Creighton pulls away for 8-5 win over Jacks

Wednesday, April 29

Sioux City, Iowa

6:00 PM

South Dakota State University

26-17

Creighton (Neb.)

25-13

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Creighton	0	0	1	0	1	3	2	1	0	8	11	1
South Dakota State	0	2	0	0	1	2	0	0	0	5	7	1

4/29/2015 10:44:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: SDSU Sports Info

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Creighton scored in four consecutive innings to pull away from South Dakota State for an 8-5 victory in non-conference baseball action Wednesday night at Lewis and Clark Park.

The BIG EAST-leading Bluejays improved to 25-13 overall, while SDSU dropped to 26-17 on the season.

SDSU capitalized on wildness from Creighton starter Tommy Strunc to take an early 2-0 lead. After a pair of walks and a hit batter loaded the bases in the second inning, Eric Danforth delivered a single through the right side to plate both Reid Clary and Matt Johnson.

Creighton countered with a pair of sacrifice flies by Brett Murray in the third and fifth innings to tie the game at two, before the Jackrabbits regained the lead on an Al Robbins single to center in the home half of the fifth.

The Bluejays added three runs in the top of the sixth, taking advantage of two infield plays in which the Jackrabbits failed to record an out. After Ryan Fitzgerald and David Wiedeman opened the frame with singles to put runners at the corners, Fitzgerald scored and all runners were safe on a fielder's choice. After a walk loaded the bases, an errant throw to home allowed the go-ahead run to score, and the third and final run of the inning scored on a groundout.

However, SDSU battled back to tie the game in bottom of the sixth with a pair of runs. Danforth was hit by a pitch to start the rally and Zach Coppola followed with a base hit to left field. Luke Ringhofer delivered Danforth with a run-scoring single and Coppola later scored on a squeeze bunt by Reid Clary.

Creighton reliever Nick Highberger kept the Jackrabbit bats silent the rest of the way, pitching 3 2/3 innings en route to the victory. The last of seven Bluejay pitchers on the evening, Highberger struck out one, walked one and allowed two hits.

The Bluejays again made the most of their opportunities in the late innings, taking the lead with a two-run seventh inning. Wiedeman plated the go-ahead run with the Bluejays' third sacrifice fly of the night and Luke Horanski added a two-out run-scoring double to score Fitzgerald, who recorded his third hit of the night earlier in the inning. The Bluejays finished with 11 hits.

Murray posted his third RBI of the night with a run-scoring single in the eighth for the final tally of the night.

Talon Jumper took the loss in relief for the Jackrabbits after walking two and allowing the two runs in the seventh. Starter Ethan Kenkel allowed one run over the first three innings, striking out two and walking one.

Ringhofer and Robbins each notched two of SDSU's seven hits.

The Jackrabbits return to Summit League action at 3 p.m.Friday, hosting Western Illinois in the opening game of a three-game series at Erv Huether Field.

NOTES: Creighton won the season series, 2-0, and leads the all-time series, 22-8 … Coppola has reached base safely in 37 consecutive games, while Danforth extended his streak to 31 games … Ringhofer upped his hitting streak to 10 games … Highberger also was the winning pitcher in the first meeting between the two teams on March 17 in Omaha … Coppola recorded his ninth outfield assist of the season to end the Creighton seventh … attendance was 907

CREIGHTON 8, SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 5
CU 001 013 210 8-11-1
SDSU 020 012 000 5-7-1
CU: Tommy Strunc, Jeff Albrecht (2), Taylor Elman (3), Sam Norman (5), Mark Lukowski (5), John Oltman (6), Nick Highberger (6) and Luke Horanski. SDSU: Ethan Kenkel, Chad Hodges (4), Blake Fiedelman (5), Derringer Huff (6), Talon Jumper (6), Eldon Evans (8) and Reid Clary.
W-Highberger (5-1). L-Jumper (0-2). Save-none.
HR: none.