LINCOLN, NEB. — Despite winning 11 of the last 13 meetings with Nebraska, the Creighton baseball team always seems to enter the I-80 rivalry matchup as the underdog. The Bluejays are often overshadowed by their in-state counterpart, fueling their competitive fire every time they take the field against the Cornhuskers.
“We are kind of the underdogs coming in here, no matter what the records are,” Head Coach Ed Servais said. “They want to prove [to] people that, ‘Hey, we got a good club.’ So, I think they kind of play with a chip on their shoulder. I’m a huge fan of that. That is the way you should play every game. Play with the biggest chip you can find. If you play baseball that way, you have a better chance to be successful.”
Fueled by that mindset and a strong offensive showing, the Bluejays knocked off Nebraska 9-5 behind 12 hits to earn their fourth-straight victory over the Cornhuskers.
With 20 mph winds and temperatures hovering around 50 degrees, a high-scoring affair seemed unlikely.
“You didn’t know if three or four runs were going to be scored today with the wind blowing in hard [and] the cool weather,” Servais said. “That’s why we tried to scratch off a run in the first inning.”
The Bluejays wasted no time getting on the board. Junior center fielder Tate Gillen led off with a double in the opening frame, setting the stage for a big inning. After three walks and a hit-by-pitch, sophomore catcher Connor Capece delivered a key single, giving Creighton a 3-0 advantage in the top of the first.
Nebraska quickly responded in the bottom of the second, sparked by a familiar face. Former Bluejay Hogan Helligso drove in the Huskers’ first run with an RBI single to center, ending Creighton junior Ian Koosman’s impressive 15-inning scoreless streak. Later in the inning, Nebraska’s Riley Silva lined a two-run single to right-center, evening the score at 3-3.
After a scoreless third, Creighton reclaimed the lead in the top of the fourth. Senior outfielder Nolan Sailors lined a single up the middle to drive in Gillen to put the Bluejays back on top, 4-3.
But Nebraska kept fighting. In the bottom of the fifth, pinch-hitter Gabe Swanson laced a two-out double to left, scoring Cayden Brumbaugh and tying the game at 4-4.
As the game entered the late innings, Creighton found a breakthrough. In the seventh, graduate student Kyle Hess delivered the go-ahead hit, a two-run single that gave the Bluejays a 6-4 lead. Senior Will MacLean worked a leadoff walk, followed by Capece’s first double of the season, setting the table for Hess’ clutch at-bat.
“They brought in a lefty freshman, so I knew I had to get him in the zone, and I kind of battled with two strikes a little bit on that slider and got a fastball in the zone. I just stuck with my approach and took it the other way,” Hess said.
Nebraska refused to go away, pulling within a run in the eighth when Cael Frost drilled an RBI double. However, Creighton closer Garrett Langrell kept the threat at bay, stranding the tying run with a strikeout and a flyout.
With momentum in their favor, the Bluejays put the game out of reach in the ninth. Graduate student Jack Torosian stepped in for designated hitter Dakota Duffalo and delivered the biggest swing of the night, a two-run triple into right field that all but sealed the victory.
“With two strikes against a really, really tough right-hander, I cannot say enough about that at-bat,” Servais said. “That game is a lot different if it’s only got a one- or two-run difference versus a four-run difference. To hit what I think was a one-two pitch, almost off the ground, and keep it fair—you know, Jack’s a hard worker. He deserves it. I’m happy for him.”
Torosian later came around to score on an RBI single from junior shortstop Ben North, padding Creighton’s lead to 9-5 entering the bottom of the ninth. The Huskers failed to mount a final rally, going three-up, three-down as Creighton secured its 17th consecutive midweek victory.
“We kind of think of ourselves as the ‘Tues-jays.’ That’s one of the things we kind of pride ourselves on is those midweeks,” Hess said.
Senior Jimmy Burke earned the win (2-1), tossing two innings of scoreless relief. Langrell notched his sixth save, recording the final five outs. Nebraska reliever Collin Nowaczyk took the loss (0-1), surrendering two runs on two hits and a walk without recording an out in the seventh.
The Bluejays improved to 17-7 on the season and will return home to Charles Schwab Field for a three-game homestand against Big East rival Connecticut this weekend. First pitch for the series opener is scheduled for 6 p.m. tonight.