Creighton jumped out to an early lead on Sunday at TD Ameritrade Park, winning 5-1 and picking up the series win and upset over No. 14 St. John’s.
Junior Keith Rogalla got the start and threw a complete game for the Bluejays (10-16, 2-1), who started Big East play off with a series win over the Red Storm (22-5, 1-2) — the favorites to win the conference. He only allowed one run, five hits and struck out eight on the day in what was a strong performance. The most important thing for Rogalla was that he was in command, as he walked no one after walking five batters in his last start against Winthrop.
“We knew we had to limit the walks and attack,” Rogalla said. “The ability not to walk anyone and make them beat me three times in an inning was definitely the big decider.”
In what might have been the hardest week of the season for Creighton, things didn’t look good after a 14-6 defeat against Nebraska on Tuesday and an extra-inning loss on Friday to St. John’s. The Bluejays responded, however, with two wins over a good St. John’s team that provided some much needed confidence for the young Jays. After giving up 14 runs to the Huskers, the pitching staff only gave up eight runs over the weekend and gave coach Ed Servais everything he could have asked for.
“Our pitching staff was just outstanding this weekend,” Servais said.
Another surprise was the offense came alive over the last two games, accumulating 12 runs and giving their pitchers leads to work with.
Creighton jumped out to a 5-0 lead after the second inning, which could have been more had senior Riley Landuyt not lined out into a triple play in the first inning. Sophomore Clark Brinkman started the first inning with a walk and then on a hit and run, Isaac Collins advanced Brinkman to third with a single. Sophomore Thomas Luevano followed that with an RBI single, which advanced Collins to second. Landuyt came up next and the Bluejays once again tried a hit and run, but Red Storm left fielder Michael Donadio caught the line drive to start a 7-4-3 triple play.
The momentum didn’t swing after that, as Rogalla retired the side and the Bluejays got four straight singles from senior Michael Emodi, freshman Will Robertson, senior Bryce Only and freshman Parker Upton. Upton’s single brought home Emodi and the throw to first from Red
Storm pitcher Michael LoPresti went into right field, allowing Robertson to score. Freshman Jason Allberry then grounded out, but this allowed Only to score and then Upton scored on a safety squeeze by Brinkman.
The Bluejays didn’t score the rest of the game but it didn’t matter but the five runs were all Rogalla needed. He retired the first nine batters he faced and 15 of his first 16. His only set back was in the sixth inning when he gave up two hits, hit a batter and allowed one run. Rogalla settled down after that, only allowing two men on base the rest of the way.
Creighton got six of their seven hits in the first two innings, Rogalla improved to 2-2 on the season and LoPresti is now 5-1. Collins led the Bluejays with two hits and a walk.