With a potential Creighton-Nebraska matchup in the third round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament on Sunday, the Bluejays baseball team took to the road Wednesday evening to face their in-state rival Cornhuskers on the diamond. The game went to extra innings, before the Huskers put a damper on the Jays’ recent winning ways, taking the 5-4 win in the ten innings.
Wednesday’s game was the first of three Creighton-Nebraska games this spring.
After allowing a run in the bottom of each the third and fourth innings, the Jays found their offensive firepower in the top of the fifth, scoring three runs to take a 3-2 lead. A single by junior infielder Jake Peter scored sophomore infielder Ryan Fitzgerald, and senior outfielder Mike Gerber hit a sacrifice fly to score freshman infielder Nicky Lopez. Peter later scored off of a single by junior catcher Kevin Lamb. However, the Jays would leave the bases loaded to end the inning.
A run in the seventh inning knotted the game at 3, and the score would stay that way through the ninth inning. Both teams left two runners on base in the ninth.
In the top of the tenth sophomore outfielder Brett Murray walked and later advanced to second off of a single by senior designated hitter Cody Kottich. A sacrifice bunt by Fitzgerald left the Jays with runners in scoring position with two outs. Senior outfielder Brad McKewon walked to load the bases before a wild pitch allowed all runners to advance, giving the Jays the 4-3 lead. The Jays would again strand two runners, but went into the bottom of the tenth leading by a run.
Peter came in to pitch in the bottom of the tenth and got the first two batters to fly out. A single and a steal put the tying run on second base before another single helped the Huskers tie the game at 4-4. Another steal followed by a walk-off single was all the Huskers needed to take the win away from the Jays.
The Jays had eight hits and nine walks in the game, but also managed to leave 13 runners on base. Lopez and Peter each had two hits. The Huskers produced 12 hits and three walks while stranding nine runners on base.
The Jays used seven different relievers in the game after sophomore starter Taylor Elman allowed one run off of four hits while striking out one in three innings of work. Fellow sophomore Tommy Strunc was first in relief, and went 2/3 inning while allowing one run off of two walks. Sophomores John Oltman, Nick Highberger and Will Bamesberger kept the Huskers off the scoreboard as they combined to pitch three shutout innings only allowing one hit in total while striking out one. Junior Mark Lukowski struggled in the seventh inning, allowing one run off of two hits while failing to record an out. Senior Bryan Sova preserved the tie for 2 1/3 innings, allowing only two hits and one walk. Peter would take his first loss of the season for the Jays, allowing two runs in 2/3 innings.
The Jays will look to get back to their winning ways as they return home for a three game series against the Fresno State Bulldogs this weekend. The Bulldogs are 15-7 on the year with a 4-3 record away from home. Friday’s game starts at 6:30 p.m. and is the start of an eight-game homestretch for the Jays.