Bluejays Battle Back to Knock Out Pack

Lincoln -- Creighton staved off elimination Sunday as the Bluejays rallied for an 11-9 victory over the NC State Wolfpack at the Lincoln Regional at Hawks Field in front of a crowd of 2,512.

CU catcher Tony Daniel provided the biggest punch, hittting a grand slam to straight-away center field in a five-run seventh inning to push the Bluejays out of the loser's bracket and into tonight's regional final against host Nebraska at 6:05 p.m. Creighton must win tonight to stay alive and force a second championship game on Monday. The winner of the Lincoln Regional advances to next weekend's Super Regional where it will face the winner of the Coral Gables Regional.  

Daniel and left fielder Chris Gradoville paced the Bluejay offense, combining to go 4 for 9 at the plate with eight RBIs. Daniel slugged a pair of home runs -- his second multi-homer game of the year and third of his career -- with a career-high five RBIs, while Gradoville added a two-run blast and three RBIs.

Despite the big hits, Creighton was out-slugged 15-11 in the hit column by the Wolfpack, who ended the season with a 41-19 record. NC State had entered the game with a perfect 33-0 record this season when out-hitting an opponent.

Creighton opened the game with a strong first inning on the mound and at the plate. CU starter Tony Bilek retired the side on 10 pitches as hitters are just 1 for 31 (.032) against him in the first inning this season. In the bottom of the frame, the Bluejays punched in a quick run as leadoff hitter Tony Roth opened the game with a base on balls and scored on Brad Dutton's double for a quick 1-0 Bluejay lead.

NC State came back with a run in the top of the second to tie the score at 1-1 before opening a three-run lead in the third while chasing Bilek. The Wolfpack recorded five straight base hits to open the third, including three straight extra-base hits. Jonathan Diaz had the big hit in the inning with a two-run triple before scoring on Aaron Bates' single.

Diaz and catcher Jake Muyco each finished with a pair of RBIs while center fielder Matt Camp's three hits led four NCSU players with multi-hit games.

Creighton didn't get rattled, as the Bluejays battled back to tie it at 4-all in the bottom of the fourth. Zach Daeges led off with a single and came home on Gradoville's home run to left field to pull CU within a run. Daniel followed with his first round-tripper of the contest to knot the score. It was the first time this season the pair hit back-to-back home runs, but the fourth time a pair of Bluejays had knocked in back-to-back round-trippers.

After each team scored a pair of runs in the sixth inning, NC State regained the lead, 8-6, in the top of the seventh. The Wolfpack plated runs on Matt Devine's RBI double and run-scoring single by Camp but could not make it hold up.

The Bluejays were unfazed as they proceeded to bat around in the bottom of the frame. Roth started the rally by leading off with a double to left center field before Dutton's double plated Roth. A walk and error loaded the bases before Daniel came to the plate with one out and turned the tide with his first career grand slam and second of the year for the Bluejays.

All-ACC reliever Joey Devine then shut the Bluejays down, going 1.1 innings of relief without allowing a hit. But it was Creighton closer Brandon Bird who made the biggest plays down the stretch, holding NCSU to just one ninth-inning unearned run on one hit over the final 2.0 innings to pick up his 11th save of the year, just one off the school record.