Creighton struck quickly on Friday, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning and once in the top of the second, to back starter Jeremy Hauer (7-2). The Bluejays used three extra-base hits in the first inning by center fielder Robbie Knight, first baseman Darin Ruf and third baseman Steve Winkelmann go up early 3-0. Creighton would tack on another run in the top of the second inning on a single through the right side of the infield by catcher Brett Mieras.

 

Evansville would respond in the top of the fifth inning, thanks to back-to-back extra-base hits from third baseman Andy Smith and right fielder Nate Smith. Center fielder Alex Acheson would plate Smith two batters later on a single to right field and would end up on third base because of a fielding error by Creighton right fielder Nick Nordren. Shortstop Peter Tountas would extend his hit streak to six games on an RBI single to center field to score Acheson to pull Evansville within one run of the Bluejays, at 4-3.

 

That would be as close as the Aces would get though, as Creighton would answer with three runs of their own in the bottom of the fifth inning and two in the bottom of the sixth.

 

With a single to center field in the top of the eighth inning, designated hitter Shawn Kuester extended his hit streak to ten games.

 

Aces starter Sean McCarthy (0-7) battled the entire game, taking the complete game loss. McCarthy allowed twelve hits and nine runs over eight innings, while walking four Creighton batters and striking out one. Creighton’s starter Hauer went 7 2/3 innings, scattering seven hits and four runs (three earned).

 

The Aces (9-32, 3-13) will look to even the series tomorrow as they will take on Creighton (26-15, 9-7) at 1:00 pm. The start time of game two was moved up one hour due to the expectation of evening rain in the Omaha area. Game two of the series can be heard live on 91.5 F.M.-WUEV.