Creighton Baseball Drops Hard Fought 11-9 Contest at UConn

Storrs, Conn. -- After fighting back to tie the score twice in the final three innings, Creighton Baseball fell 11-9 in the rubber game of its series at Connecticut on Saturday, April 4. The loss moved the Bluejays to 14-15 on the season and 1-2 in BIG EAST action, while the Huskies moved to 17-16 overall and 4-2 in conference contests.

Trailing 1-0 as the game moved into the top of the third, Creighton claimed the lead as Nick Venteicher and Lew Rice delivered one out singles and Nate McHugh blasted a two-run triple to center. 

UConn answered with two runs in the third and three in the fourth to race out to a 6-2 edge. The Bluejays counters with a solo home run from Ben North and sacrifice fly by Rice to get within two at 6-4 in the sixth. 

Down 7-4 coming to the dish in the seventh, Isaac Wachsmann blasted a two-run double to center to drive home North and Connor Capece. Venteicher followed with an RBI double down the right field line to even the game at 7-7.

After Connecticut retook the lead with a run in the bottom of the seventh, Creighton loaded the bags in the eighth as Rocco Gump doubled, McHugh reached on an error and Teddy Deters reached via an infield single. The second UConn error of the inning knotted the game at 8-8, but an infield ground and a looping liner that resulted in a double play left the game at 8-8.

Connecticut took advantage with three runs on three hits and two walks in the eighth, while Wachsman brought Creighton closer with a solo home run to open the ninth.

Reliever Shane Curtin took the loss (0-3) allowing three runs on three hits and two walks in 1.1 innings, while UConn closer Greg Shaw III earned the win (4-0). Shaw allowed two runs on three hits in two innings of work.

The Bluejays return home for the next four games, beginning with a midweek battle against North Dakota State on Wednesday, April 8 at 6:00 pm in Charles Schwab Field Omaha.