Box Score

OMAHA, Neb. --- The Creighton Bluejays scored twice in the bottom of the ninth inning to overcome the Portland Pilots 4-3 in a non-conference baseball game on Sunday afternoon at the CU Sports Complex. The win gives the Jays a three-game sweep over the Pilots.

 

Portland (10-14), which trailed 2-0 after seven innings, plated three in the top of the eighth to take a one-run lead. Senior DH Kevin Armijo began the scoring with an RBI triple to right field that scored junior OF Sam Westendorf. Senior 2B Riley Henricks followed with a game-tying RBI single, and freshman OF Turner Gill continued his successful first season with the Pilots by bringing in the go-ahead run with a double.

 

Gill’s two-bagger to right is his team-high ninth on the year and gave the Pilots a 3-2 lead, which is normally safe with Portland’s All-American senior closer Chris Dennis lurking in the bullpen.

 

But it was not Dennis’ (0-2) day as the Jays (20-5) touched him for two runs in the bottom of the ninth, handing the normally steady reliever a rare blown save. With one out and a runner on second, Michael Mutcheson tied the score at 3-3 with an RBI single to left-center field. After a flyout and a Portland error to extend the inning, Trever Adams won the game with a walk-off single to center that scored Mutcheson from second base.

 

Mark Winkelman (1-0), who was one of five CU pitchers on the day, picks up the win after striking out two and holding the Pilots without a hit for an inning and a third.

 

UP starter Chris Johnson was effective, scattering five hits in 5.1 innings. The sophomore right-hander struck out two, walked one and allowed two runs. Reliever Brent Miller worked 1.2 scoreless innings before giving way to Dennis with one out in the eighth.

 

The Jays out-hit the Pilots 8-7 and scored the game’s first two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Adams had an RBI double during the frame, and Mike Gerber brought home a run with a sacrifice fly. Both runs were unearned.

 

The Pilots next return to The Bluff for a lengthy nine-game homestand at Joe Etzel Field. First up is the 20th-ranked Oregon State Beavers, who visit for a 3:00 p.m. game on Tuesday.