-center.
Steier allowed a solo home run to McNees in the ninth, but went on to earn his first save of the season. Kleinsorge nabbed the win (1-0), while McNeese starter Zach Voss took the loss (0-1). Voss allowed one run on two hits in three innings.
Meggs closed the game with two hits, two runs scored and an RBI, while Sailors was 1-for-3 with three RBI.
Creighton heads to Coastal Carolina for a three-game set next weekend, beginning on Friday, February 24 at 3:00 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Kleinsorge, Justin (1-0)
L: Voss, Zach (0-1)
S: Steier, Tommy (1)
Batting:
2B: Meggs, Andrew 2 ; Hayes, Sterling 1 ; Helligso, Hogan 1
HR: Sailors, Nolan 1
RBI: Meggs, Andrew 1 ; Sailors, Nolan 3 ; Helligso, Hogan 1
SH: Gillen, Tate 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Meggs, Andrew 2 ; Sailors, Nolan 1 ; Hayes, Sterling 1 ; Clifford, Nolan 1
SB: Sailors, Nolan 2
Batting:
2B: Leslie, Josh 1 ; Burckel, Brad 1 ; Hollins, Braley 1
HR: Duhon, Braden 1
RBI: Duhon, Braden 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Duhon, Braden 1
SB: Leslie, Josh 1
HBP: Leslie, Josh 1
PO: Westenburg, Conner 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
5
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
3
AB
1
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
INF/OF
/ Baseball
RHP
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