Creighton baseball opened its final full homestand Tuesday against No. 7 Kansas at Charles Schwab Field Omaha.
Creighton led the all-time series against Kansas heading into Tuesday’s matchup, 26-17, with an 11-4 mark against the Jayhawks in Omaha. The two programs met most recently in the first game of last season’s NCAA Tournament Regional, where Creighton defeated Kansas, 11-4.
Kansas looked like a team ready to avenge last season’s loss to the Bluejays, putting two runners on base with just one out in the first inning. Creighton pitcher Max McClellan quickly ended the threat, however, drawing a flyout and strikeout in his next two batters faced.
The Bluejays then took the first lead of the game in the bottom of the frame, when Connor Capece doubled down the right field line, scoring Isaac Wachsmann and Nate McHugh.
McClellan got into trouble again early in the second inning, and was pulled in favor of Jimmy Burke with the bases loaded and one out. Two batters later, Cade Baldridge singled to left field, scoring Josh Dykhoff and Augusto Mugarrieta for the Jayhawks to tie the game, 2-2. In the next at-bat, Tyson LeBlanc singled to left field to score Dylan Schlotterback and give Kansas the lead, 3-2.
Burke and the Bluejays would end the inning with no further damage, but the Jayhawks, who batted through their lineup in the inning, seized control.
Creighton’s offense appeared unfazed by the Jayhawks’ pressure, responding with three runs of its own in the bottom of the second.
With two outs, Rocco Gump doubled down the right field line, and two pitches later, Isaac Wachsmann singled to left field to score him.
Ben North and Nate McHugh then reached base on a single and walk, respectively, sending Connor Capece to the plate with the bases loaded. Capece took the at-bat to a full count, and with two outs and all runners moving on the pitch, he poked a single into right field that scored both Wachsmann and North.
Kansas would get out of the inning one batter later, and Creighton took a 5-3 lead over the seventh-ranked team in the country to the third inning.
It was the Jayhawks’ turn to score next, when in the bottom of the fourth inning, Dariel Osoria doubled to left center to score two and even the game with no outs.
Two batters later, with the bases loaded and one out, Isaac Wachsmann dropped a routine fly ball in center field that allowed Kansas’ Brady Ballinger to score from third base.
Dylan Schlotterback then singled up the middle on a hot ground ball that took pitcher Ian Koosman too long to field. Dariel Osoria would score, bringing KU’s lead to 7-5.
Creighton responded once again to the Jayhawks in the bottom of the frame, as Rocco Gump scored his second run of the evening when Ben North reached base on a fielder’s choice. That would be the Bluejays’ only run of the inning, sending the game into the fifth with Kansas holding a 7-6 edge.
After holding the Jayhawks scoreless in the top of the fifth, the Bluejays threatened once again in the bottom of the inning.
Nick Venteicher battled back from an 0-2 count with two Bluejays in scoring position and two outs, but struck out looking on the 11th pitch of the at-bat.
Just when Creighton thought it could go two straight innings unscathed in the field, Josh Dykhoff added insurance for the Jayhawks with a solo blast into the right field bullpen, stretching their lead to 8-6.
In the bottom of the seventh, Connor Capece scored on a fielder’s choice and subsequent throwing error by the Jayhawks, who were attempting to complete a double play on Lew Rice at first base.
Rice would advance to third on Chris Baillargeon’s single to right field in the next at-bat, and score one batter later, when Nick Venteicher singled to right field.
Rice’s game-tying run forced a pitching change for the Jayhawks, who had two outs with runners on the corners. Riane Ritter did his job against his first batter faced, soliciting a popup from Rocco Gump to end the inning with the score tied, 8-8.
Only one batter from either team reached base through the eighth and ninth innings, and the game headed to extras.
The 10th inning featured only one baserunner as well, and the hot bats that each team possessed early in the game had all but vanished.
Isaac Wachsmann led off the 11th inning for the Bluejays and reached first base on a walk. Ben North appeared next, and looked like he would ground into a double play after a soft ground ball up the middle to Jayhawks pitcher Manning West. West couldn’t field the ball cleanly, however, allowing Wachsmann to advance and North to reach first safely.
Nate McHugh then grounded into a double play, sending Wachsmann to third base and Connor Capece to the plate with two outs.
Capece flew out to center field to end the inning, sending the game to the 12th.
Creighton closer Anthony Unga did not allow a baserunner in his nine batters faced, and struck out the side in the top of the 12th to bring Creighton to the plate once again with the opportunity to walk off the Jayhawks.
The Bluejays found themselves with runners on second and third with two outs and Rocco Gump at the plate, but Gump would strike out swinging to end the 12th inning as the game approached the five hour mark.
With one out in the 13th, Ben North homered deep into right-center field to walk off Kansas, 9-8, adding a signature win to the Bluejays’ resume.
Creighton will host Georgetown this weekend in a three-game series from May 8-10, with Game 1 beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday. This series against the Hoyas is crucial, as the Bluejays are tied for first place with St. John’s in conference standings with just six Big East games remaining.
Next Tuesday, May 12, Creighton will host Nebraska for the third and final game of the season-long in-state rivalry series. Nebraska has defeated Creighton twice this season, 6-5 and 5-4, and threatens to sweep the Bluejays in the season series for the first time since 2015. Tuesday’s game will begin at 6 p.m. and will be televised on Nebraska Public Media and broadcast on 1620 The Zone.
