March 30, 2008
OMAHA, Neb. -
Box Score 
Senior Tyler Cox was solid out of the bullpen, allowing only one run in five innings of work, but a four-run first inning proved costly, as the Illinois State baseball team (9-13, 0-6 MVC) dropped its eighth-straight, 5-0, to Creighton in a Missouri Valley Conference game Sunday afternoon at the Creighton Sports Complex.
Cox surrendered only three hits while striking out four, as the left-hander came in relief for junior Jim Sajewich (1-2), who suffered the loss. Sajewich lasted only one inning, as the right-hander surrendered four runs on five hits in the bottom half of the first. The Redbird offense struggled again, as Illinois State could only muster five hits. Sophomore Gabe DeMarco finished 2-for-4 with a single and a double, while senior Kyle Cherney and junior Kevin Dubler were 1-for-4. Junior Quinn Ewert ended the day 1-for-3 with a single.
Creighton (18-7, 4-2 MVC) was backed by a solid pitching performance from starting pitcher Mike Nihsen, who threw seven scoreless innings. Nihsen allowed only three hits, while walking none and striking out a career-high seven batters.
Creighton picked up where it left off in the first inning Sunday, as Sajewich struggled to locate his pitches. Sajewich tagged the leadoff batter to put him on first, and moved to third on a base hit from shortstop Elliot Soto. First baseman Darin Ruf singled to left field and second baseman Vicente Cafaro found the right field gap for a triple to bring home three runners. The Bluejays batted around in the inning, collecting five hits en route to an early 4-0 lead. Ruf added another run for Creighton in the bottom of the seventh, leading off the inning with an opposite-field shot to right field.
The Redbirds will travel to DeKalb, Ill., for a non-conference matchup against Northern Illinois. First pitch is slated for 2:30 p.m.
