Times are tough for the Creighton baseball team.
The Bluejays dropped a game in Lincoln on Tuesday 5-3 after a failed ninth inning rally could only muster up two runs.
The loss drops Creighton to a 14-16 overall record.
The Bluejays struggled at the plate against Nebraska’s pitching, a theme all too common for Creighton fans.
The loss came on the heels of a home series against Indiana State. The Bluejays went 1-2 over Easter weekend, with an offense that was dormant in the first two games before rising on the third day.
Senior pitcher Shane Liska received the win on Sunday, shutting out the best team in the Missouri Valley Conference. The Creighton offense was finally able to get going, gathering 11 hits and eight runs to support their starter.
Senior infielder Chance Ross led the Easter charge with two hits and three runs batted in. Senior infielder Nick Judkins had three hits and one RBI.
“We did a great job coming out and competing,” Liska said. “We did a good job responding from yesterday.”
The game on Saturday was really the story of the weekend. Senior pitcher Eric Mattingly held Indiana State without a hit for nine innings, but the Jays were not able to score despite two hits from sophomore outfielder Mike Gerber.
Creighton stranded 10 runners during the game, including a bases-loaded situation with no outs in the first inning.
The next best scoring chance for the Bluejays came in the ninth inning when junior infielder Alex Staehely doubled to left field. Gerber, the next batter, singled and Staehely was waived in. Unfortunately for Creighton, the throw home was in time to get Staehely out.
Despite having his team not be able to capitalize on the no-hitter, Mattingly was optimistic.
“Well, it’s disappointing for sure,” Mattingly said. “I was really hoping our offense could pull it out. We just gotta keep fighting and keep battling.”
The bullpen ended up allowing two runs in the 12th, giving the Bluejays a loss.
Head coach Ed Servais acknowledged how strange the day was.
“Eric did a marvelous job and he deserves better,” Servais said. “This group has had to fight through its share of adversity, but this was something new.”
Creighton also dropped the opener of the weekend series 6-3. The Jays’ next game is at Morrison Stadium tonight. They will play South Dakota State at six.