Huskers Fall to Creighton

Lincoln ? Nebraska was held to four hits, as the Huskers suffered a 15-0 setback to Creighton Tuesday night at Hawks Field.

The Huskers (16-15-1) were shut out for the first time this season and only the third time since Hawks Field at Haymarket Park opened in 2002, as Creighton broke open a 4-0 game over the final three frames. The four hits were NU's lowest total since getting three hits in a 2-1 loss to UL-Lafayette on Feb. 21

Vincente Cafaro paced a 14-hit attack for Creighton, going 5-for-5 and scoring five times, while T.J. Roemmich went 2-for-2 with four RBIs, as Creighton won for only the sixth time against the Huskers dating back to 2003.

The Bluejays (15-15) got all the runs they needed in the second, as Cafaro singled to open the frame before coming home on Roemmich’s RBI double to right.

Cafaro got the ?Jays going in the fourth against Husker freshman Kash Kalkowski, who was making his first career start. Cafaro opened the inning with a double and scored on Jimmy Swift’s RBI single two batters later. Creighton eventually loaded the bases before Erik Bird walked Nick Becker to push a second run across in the frame.

Kalkowski (1-2) took the loss, allowing three runs on five hits over a career-long 3.1 innings of work.

Roemmich made it a 4-0 game in the sixth inning, as he lofted a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Cafaro, who singled, stole second and advanced to third on a Husker error.  It was the only run Bird allowed over 2.2 innings of relief, as his effort was one of the highlights for the Huskers.
 
Nebraska was within striking distance after six innings despite having only three hits in that span, which two were wiped away in double plays. Mike Nihsen (3-1) was the beneficiary of the Bluejays’ defensive handiwork, spinning five shutout innings of relief for the win.
 
Creighton pulled away in the seventh with three runs including an RBI single by Cafaro and a run-scoring double by Roemmich and tacked on eight runs on only three hits in the eighth, as the Husker bullpen combined for six walks and a hit batter in the inning.
 
Ben Kline and Jeff Tezak had doubles for the Huskers, who suffered their sixth straight setback.
 
The Huskers return to action on Thursday night, as they host the Texas Longhorns. First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m.