OMAHA, Neb. --- Junior OF Kramer Scott homered and drove in two runs but the Creighton Bluejays used a five run fifth inning to slip by the Portland Pilots for a 11-3 victory Friday afternoon in the series opener at CU Sports Complex. Scott finished 2-for-3 and senior 2B Riley Henricks also homered for the Pilots.
Creighton (18-5) scratched out the first run of the game in the third inning. A leadoff walk to Mike Gerber resulted in a run when, one out later, Michael Mutcheson drove a double to right centerfield off Portland (10-12) starter Owen Jones (2-3).
The Bluejays added to their 1-0 lead their next time up to bat, as Anthony Benboom hit a two run home run with one away. Creighton saw their next three batters reach, with all three runs scoring in the inning. Nick Judkins capped off the scoring in the inning with a double to centerfield.
Portland got one of the runs back in the fifth inning. After sophomore 1B Brian Frattali reached on an error and advanced to third on a wild pitch, Scott drove a single through the right side to get the Pilots on the board.
The Pilots continued to claw at the Bluejays’ lead in the seventh inning. Henricks led off the inning with a home run – his fourth of the season – to right field. After two ground outs, Scott also homered to right field to bring the Pilots within three and chasing Creighton starter Ty Blach (5-0). Kurt Spomer relieved Blach, entering with a 6-3, and pitched the final 2.1 innings to pick up his first save of the season.
Creighton responded in the bottom of the seventh by loading the bases to chase Jones with one out. The Bluejays would score four runs in the inning to reassert their lead. Jones threw 6.1 innings, allowing nine runs on 10 hits. All nine runs were earned as Jones struck out two and walked one.
Blach threw 6.2 innings for the Bluejays, scattering six hits and a walk while allowing three runs, two earned. Creighton’s lefty struck out six and walked just one with a 9:3 groundout-to-flyout ratio. Benboom and Gerber each drove in three runs with three hits for Creighton.
Scott and senior OF Craig Smith each recorded a two-hit game for Portland. Portland used three relievers on the afternoon with freshman Zach Nice tossing 1.0 perfect inning. Senior Scott Burris and sophomore J.R. Bunda combined for the other two-thirds of an inning.
The series continues on Saturday as Portland trots out junior right hander Kyle Kraus (2-1, 4.78 ERA) against Creighton’s righty Jonas Dufek (3-0, 1.98 ERA).
