Creighton University
15-12, 0
Georgetown
19-16, 0
Resilient Bluejays Outslug Georgetown 15-11 in Series Opener
4/14/2023 7:11:00 PM | Baseball
The win lifted Creighton to 15-12 on the season and 3-1 in BIG EAST action, while Georgetown dropped to 19-16 overall and 3-4 in conference play.
Creighton bounced out to an 8-0 in the second inning, scoring eight runs on three hits in the frame. After a one-out single from senior Sterling Hayes, freshman Ben North drew a walk, followed by three straight hit batters and an RBI walk to junior Nolan Clifford to make it 3-0. Grad transfer Tyler Lozano followed with a two run double, then senior Jack Grace blasted his sixth home run of the season to give the Bluejays an 8-0 lead.
The Bluejay lead grew to 11-0 with three runs on two hits and an error in the third inning. Senior Andrew Meggs delivered an RBI ground out, while Clifford laced a two-run double to right.
Georgetown answered with seven runs in the bottom of the third, ignited by a two-run single from Jake Hyde. After a sac fly from Christian Ficca made it 11-3, Austin Kretzschmar blasted a three-run home run and Andrew Bergeron launched a solo shot to bring the Hoyas within striking distance at 11-7.
The bottom of the fourth frame began with three consecutive home runs by Georgetown, while Bergeron knotted the game at 11-11 with an RBI ground out.
Creighton reclaimed the lead with another blast as Lozano opened the sixth with a solo shot to left. A pair of walks and three straight singles from sophomore Hogan Helligso, freshman Tate Gillen and sophomore Nolan Sailors pushed Creighton's advantage to 15-11.
Senior Tommy Steier took over in the bottom of the sixth to get the final 10 outs to secure a Creighton victory. Sophomore Malakai Vetock earned the win with 2.2 innings of relief, allowing two runs on four hits. Steier picked up his fourth save with 3.1 innings of scoreless ball.
Georgetown reliever Garrett Keough took the loss (0-1), allowing four runs on three hits in one inning.
Sailors, Clifford, Lozano and Grace each closed the game with three RBI, while Gillen went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI.
The Bluejays and Hoyas continue their three-game series on Saturday, April 15 at 4:00 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Vetock, Malakai (1-0)
L: Garett Keough (3-1)
S: Steier, Tommy (4)
Batting:
2B: Clifford, Nolan 1 ; Lozano, Tyler 1 ; Helligso, Hogan 1
HR: Lozano, Tyler 1 ; Grace, Jack 1
RBI: Sailors, Nolan 3 ; Meggs, Andrew 2 ; Clifford, Nolan 3 ; Lozano, Tyler 3 ; Grace, Jack 3 ; Gillen, Tate 1
SH: Meggs, Andrew 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Sailors, Nolan 2 ; Meggs, Andrew 1 ; Clifford, Nolan 1 ; Lozano, Tyler 2 ; Grace, Jack 2 ; Hayes, Sterling 2 ; Helligso, Hogan 1 ; North, Ben 2 ; Gillen, Tate 2
HBP: Sailors, Nolan 1 ; Meggs, Andrew 1 ; Hayes, Sterling 1 ; Gillen, Tate 1
Batting:
2B: Austin Kretzschmar 1
HR: Owen Carapellotti 1 ; Ubaldo Lopez 1 ; Jake Hyde 1 ; Austin Kretzschmar 1 ; Andrew Bergeron 1
RBI: Owen Carapellotti 1 ; Ubaldo Lopez 1 ; Jake Hyde 3 ; Christian Ficca 1 ; Austin Kretzschmar 3 ; Andrew Bergeron 2
SF: Christian Ficca 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Owen Carapellotti 2 ; Ubaldo Lopez 2 ; Jake Hyde 2 ; Michael Eze 1 ; Christian Ficca 1 ; Austin Kretzschmar 1 ; Andrew Bergeron 1 ; Marco Castillo 1
HBP: Owen Carapellotti 1
