OMAHA, Neb. - It was back and forth all day at Charles Schwab Field as the Mavericks traded multiple leads with Creighton, but could not come out on top as they fell 8-7
Omaha slips to 2-13 on the season while the Bluejays improve to 12-2.
Innings 1-3
After giving up the first run of the game on a bases-loaded walk in the first, Omaha quickly tied the game in the top of the second on a solo shot to left from
Tyler Bishop for his second career home run.
Ethan Louthan came in for an early relief appearance and tossed a pair of scoreless innings with three strikeouts.
Innings 4-6
With one out in the bottom of the fourth, Louthan surrendered the first run of his career after tossing 9.2 scoreless innings to start his time in Omaha.
Henry Zipay and Bishop would end the inning on a 6-3 double play.
In the sixth, each team would get another run. For the Mavericks,
Haiden Hunt led off the inning with a double and advanced to third on a wild pitch.
Grant Sommers was able to beat out an infield single to bring home Hunt and tie the game at 2-2. Creighton, though, came right back and made it 3-2 after a bases loaded hit by pitch forced in a run.
Innings 7-9
Omaha would get a couple of free runs of their own in the top of the seventh as Hunt sparked a two-out rally with a single up the middle.
Matt Goetzmann and Zipay would walk to load the bases, at which point Sommers drew a four-pitch walk to tie the game, followed by the fourth-straight walk issued to
Noah Greise to put Omaha on top 4-3.
The back and forth nature of the game continued in the bottom of the inning, however, as the Bluejays came alive and scored five runs to take an 8-4 lead. The very next inning, Omaha would cut their lead to 8-7 as they again loaded the bases with no outs and plated two on a Creighton error. Goetzmann would bring home the seventh run on a sac fly to center, marking just the second time the Mavericks scored on a ball that left the infield.
In the top of the ninth, Omaha very nearly came back to at least force extras as another Creighton error and a single by
Drew Lechnir got two men on, but one last strikeout would end the rally.
Inside the Box Score
Of the combined 15 runs scored by both teams today, only six came on balls that left the infield.
Despite allowing his first earned run, Louthan's collegiate career remains near spotless through five appearances as he has 10 innings pitched with nine strikeouts and just three hits.
On Deck
The Mavericks return to Tal Anderson Field this weekend when they host North Dakota State for three in the Summit League opener starting Friday at 5 p.m.
