The Creighton baseball team poured on the runs over the weekend as it bested the Minnesota Golden Gophers in a three-game series. After losing the first game 10-5, the Jays won the next two 11-4 and 8-0. With the victories the Jays improved to 2-4 on the season.
“Our level of play was much improved against Minnesota over the previous weekend at Little Rock,” head coach Ed Servais said. “Our effort, energy and execution were noticeably better, especially Sunday. I think we showed the type of team that we hope to be throughout the season.”
The Jays came out hot on Friday afternoon, scoring four runs in the first inning. An RBI triple from junior infielder Jake Peter followed by three RBI singles gave the Jays the early lead. In the third inning, the Jays added another run as sophomore outfielder Brett Murray singled to score sophomore infielder Reagan Fowler.
The Jays held a 5-1 lead until the bottom of the fifth inning, when the Gophers scored six runs off of two hits and five walks. Down 7-5, the Jays rallied in the top of the seventh, but could not capitalize, leaving the bases loaded. The Gophers added three insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth inning en route to the 10-5 win.
Murray, Fowler and senior outfielder Brad McKewon each finished with two hits Murray led the team with two RBIs. Friday’s game was McKewon’s third multi-hit performance of the season. The Jays finished with nine hits and seven walks while striking out eight times. Sophomore starting pitcher Taylor Elman went 4 1/3 innings allowing three earned runs off of three hits and four walks while recording three strikeouts.
On Saturday, the Jays earned their first win of the season, trouncing the Gophers 11-4. The Jays struck in the first inning again, plating two off of Peter’s home run. Up 2-1 in the second inning, McKewon singled to right field, scoring Murray to take a 3-1 lead. In the fourth inning, the Jays piled up four runs off of three hits, including a three-run home run from sophomore infielder Tommy Clouthier, and jumped ahead 7-2.
The Gophers plated two runs in the bottom of the fourth to shrink the lead to 7-4, but they were unable to gain any more ground on the Jays. Murray scored in the sixth, this time off of a wild pitch, and the Jays added three more insurance runs off of four hits and an error in the ninth to seal the victory.
“Offensively we had a number of two-out base hits, that is something we did not do well in Arkansas,” head coach Ed Servais said. “Our defense improved greatly as well, making only one error despite playing on dirt [played on turf at Arkansas-Little Rock] for the first time.”
The Jays had 13 hits and six walks in the victory with five players recording multi-hit games. Peter finished 3-5 with two RBIs and two runs. McKewon, Fowler, Murray and senior outfielder Mike Gerber finished with two hits apiece. The Gophers managed nine hits and three walks.
After sophomore starting pitcher Tommy Strunc left after 1 1/3 innings, allowing two runs off of two hits, fellow sophomore pitcher Matt Warren came in to pitch 6 2/3 innings for the Jays. Warren allowed two runs off of six hits while striking out two and walking none to earn the win. Senior pitcher Bryan Sova allowed one hit in a scoreless ninth inning to clinch the game for the Jays.
In the rubber match on Sunday the Jays dominated, getting hot offensively while shutting out the Gophers as they cruised to an 8-0 victory. A three-run fifth inning and a five-run ninth inning were all the Jays needed as the pitching staff only allowed four hits and zero walks in the game.
Freshman starting pitcher Jeff Albrecht went three innings while allowing two hits and striking out three. Sophomores Austin Groth, John Oltman and Nick Highberger pitched the next five innings, allowing only two hits combined. Sova pitched another scoreless ninth to seal the victory. Groth earned the win, improving to 1-1 on the season.
Offensively, it was Gerber who stole the show, hitting a grand slam in the ninth to help himself finish with two hits, four RBIs and one run. Peter went 3-4 with a walk, two RBIs and one run. Senior designated hitter Cody Kottich had two hits, a walk and a run. Sophomore infielder Ryan Fitzgerald added a hit, a walk, two runs and an RBI.
“Starting 0-3 was a wake-up call, that we were not playing at the level we wanted to be at,” McKewon said. “No one really was outstanding in the first weekend and I think we started to move in the right direction against Minnesota.”
The Jays will look to carry their momentum into their next series with the Charlotte 49ers. The 49ers are 2-2 on the season and will play two more games this week before taking on the Jays. The first game of the series is Friday at 3 p.m. in Charlotte.