Creighton University
28-7, 4-3
Villanova
12-23, 3-7
Sailors Four RBI Day Leads Baseball to 14-6 Win at Villanova
4/19/2024 5:42:00 PM | Baseball
The victory pushed the Bluejays to 28-7 overall and 4-3 in BIG EAST action, while Villanova fell to 12-23 on the season and 3-7 in conference play.
Scoreless as the game moved to the third, Creighton took the lead with a run in the third. Sailors put pressure on the Wildcats with a one-out single, a steal of second and an error that allowed him to move 90 feet to third. Consecutive walks to Clifford and Deters loaded the bases, allowing Will MacLean to lift a sac fly to left to make it 1-0.
The Bluejays added a run in the fourth, getting a one-out walk to Cuyler Zukowski, a hit batter and an RBI single by Sailors.
A missed sliding catch in the fourth changed the course of the game. The inning began with a single from Deters. After moving to second via a wild pitch, Deters remained at second with two down. Hogan Helligso lifted a foul ball into right field that was almost caught by Villanova's Shane Solari as the ball missed his glove by inches as he slid. On the next pitch Helligso lifted an RBI double to right-center. After a walk to Zukowski, Villanova went to the bullpen for Ryan Mintz. Creighton third baseman Ben North greeted Mintz with a three-run blast to left-center to make it 6-0.
Creighton added to its advantage with a solo home run by Sailors and an RBI double from Colby Canales in the sixth. The Bluejays tacked on three more in the seventh courtesy of an RBI double from Sailors and a two-run single from MacLean.
Villanova broke through with five runs in the seventh, getting a three-run home run from Josue Valdez as well as a solo shot by Solari.
The Bluejay response came swiftly as Creighton scored three runs in the eighth as Sailors delivered again with a sac fly and a two-run double by Clifford.
Malakai Vetock picked up the win (3-1), tossing a career-high 6.1 innings. He allowed three runs on four hits and one walk. Villanova starter Jake Francis took the loss (3-3), allowing four runs on six hits in 4.2 innings.
Sailors led the Bluejays with four hits (4-for-5) with four RBI and three runs scored, while MacLean and North each contributed three RBI.
The Bluejays and Wildcats continue their three-game series on Saturday, April 20 at 12:00 p.m. (CT).
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Vetock, Malakai (3-1)
L: FRANCIS, JAKE (3-3)
Batting:
2B: Sailors, Nolan 1 ; Clifford, Nolan 1 ; Canales, Colby 1 ; Helligso, Hogan 1
HR: Sailors, Nolan 1 ; North, Ben 1
RBI: Sailors, Nolan 4 ; Clifford, Nolan 2 ; MacLean, Will 3 ; Canales, Colby 1 ; Helligso, Hogan 1 ; North, Ben 3
SF: Sailors, Nolan 1 ; MacLean, Will 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Sailors, Nolan 3 ; Clifford, Nolan 1 ; Deters, Teddy 1 ; Helligso, Hogan 1 ; Zukowski, Cuyler 3 ; North, Ben 3 ; Hess, Kyle 2
SB: Sailors, Nolan 1 ; Clifford, Nolan 2 ; Zukowski, Cuyler 1
HBP: Helligso, Hogan 1 ; Capece, Connor 1 ; Hess, Kyle 2
Batting:
HR: VALDEZ,JOSUE 1 ; SOLARI, SHANE 1
RBI: NEFF, JASON 1 ; WHOOLEY, MICHAEL 1 ; VALDEZ,JOSUE 3 ; SOLARI, SHANE 1
Base Running:
RUNS: SHAW, SCOTT 2 ; NEFF, JASON 1 ; WHOOLEY, MICHAEL 1 ; VALDEZ,JOSUE 1 ; SOLARI, SHANE 1
SB: SHAW, SCOTT 1 ; HASSERT, CAMERON 1
HBP: HANSEN, AJ 1
