March 18, 2008

Box Score

OMAHA, Neb. - The University of Northern Colorado baseball team jumped out to the early lead against Creighton, but could not sustain the lead, falling 5-4 to the Bluejays. The Bears drop their ninth straight game and move to 5-12 on the season, while Creighton improves to 12-4 overall.

Senior Adam Symons led off the game with a walk and moved to second two batters later when Andy Mees also drew a base on balls. Junior Kevin Sandberg continued to hit for extra bases, doubling to left field to score both runs and Sandberg was stranded at second.

Creighton answered with one run in the bottom half of the first on a solo shot by Vicente Cafaro and tied the score in the fourth inning with another run. The Bears again scored a pair of runs in the top of the sixth inning.

This time, Sandberg led off the inning with a walk. Senior Chad Murray singled through the left side to move Sandberg to second and the Blujays brought in Venditte to pitch. Cody Henry promptly singled to score Sandberg and advance Murray to second. Senior Erik Whinery had a sacrifice bunt, T.J. Berge reached on a fielder's choice and Murray was thrown out at home, but Erik Hegstad singled to score Henry.

Creighton then scored one run in the bottom of the seventh and two in the eighth on a two-out two-run home run for the 5-4 victory.

Joe Sawicki had the first start of the year for the Bears on the hill and had an impressive outing, pitching six innings. He gave up two runs on three hits, walking three and striking out one in 98 pitches thrown. Eric Skufca pitched the next 1.2 innings, allowing three runs (one earned) on two hits. He walked one and struck out one and Sean Peery threw the final 0.1 of the game, getting out the only batter he faced.

Creighton used five pitchers with Bob Lackovic picking up the victory, his first of the year, while Kevin Dooley recorded his first save for the Bluejays.

Creighton and Northern Colorado will meet again on Wednesday, with first pitch scheduled for 1:30 p.m. (Central) at the CU Sports Complex.