Creighton University
19-15
UNLV
16-23
Bluejay Baseball Walks Off Rebels, 8-7
4/26/2023 7:26:00 PM | Baseball
Bluejays Collect Third Walk Off Win of 2023
The win lifted Creighton to 19-15 on the season, while the Rebels fell to 16-23.
Down 2-0 entering the bottom of the second, the Bluejays pulled even with a little muscle from grad transfer Ben Gbur. With two down in the frame freshman Ben North was hit by a pitch, then Gbur blasted through the opening with his second home run of the season. Gbur's blast was a no doubt shot to left field.
The Bluejays struck again with a pair of runs in the third, getting consecutive singles from sophomore Nolan Sailors, grad transfer Tyler Lozano and junior Nolan Clifford. Creighton took the lead on a double play ball off the bat of senior Sterling Hayes. After a walk to senior Jack Grace extended the inning, sophomore Hogan Helligso bounced an RBI single off the glove of pitcher Noah Mattera.
UNLV answered with four runs on two hits in the fifth to surge out to a 6-4 edge. The Rebels extended their lead to 7-4 with a run in seventh on an RBI single to Jacob Sharp.
Creighton immediately answered with two runs in the bottom half of the inning. The frame began with leadoff walks to senior Andrew Meggs and Sailors, followed by an RBI single from Lozano and pushing another run across on an error.
The Bluejays took advantage of another error as North reached on an error, took second via a sac bunt and scampered home on an RBI single by Meggs.
After a scoreless ninth from Creighton closer Tommy Steier, the Bluejays walked the game off on a walk to Lozano, a sacrifice, an intentional walk to Hayes and the game-winning single from Grace.
Steier picked up the win (5-0) with 1.1 frames of scoreless ball, while Joey Acosta fell to (1-4). The UNLV reliever allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits in 2.1 innings.
Lozano closed the game 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI, while Clifford finished 2-for-2.
The Bluejays hit the road early on Thursday morning as Creighton begins a three-game series with Butler on Friday, April 28 at 2:00 p.m. (CT).
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Steier, Tommy (5-0)
L: ACOSTA, Joey (1-4)
Batting:
2B: CHARLES, Rylan 1 ; SHARP, Jacob 1
RBI: PIMENTEL, Alex 1 ; SHARP, Jacob 3 ; HIGGINS, Kade 1
SF: HIGGINS, Kade 1
Base Running:
RUNS: PIMENTEL, Alex 2 ; CHARLES, Rylan 1 ; SHARP, Jacob 1 ; KRYSZCZUK, Austin 1 ; SHARMAN, Jason 1 ; HORVAT, Gianni 1
SB: PIMENTEL, Alex 1 ; KRYSZCZUK, Austin 2
HBP: SHARMAN, Jason 1 ; HORVAT, Gianni 1
Batting:
HR: Gbur, Ben 1
RBI: Meggs, Andrew 1 ; Lozano, Tyler 1 ; Grace, Jack 1 ; Helligso, Hogan 1 ; Gbur, Ben 2
SH: Clifford, Nolan 2 ; Gbur, Ben 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Meggs, Andrew 1 ; Sailors, Nolan 2 ; Lozano, Tyler 2 ; North, Ben 2 ; Gbur, Ben 1
CS: Meggs, Andrew 1 ; Sailors, Nolan 1
HBP: North, Ben 1
