Bluejay Baseball Falls to North Dakota State, 3-2

Omaha, Neb. -- Creighton Baseball dropped a 3-2 decision to North Dakota State on Tuesday, April 8. The loss snapped the Bluejays' 18-game midweek winning streak, a run that stretch back to the 2023 season.

Following Tuesday's result the Bluejays fell to 19-9, while North Dakota State advanced 10-18.

Creighton took the lead in the opening frame as Dakota Duffalo laced a one-out single to left, followed by a ground rule double down the left field line by Nolan Sailors. A pair of two-out walks to Nate McHugh and Kyle Hess gave the Bluejays a 1-0 edge.

The Bison climbed onto the scoreboard in the third inning, getting a two-out double from Jake Schaffner, a steal of third and an infield error to knot the game at 1-1.

North Dakota State struck again in the as a walk and a hit batter set the table for an RBI single from Kyle Shannahan for the Bison to grab a 2-1 lead. 

The Bison's lead didn't last past the inning as the Bluejays squeezed one run in late in the sixth. Creighton's Connor Capece opened the Bluejay half with a single, followed by Will MacLean putting two men on with a hit by pitch. Freshman Nick Venteicher sacrificed the two runners to second and third, then Tate Gillen lifred a sacrifice fly to center to tie the game 2-2. 

With bases empty and two outs in the top of the ninth, the Bison managed to put two on via a single by Davis Hamilton, then a wild pitch that led to an intentional walk on Colten Becker. After a liner up the middle by Sam Canton, Hamilton scored and Becker was thrown out at home for the final out of the inning. 

Down 3-2 in the bottom of the ninth, Creighton couldn't get anything to go their way with only Dakota Duffalo reaching base after being nailed by a pitch. Three straight outs for the Bluejays ended the game 3-2.

Cade Wiegert earned his first win of the season (1-0) with a scoreless eighth, while Danny Lechenmayer nabbed his fifth save via a scoreless ninth. A loss for Garrett Langrell dropped the Bluejay closer to to 3-1, allowing one run on two hits in 1.1 innings.

Offensively the Bluejays finished with eight hits, including three from Sailors.

Creighton heads out on the road for a series at Seton Hall this weekend, starting Friday at 3:00 p.m.