Storrs, Conn. — Trailing 7-0 with two down in the top of the fourth, Bluejay Baseball scored 10 runs over two frames as Creighton went on to take the series finale from Connecticut 14-9 on Sunday, May 12.
The win lifted the Bluejays to 32-16 on the season and 5-12 in BIG EAST action, while Connecticut fell to 29-21 and 14-4 in conference play.
Connecticut built its early edge behind a solo home run from Jake Studley in the second and a three-run blast by Matt Garbowski in the third. The Huskies plated six runs in the bottom of the third, all with two outs.
Creighton flipped that script in the top of the fourth as the Bluejays loaded the bags with two down on singles from Nolan Clifford and Hogan Helligso, followed by a walk to Kyle Hess. Ben North brought in the first run as he was hit by a pitch. After a wild pitch made it 7-2, Jack Torosian reloaded the bags with a walk. Nolan Sailors continued the run parade with a two-run single, while Matt Scherrman walked to fill the bases once more. Tate Gillen made it a 7-6 contest with a two-run single up the middle.
Connecticut tried to answer with a solo home run by Caleb Shpur in the bottom of the fourth, but Creighton plated four runs in the top of the fifth. Helligso and Hess got the Bluejays rolling once more with a single and a walk, then North and Torosian each delivered RBI singles to knot the game at 8-8. Following a walk to Sailors, Scherrman blasted a two-run double to left-center to give Creighton a 10-8 edge.
The Bluejays put the game away with four more runs in the eighth on five hits, including three hits off Connecticut closer Brady Afthim. Creighton got RBI singles in the frame from Helligso, pinch-hitter Colby Canales, Torosian and Sailors
After coming after the solo home run in the fourth, Bluejay closer Mason Koch tossed four scoreless frames to give the Bluejays control of the game. Koch earned the win (5-1) with the four scoreless frames, notching eight strikeouts. Connecticut reliever Joe Cinnella took the loss (3-3), surrendering five runs on five hits and two walks in two-thirds of an inning.
Helligso and North each collected three hits in the game. Five Bluejays delivered multi-RBI effort, led by three from Sailors.
Creighton returns to action for four home games next week, starting with a Cox Kids Day contest against Omaha on Tuesday, May 14. That contest is scheduled to begin at 11:00 a.m.
