May 12, 2007
Box Score
NORMAL, Ill. -
In a back and forth contest that saw both teams leave a combined 18 runners on base, the Illinois State Redbirds (20-27, 8-12 MVC) dropped the second game of their weekend series to the Creighton Bluejays (36-12, 16-4 MVC) by a score of 5-3 on Saturday night at Redbird Field.
Junior Eric Theisen (3-8) suffered the loss for ISU, after allowing four runs, only three of which were earned, on seven hits in six innings of work. CU's Scott Reese (2-0) picked up the win in relief of starter Zak Moore, who allowed just two earned runs on three hits in four innings on the mound. Reese pitched 2.1 innings and allowed one run on a hit before being relieved by Pat Venditte. Vinditte pitched to just one batter and was substituted for by Andy Masten, who threw the final 2.2 innings to pick up his 13th save of the season.
Creighton jumped out to the early lead in the top of the second inning, courtesy of four hits in the frame. After a leadoff single by T.J. Roemmich, Chad Ogden laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Roemmich to second base. Steve Winkelmann followed with a single to send Roemmich to third base and then Michael Lam singled into left field, which scored Roemmich for the first run of the game. Later in the inning, Ross Sinclair singled up the middle to bring in Lam from second base and made the score 2-0.
ISU would get one of those runs back in the bottom of the fourth inning to cut the lead to one run at 2-1. With one out, Mike Stalowy was hit by a Moore pitch and then Tyler McNeely struck out for the second out of the inning. Kyle Cherney came up and doubled into deep left-centerfield, which allowed Stalowy to score all the way from first base.
The Bluejays fired right back with a run in the top of the fifth inning on an Ogden RBI groundout to extend their lead to 3-1. The Redbirds came right back, though, and scored a run in the bottom half of the inning to cut the lead to one run once again. Collin Salzenstein led off the inning with a walk, which ended Moore's day and gave way to Reese on the hill for Creighton. Salzenstein then stole second base and advanced to third base on a ground out by Matt Bolt. Ryan Anetsberger followed and grounded out to second base, but it was good enough to score Salzenstein and bring the score to 3-2.
The one-run advantage would quickly grow to two runs, as Creighton answered in the top of the sixth inning with their fourth run of the day to make the score 4-2. ISU would eventually get that run back in the bottom of the seventh inning, cutting the lead to 4-3. Mike Tokarski led off the inning with a single to centerfield and then advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Salzenstein. Bolt then reached on an infield single, moving Tokarski to third base before Anetsberger singled into centerfield. Tokarski scored on the play and Bolt was waived home, but was out at the plate on a good relay throw by Creighton and preserved the one-run lead.
After a scoreless eighth inning by both teams, the Jays added an insurance run in the top of the ninth inning to bring the score to its final at 5-3. In the game, the Bluejays successfully sacrifice bunted six times, which tied a NCAA Division I record for most in a game by a team.
Ruf and Lam each had three hits and a RBI to lead the Bluejays, while Bolt was 3-for-5 in the loss for the Redbirds. The two teams will return to action on Sunday in the finale of the three game set. Sunday will also be Senior Day at Redbird Field, as eight ISU seniors will be recognized prior to the game which is scheduled to start at 1 p.m.
