The Creighton Bluejays took the rubber match against Pacific by a score of 5-2 Sunday afternoon at TD Ameritrade Park. After winning game one 7-2, Pacific evened the series with a 5-2 win yesterday afternoon, setting up game three to decide the series.
Creighton got on the board first in this one. Left fielder Brad McKewon reached on an error by Pacific third baseman Curtis Gomez to lead-off the bottom of the first inning. A one-out single by red-hot second baseman Jake Peter advanced McKewon to third after a sac bunt by third baseman Frederico Castagnini. Bluejay center fielder Mike Gerber then laid down the safety squeeze to score McKewon from third and give the Jays an early 1-0 lead.
The Jays continued to apply pressure on Pacific’s defense adding a second run in the bottom of the second when first baseman Reagan Fowler and designated hitter Ryan Fitzgerald executed a double-steal with one out. Pacific catcher Jason Taasaas’ throw was wide of second base and it rolled into center field to allow Fowler to score.
Energy was a concern of Creighton head coach Ed Servais after yesterday’s 5-2 loss, but the Jays never let up early in this one.
“We had a little better focus,” said Servais. “We talked before the game about how important it was to get off to a better start.”
After Pacific cut the Jays lead to 2-1 in the top of fourth, right fielder Brennan Murphy drove in Fowler with a one-out RBI triple to right center.
“I was just looking for a pitch to drive,” Murphy said after the game. “I was looking to move [Reagan] over, but just looking for a pitch I could drive.”
Pacific starter Michael Benson then uncorked a wild pitch one hitter later to allow Murphy to score from third as Creighton extended their lead to 4-1.
The Bluejays went with a pitching-by-committee approach in the rubber match. Junior right-hander Brett Swain was the most impressive. Swain started the afternoon by allowing a lead-off single to Tigers designated hitter Brett Sullivan, but then retired the next ten men he faced before leaving in the top of the 4th after 50 pitches.
“I just kind of depended on my defense,” said Swain. “Coach [Servais] tells us to throw strikes, and our defense makes plays for us.”
Mark Winkelman picked up his first win of the season against Pacific (Mike Spomer/WBR)
Creighton senior left-hander Mark Winkelman, the third pitcher of the afternoon, worked a scoreless fifth and sixth before running into trouble in the top of the seventh. He allowed a one-out RBI single to Pacific right fielder Taylor Murphy that scored first baseman Erik Lockwood. Winkelman got out of trouble thanks to the rare 9-6 double play when pinch-hitter Jacob Goulder flew out to Murphy. Murphy then threw to Staehely covering at second base to double off Taasaas and end the threat in the sixth.
Creighton catcher Kevin Lamb gave Creighton insure run with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth, and Peter came on from second base to earn his second save of the season, retiring Pacific in order to give Creighton the series-clinching victory and improve the Jays to 10-4 on the season.
Box Score:
Pacific: 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 5 2
Creighton: 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 1 X 5 8 1
Win: Winkelman (1-0)
Loss: Bensen (2-1)
Save: Peter (2)