OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — Courtesy: Creighton Media Relations
Locked in a tight game into the late innings, the Creighton Baseball saw its series opening battle with Xavier get away 8-1 on Friday, April 26th.
The loss ended Creighton's five-game winning streak as the Bluejays fell to 24-9 on the season and 5-2 in BIG EAST play, while Xavier moved to 18-23 overall and 8-1 in BIG EAST play.
Xavier jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second, getting a run on an RBI triple from catcher Natale Monastra. Creighton answered as senior Jordan Hovey blasted a solo home run to right field, his seventh of the season.
The Bluejays just missed taking a 2-1 lead in the second as Jared Wegner singled and catcher David Vilches blasted a ball to center, but it bounced over the wall for a ground-rule double. The two Bluejay runners were left, giving Xavier a bit of momentum.
The Musketeers took advantage with a pair of runs in the third on a double from Jake Shepski, an RBI single by Matt Warkentin and an RBI double off the bat of Chris Givin.
In the bottom of the third the Bluejays seemed poised to strike once more as with runners at first and second senior Jack Strunc drove a ball to the top of the wall in left, but Allbry Major stole a sure double, if not a three-run homer, from the Bluejay shortstop.
The scored remained 3-1 into the eighth, when Xavier plated two runs on an inside the park home run from Major, then tacked on three in the ninth.
Creighton starter Mitch Ragan took the loss (6-2), allowing three runs on nine hits in 6.2 innings. Xavier starter Damien Richard moved to 1-1 on the season, limited the Bluejays to one run on five hits in 5.2 frames.
The offensive bright spot for Creighton was a 3-for-4 day from Wegner and a 2-for-4 effort by Hovey.
The two teams return to the field tomorrow at 2:00 pm for the second game of the series.
