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Sports News by Cole Young

Creighton Baseball Walks Off No. 7 Kansas at Charles Schwab

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. 

The April 30 Sports Report

Greg McDermott was honored with the St. George National Award during Creighton men’s basketball’s season-ending banquet last Wednesday. The St. George National Award is the American Cancer Society’s highest honor for volunteers and is presented annually to a select group of individuals who have made significant, long‑term contributions to advancing the organization’s mission. 

For more than 20 years, McDermott has played an integral role in advancing the Society’s mission through his enduring commitment to the Omaha Hope Lodge, Coaches vs. Cancer and the establishment of Creighton men’s basketball’s annual Pink Out Game. His leadership has contributed to raising more than $1 million to date for ACS programs and services.

The Omaha Supernovas used a franchise-record 21 blocks in a four-set win over the Columbus Fury last Friday to become the only original MLV team to qualify for the playoffs all three seasons. Omaha held the Fury to an opponent season-low .099 hitting percentage in Friday’s match. The Supernovas will make their third straight playoff appearance in the MLV semifinals on Thursday, May 7, at Comerica Center in Frisco, Tex. Omaha cannot finish higher than No. 3, meaning it will face either the Indy Ignite (20-5) or Dallas Pulse (19-7).

The Supernovas will conclude the regular season Friday night at the Dallas Pulse at 7 p.m. The match will be streamed live on Victory+ and can be heard on the Supernovas Radio Network on KCRO 660 AM.

Supernovas outside hitter Sarah Parsons was named Major League Volleyball Player of the Week for the second time this season, becoming the only MLV player to receive multiple weekly awards in 2026. Parsons had 26 points and 21 kills in the Novas’ home finale last Friday, finishing with a Supernovas career-best .452 hitting percentage

Chasers Charities, the charitable arm of the Omaha Storm Chasers, announced the recipients of the Spring 2026 Chasin’ Dreams Grant, awarding more than $16,000 to four local programs to improve access to safe, playable fields for youth baseball and softball throughout the community. Since launching in 2016, the biannual Chasin’ Dreams Grant has supported 36 nonprofits with more than $140,000 in grants.

This spring’s recipients are the Black Police Officers Association of Omaha, Echoes Athletic Association, Grover Little League and St. Thomas More Athletics.

For the second season in a row, Omaha softball swept Creighton in the season series. The two programs met at the Creighton Softball Stadium Tuesday night, and Omaha secured a 2-0 win behind another stellar performance from ace Maddia Groff. She pitched a five-hit shutout, earning her 14th win in her 11th complete game this season. Her sister, Rylinn, drove in the first run with a single into left field to score Sammy Schmidt. In the fifth, shortstop Taylor Sedlacek hit her team-leading 15th home run of the season to pad Omaha’s lead and round out the scoring for the evening.

Omaha softball pitcher Maddia Groff has been named Summit League Pitcher of the Week in back-to-back weeks for her fourth overall honor this season, the league announced Tuesday. Groff went 1-0 with two appearances, including a start against No. 1 Nebraska on April 21. In nine innings pitched against North Dakota and Nebraska, Groff posted a 0.78 ERA while striking out 11.

Omaha secured at least a share of the Summit League regular season title when it swept North Dakota in a two-game series last weekend. The Mavericks will conclude the regular season with a series at South Dakota this weekend, beginning Thursday at 3 p.m.

Creighton softball clinched a spot in the 2026 Big East Tournament in last Saturday’s record-breaking 7-5 win over UConn. The Bluejays set single-season program records for runs scored (325), RBIs (297) and doubles (80) with three games remaining in the regular season. Creighton is tied for second place in the Big East with the Huskies heading into the final weekend and will host DePaul for a series beginning Friday at 6 p.m. The 2026 Big East Softball Championship will begin Thursday, May 7.

Creighton volleyball announced on Sunday that it will host defending national champion Texas A&M on Sunday, September 20, inside D.J. Sokol Arena. It will be only the second time that Creighton has hosted the defending national champion, having played 2017 national champion Nebraska to five sets in 2018 at CHI Health Center Omaha. Creighton last defeated the defending national champion in the 2024 Regional Semifinals, when it beat two-time defending national champion and then-No. 13 Texas.

Union Omaha defeated USL Championship club Indy Eleven on Saturday, 2-1, in the first match of the group stage of the 2026 USL Cup. Omaha will return to USL League One regular season play Saturday, hosting Greenville Triumph SC in a match beginning at 7 p.m.

Creighton baseball ace Jack Pineau earned the Big East Pitcher of the Week award, the league announced Monday. Pineau threw six scoreless innings with eight strikeouts in Creighton’s shutout over Butler on Friday to earn his second honor this season. Outfielder Teddy Deters was also recognized with a spot on the Big East Honor Roll. Deters batted 6-for-13 (.462) and led Creighton with a team-high seven RBI in its 4-0 week.

The Big East-leading Bluejays (25-17, 10-2) travel to New York for a series against second-place St. John’s (22-20, 9-3) beginning Friday at 2 p.m.

Omaha baseball will attempt to reset after a 1-3 week when it hits the road for a weekend series against Northern Colorado, beginning Friday at 3 p.m. With just 10 conference games remaining ahead of the Summit League Tournament, Omaha (14-21, 9-8) is in sole possession of second place in Summit League standings.

Next Wednesday, May 6, Omaha will stop in Manhattan, Kan., for a midweek game against Kansas State, before continuing to Tulsa, Okla., for next weekend’s conference series against league-leading Oral Roberts.

The Omaha Storm Chasers are back at Werner Park this week, hosting the Louisville Bats in a series playing through Sunday. Omaha suffered a pair of 5-1 losses on Monday and Tuesday, and returns to action tonight at 6:35 p.m. for $3 Thursday. Fans can enjoy select tickets, concessions and Busch Light cans for just $3 each.

Upcoming Events

  • Omaha softball at South Dakota | April 30 – May 2 | 3 p.m. Thursday
  • Omaha Storm Chasers vs. Louisville | April 28 – May 3 | 6:35 p.m. Thursday
  • Creighton baseball at St. John’s | May 1 – 3 | 2 p.m. Friday
  • Omaha baseball at Northern Colorado | May 1 – 3 | 3 p.m. Friday
  • Creighton softball vs. DePaul | May 1 – 3 | 6 p.m. Friday
  • Omaha Supernovas at Dallas | Friday, May 1 | 7 p.m.
  • Union Omaha vs. Greenville Triumph SC | Saturday, May 2 | 7 p.m.
  • Creighton baseball vs. Kansas | Tuesday, May 5 | 6 p.m.
  • Omaha baseball at Kansas State | Wednesday, May 6 | 6 p.m.

 

The April 23rd Sports Report

Creighton baseball completed a season sweep of Omaha with a 15-10 win Wednesday night. The Bluejays jumped out to an early 5-0 lead in the top of the third, and Omaha answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning to keep the game tight. Creighton then scored nine straight to take a 14-3 lead into the seventh. Omaha scored six straight in the seventh and eighth to put pressure on the Bluejays but ultimately couldn’t complete the comeback, falling 15-10.

Creighton (22-16, 7-2), currently atop the Big East standings, hosts Butler on Friday at 6 p.m. to open a weekend series at Charles Schwab Field. Omaha (13-19, 8-6) will host St. Thomas for a series beginning on Friday at 6 p.m. at Tal Anderson Field.

Omaha softball drew a program-record 2,320 fans for Tuesday’s game against No. 1 Nebraska, a sellout crowd that shattered Omaha’s single-game home attendance record. Its previous record was 1,537, set last season against Nebraska. Tuesday’s game was tied 4-4 in the third, but the Huskers used home runs in the next three innings to take control of the game and left Connie Claussen Field with an 11-4 victory. 

The Mavericks return to Summit League action Thursday for the start of a two-game series at North Dakota before returning to Omaha for another rivalry matchup against Creighton.  Omaha took the first game against Creighton this season, 3-2, and has won three in a row against the Bluejays dating back to last season’s sweep. Tuesday’s contest will begin at 6 p.m. at the Creighton Softball Stadium.

Omaha swept the Summit League’s Pitcher of the Week honors, announced Tuesday, with Maddia Groff (softball) and Maddox Meyer (baseball) each earning a nod for their performances last week. 

Maddia Groff went 2-0 with a save in three outings during last weekend’s sweep over South Dakota State, where the Mavericks closed out a perfect 9-0 home record in Summit League play. In 15 innings, Groff held the Jackrabbits to a .148 average and racked up 23 strikeouts.  

In game one of Omaha’s April 19 doubleheader at North Dakota State, Maddox Meyer threw five scoreless innings while allowing just one hit. This is Meyer’s second Summit League Pitcher of the Week honor this season. 

Creighton also earned multiple weekly conference honors, with Tara Vandewater (softball) and Connor Capece (baseball) taking home Big East Player of the Week, and Audrey Gilman (softball) earning Big East Freshman of the Week. 

Vandewater hit 6-for-11 (.545) with two doubles, two home runs and a conference-leading 10 RBI and five runs scored in Creighton’s series sweep of St. John’s. Pitcher Audrey Gilman went 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA against the Red Storm, accumulating eight strikeouts in 14 innings.

Connor Capece led the Bluejays to a weekend road sweep of Villanova, going 7-for-14 (.500) at the plate while adding 10 RBI. Capece recorded a hit in each game last week, extending his hit streak to six games

The Omaha Supernovas swept Orlando and Atlanta on the road, securing two crucial wins in what was a career week for Merritt Beason. She combined for 31 points, 23 kills and 15 digs in the two matches, and posted a career-high .448 hitting percentage in Sunday’s sweep at Atlanta. In Sunday’s match, Omaha hit a franchise-record .413.

Omaha will return to action in its home finale against the Columbus Fury on Friday at 7 p.m. for Fan Appreciation Night and a Stripeout at the CHI Health Center. Omaha (13-13) sits in fourth place in MLV standings with two matches remaining in the regular season, with Grand Rapids (11-14) behind them. Omaha can clinch the franchise’s third consecutive playoff appearance with a win in either three or four sets on Friday.

Union Omaha opens USL Cup play against USL Championship club Indy Eleven at 7 p.m. on Saturday. The 2026 USL Cup is the third edition of the USL’s interleague cup competition, and is a World Cup-style tournament featuring all 42 clubs from the USL Championship and League One. Kicking off Saturday, April 25, clubs will be split into seven regional groups, with each club playing four group stage games in the opening phase of the tournament, which concludes on Saturday, July 11. The seven group winners and one wild card will advance to the knockout stage, beginning August 13.

Creighton baseball shortstop Ben North was one of 50 shortstops in the country named as a semifinalist for the Brooks Wallace Award on Wednesday. North leads the Bluejays with a .358 average this season, compiling 49 hits, 35 runs scored and 33 RBI. He has provided a stellar defensive performance in addition to his output at the plate, carrying a .953 fielding percentage. The Brooks Wallace Award honors the nation’s top shortstop and will be presented by the College Baseball Foundation later this year.

The Omaha Storm Chasers won last week’s home series against Indianapolis, 4-2, and currently sit in fourth place in the International League’s West Division at 12-9 overall. Omaha is playing a road series this week against the Toledo Mud Hens that is tied 1-1. First pitch for Thursday’s game is at 5:25 p.m.

Omaha will return to Werner Park next Tuesday, April 28, to host the Louisville Bats. That series will open at 12:05 p.m. on Tuesday, and the club will be promoting “Pitch in for the Pantry”, where fans can bring three cans of non-perishable food items in exchange for one berm ticket. 

Omaha Hockey’s 2026-27 National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) schedule was revealed Tuesday. Omaha will open conference play on the road with a series at defending national champion Denver on October 30-31, and will return to Baxter Arena the following weekend for its first home conference series against St. Cloud State on November 6-7. The full NCHC schedule can be found on Omaha Athletics’ website.

Upcoming Events

  • Omaha Storm Chasers at Toledo | April 21 – 26 | 5:35 p.m. Thursday
  • Omaha softball at North Dakota | April 24 – 25 | 6 p.m. Thursday
  • Creighton baseball vs. Butler | April 24 – 26 | 6 p.m. Friday
  • Omaha baseball vs. St. Thomas | April 24 – 26 | 6 p.m. Friday
  • Creighton softball at UConn | April 24 – 26 | 6 p.m. Friday
  • Omaha Supernovas vs. Columbus Fury | Friday, April 24 | 7 p.m.
  • Union Omaha at Indy Eleven | Saturday, April 25 | 6 p.m.
  • Creighton baseball vs. North Dakota State | Tuesday, April 28 | 11 a.m.
  • Creighton softball vs. Omaha | Tuesday, April 28 | 6 p.m.

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Creighton Baseball Walks Off No. 7 Kansas at Charles Schwab

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...

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The April 30 Sports Report

Greg McDermott was honored with the St. George National Award during Creighton men’s basketball’s season-ending banquet last Wednesday. The St. George National Award is the American Cancer Society’s highest honor for volunteers and is presented annually to a select...

read more

The April 23rd Sports Report

Creighton baseball completed a season sweep of Omaha with a 15-10 win Wednesday night. The Bluejays jumped out to an early 5-0 lead in the top of the third, and Omaha answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning to keep the game tight. Creighton then scored...

read more

Creighton Baseball Shortstop Named as Semifinalist 

Creighton baseball’s Ben North was one of 50 shortstops in the NCAA named as a semifinalist for the Brooks Wallace Award on Wednesday, April 22. The top 50 shortstops in the country were selected based on both their offensive and defensive production this season.North...

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The April 16th Sports Report

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Omaha Supernovas Part Ways with Head Coach

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The April 2nd Sports Report

Creighton men’s basketball opens play in the College Basketball Crown Thursday night against Rutgers in a quarterfinal game tipping off at 9:30 p.m. CDT on FS1. The winner will advance to Saturday’s semifinal round and face the winner of Stanford and West Virginia. ...

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