March 19, 2011

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - Creighton managed an unearned run in the top of the 10th inning Saturday to defeat Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 4-3 in college baseball at SimmonsCooper Complex on the SIUE campus.

"I thought we pretty much handed it to them," SIUE Head Coach Gary Collins said. "We made some key mistakes."

CU leadoff man Mike Mutheson reached on an error to start the inning, and then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Nick Judkins. Trever Adams drove in the run with a two-out single to right field.

Tony Schaeffer, 0-1, suffered the defeat in relief. Schaeffer allowed just the run, unearned, on a single hit.

SIUE, 5-13, trailed 3-2 heading into the ninth inning before rallying to tie the game. Devin Caldwell started the inning with a double to deep left center field, but was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a triple. Zach Hawkins followed with a single, and moved to second on a groundout by Joel Greatting. Brett Keeler drove in the game-tying run with a single through the right side. Matt Highland followed with a two-out single, but the Cougars left both runners on.

"Running wild in the ninth probably cost us a win," Collins said. "Then the error to start the tenth beat us."

Bluejays' reliever Chase Webb tossed the final 1 1/3 inning for the win. He struck out two.

Creighton, 15-4, scored three times in the third inning on three hits against SIUE starter Dustin Quattrocchi. Following a hit and a hit batter, Shortstop Jimmy Swift started the scoring with a ground ball to first base. Greatting came off first to play the ground ball,and Swift reached with a hit, driving home the first run. Adams capped the inning with a two-out, two-run double.

Quattrocchi tossed 4.1 innings and did not get a decision. He allowed the three runs on six Creighton hits. He struck out one and walked one.

"Not covering first cost us three runs," Collins said.

The Cougars came back with single runs in the fourth, on an RBI double by Caldwell, and the seventh, on a ground out by Highland, to make it 3-2.

Caldwell led the Cougars at the plate. He was 2 for 4 with the RBI. Keeler was 1 for 3 with the RBI.

Adams was 2 for 3 with three RBIs for the Bluejays.

SIUE will host Valparaiso Sunday at SimmonsCooper Complex. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.

"We have to come back and see if we can get out of here with two of three," Collins said. "That would be a good weekend for us."