OMAHA, Neb.?Creighton
jumped out to a seven run lead and held on for an 8-5 victory over visiting ULM Friday night at
Rosenblatt Stadium.
The Bluejays (34-18) scored seven runs in the bottom of the
third inning on just two hits. Warhawk
starter Drew Graham got ahead of the leadoff hitter Robbie Knight 0-2, but a
fielding error allowed Knight to reach base.
The first three runs of the inning scored on a pair of walks
and a hit by pitch. Danial McHenry
forced a bases loaded double play which scored a run pushing the lead out to
4-0. Creighton finally recorded a hit in
the inning with run scoring singles by Brett Mieras and Elliot Soto.
The Warhawks (32-21) responded with five runs in the top of
the fifth sparked by a triple off the bat of Josh Chappell. After Nick Wade got hit by a pitch, Louie
Lancaster plated the first run of the game for ULM with a sacrifice fly to left field.
Matt Laird singled to put runners on first and second for
Ben Soignier who crushed his 17th double of the season to left
center scoring both runners. Dexter
Fontenot followed up with his 16th double of the season scoring both
runners and tying the ULM
single-season RBI record in the process at 61.
Fontenot and Chappell both finished the game with a pair of
hits as the Warhawks out-hit Creighton 8-7 for the game.
Derek Ward got the Warhawks out of a big jam in the bottom
of the sixth after entering with the bases loaded and nobody out. Following a sacrifice fly, Ward got Joe
Servais to ground into a double play to end the inning.
Graham (2-4) took the loss for the Warhawks allowing five
runs ? two earned ? on just two hits in two innings of work; he walked three,
struck out three and hit three batters.
Ward and D.J. Fortenberry combined to throw the final 5.1 innings
allowing just one run on five hits.
Kevin Dooley (2-1) picked up the win for Creighton coming
out of the bullpen tossing 3.1 scoreless innings in relief. Pat Venditte, who throws with both arms,
pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his seventh save of the season.
The teams will continue the three-game series tomorrow night
at 7:00 p.m. at Rosenblatt Stadium.
