Creighton University
29-9, 0
Villanova
15-27, 0
Six-Run Ninth Lifts Baseball Over Villanvoa, 10-4
4/30/2016 3:41:00 PM | Baseball
Creighton moved to 29-9 on the season and 7-1 in BIG EAST play with the win, while Villanova fell to 15-27 overall and 3-8 in conference play.
After stranding five runners in the first three innings, Crawford left no doubt in the top of the fourth by blasting a two-run home run down the left field line to give the Bluejays a 2-0 edge. It was Crawford's third home run of the season and his first on the road.
A leadoff walk to senior Ryan Fitzgerald in the fifth yielded another run as senior Brett Murray worked a two-out walk to put runners at first and second, then junior Kevin Connolly laced an RBI single to right-center to push Creighton's lead to 3-0.
The Wildcats showed some fight in the bottom of the fifth, plating three runs on two hits and four walks. Emmanuel Morris delivered the big blow for Villanova, a two-run single with two down in the inning.
Creighton went back to work offensively in the seventh. Senior Reagan Fowler opened the frame with a walk, stole second and scored on an RBI single by Murray to put the Bluejays back on top 4-3.
Villanova answered with a run in its half of the seventh, but Gerber came on to get the final out of the frame to keep the score at 4-4 as he stranded the bases full of Wildcats.
The Bluejays managed just a single in the eighth, but Gerber worked around a single and an intentional walk to send it to the ninth still at 4-4.
A one-out walk to Fitzgerald opened the floodgates for Creighton in the final frame. Fowler followed with a single up the middle to put men at the corners, then senior Matt Gandy lifted an RBI double to right to make it 5-4. Murray and Connolly continued the hit parade with two more RBI singles, then Crawford blasted a two-run double to right-center to make it 9-4. With two outs junior Daniel Woodrow's RBI single to center pushed the Bluejay lead to 10-4.
Gerber worked a flawless ninth to move to 3-1 on the season, holding Villanova scoreless in 2.1 innings of work. He allowed one hit and one walk, while striking out one in the outing.
Villanova's Woody Bryson (3-3) took the loss, allowing five runs on four hits and one walk in one inning.
Crawford finished the game 3-for-5 with four RBI and two runs scored, while Connolly was also 3-for-5 with two RBI and one run scored.
The series finale is underway as sophomore Keith Rogalla is on the hill for Creighton as the Bluejays go for the series sweep.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Gerber, David (3-1)
L: Woody Bryson (3-3)
Batting:
2B: Gandy, Matt 1 ; Connolly, Kevin 1 ; Crawford, Harrison 1
HR: Crawford, Harrison 1
RBI: Woodrow, Daniel 1 ; Gandy, Matt 1 ; Murray, Brett 2 ; Connolly, Kevin 2 ; Crawford, Harrison 4
SH: Lopez, Nicky 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Fitzgerald, Ryan 2 ; Fowler, Reagan 2 ; Gandy, Matt 1 ; Murray, Brett 1 ; Bamesberger, Will 1 ; Connolly, Kevin 1 ; Crawford, Harrison 2
SB: Woodrow, Daniel 2 ; Fitzgerald, Ryan 1 ; Fowler, Reagan 1 ; Connolly, Kevin 1
CS: Murray, Brett 1
Batting:
2B: Cole Channell 1
RBI: Emmanuel Morris 2 ; Kevin Jewitt 2
SH: Emmanuel Morris 1 ; Cole Channell 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Adam Goss 1 ; Emmanuel Morris 1 ; David Gulati 1 ; Cole Channell 1
SB: Adam Goss 1 ; Kevin Jewitt 1
CS: Donovan May 1
HBP: Emmanuel Morris 1
