Creighton University’s baseball team secured a 7-6 victory over Gonzaga on Sunday, March 8, at home in Omaha. This win marks the Bluejays’ second series win of the season and improves their record to 5-7, while Gonzaga drops to 4-9.
The Bluejays built an early lead, scoring five runs in the second inning and adding another in the third to go up 6-1. Creighton’s offense in the second was highlighted by Rocco Gump’s two-run double and contributions from Chris Baillargeon, Lew Rice, Nick Venteicher, and Nate McHugh. In the third inning, Ben North reached base on a walk, stole second, advanced to third on an error, and scored on Isaac Wachsmann’s sacrifice fly.
Gonzaga responded with a five-run rally in the fifth inning to tie the game at six. However, Creighton regained control in the bottom half of that frame when Connor Capece and Wachsmann singled before Rice delivered a two-out RBI single through the right side for what proved to be the game-winning run.
Evan Stratton pitched 1.2 innings without allowing a run to earn his first win of the season. Matt Goldenbaum closed out the game with 2.2 innings of one-hit relief for his first save. Gonzaga reliever Garrett Gores took the loss after giving up one run on three hits over more than three innings.
Offensively for Creighton, Gump, Rice, and Wachsmann each collected two hits during the contest.
Creighton is scheduled to play next against LSU in Baton Rouge on Tuesday, March 10 at 6:30 p.m., facing last year’s national champions.
