Game 1 Box: CU 2, UE 1
Game 2 Box: CU 4, UE 0

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – In a pitcher’s duel spanned across two days due to rain that halted play Friday night with the score tied, 0-0, heading into the sixth inning, the visiting Creighton University Bluejays edged the University of Evansville baseball team, 2-1, in 12 innings. The Jays also won game two by a score of 4-0.

The losses drop UE to a 27-19 record overall and 6-10 mark in the Missouri Valley Conference, while Creighton improved to 35-12 and 12-5 in the MVC.

In the top of the 12^th, Jimmy Swift singled through the left side and advanced to third on what most likely would have been a double play, but a wild throw from Eric Stamets to second base put Swift in position to take the lead for good. Swift scored on a play at the plate when Alex Staehely laid down a sacrifice bunt and pitcher Josh Biggs fielded and tossed it back to catcher Chris Pearson, who barely missed getting a sliding Swift. That would be the winning run, as the Aces were unable to answer in the bottom of the frame, despite putting runners on first and third.

On day one of the contest, sophomore Kyle Lloyd for UE and Jonas Dufek for Creighton held both offenses off the board, allowing just three hits apiece. Lloyd struck out five batters while Dufek mowed down seven. However, lightning and rain that entered the area ended the night and knocked both pitchers off the mound.

Resuming the game Saturday, southpaw Biggs took over for Lloyd and Reese McGraw for Dufek. Creighton finally broke the scoreless game in the top of the seventh when Scott Thornburg, Mike Gerber, and Chance Ross led off with three straight singles, as Ross knocked home Thornburg for a 1-0 lead.

However, the Aces answered back in the bottom of the eighth when Stamets and Wallace led a two-out rally with back-to-back doubles. Stamets lined his down the left field line, while Wallace knocked his to right-centerfield, scoring Stamets and tying the game, 1-1.

From there, it remained scoreless until the 12^th as Biggs (5-1) went the distance on day two, while the Bluejays were forced to throw four more from their bullpen, including Chase Webb (3-1) who would get the win and Jack VanLeur (2) the save.

Leaving 11 runners on base in the contest, the Aces missed a few opportunities to capture the win, including the 10^th inning when UE loaded the bases but was unable to score. Nate Smith and Stamets both reached base after getting hit by reliever Kurt Spomer and Cody Fick was intentionally walked to get the force, but the Aces were unable to take advantage.

In the bottom of the 12^th, Pearson singled to lead off, advanced to second on Smith’s sacrifice bunt, and to third on a wild pitch. However, that is where he stayed as VanLeur forced Wallace to pop up a bunt and Fick into a ground out.

 Biggs took the loss, hurling seven innings, allowing 11 hits, two runs, one earned, a walk and struck out four. Pearson led the Aces at the plate with two hits, while Stamets, Wallace, Fick, and Trentt Copeland all had one.

In the nightcap, Creighton starter Ty Blach shut down the Aces, throwing a no-hitter through four innings. He hurled seven innings on the night, allowing three hits and no runs, while Mark Winkelman and VanLeur threw the final two frames, respectively, for the combined shutout.

Cole Isom took the loss for Evansville (5-5), throwing seven innings, giving up three runs, seven hits, two walks, and struck out four.

Creighton took a 2-0 lead in the third inning when Ross singled to lead off and Nick Judkins followed with an RBI double. With one out, Swift knocked home Judkins on a single to left field for the two-run advantage.

In the fourth, Mike Gerber belted a solo home run, his sixth of the season, to make it 3-0.

The Jays added one more run in the eighth on a leadoff single and two out RBI single off reliever Ryan Billo to push it to 4-0. Freshman Peter Spear tossed a scoreless ninth for Evansville.

In the bottom of the ninth, the Aces tried to rally, starting with Jared Baehl’s leadoff single and Ty Legan’s two-out hit up the middle, but the Jays kept UE off the scoreboard and ended the long day at Braun Stadium. Baehl led UE with two hits in game two.

The Aces return to the diamond tomorrow for a 1:00 p.m. CT start, hosting Creighton in the series finale and final home game of the season. UE’s seven seniors will be honored in a pregame ceremony on the field.