OMAHA, Neb. – Saint Mary's concluded their three-game series with Creighton on Sunday in a doubleheader after taking game on 11-6. They tied the game up at two in the fifth inning but a four-run sixth would give the Bluejays the 6-2 win in seven innings in game one. The Gaels jumped out to a 4-0 lead in game two and looked to take the rubber match but not before a three-run eighth inning that gave Creighton a 6-5 lead. Due to travel restrictions, the game would be called after eight innings to give Creighton the 2-1 series win.
Saint Mary's was held to just two hits in game one of Sunday's doubleheader but junior transfer
Donovan Chriss put together another solid outing, completing five innings giving up just two runs on two hits.
Eddie Madrigal smashed his team leading seventh home run in game two and finished the afternoon with two hits and three RBI. Freshman catcher
Brett Williams got the start again behind the dish and went 2-for-4 with an RBI single in game two.
GAME ONE SMC 6-2 CREIGHTON
The offense cooled off for both teams in game one of Sunday's doubleheader with both teams scoring a combined four runs through the first five innings.
Donovan Chriss made his sixth start of the season and for the fourth time this season, went at least five innings and allowed just two runs on two hits.
Down 2-1 entering the fifth, the Gaels got the first two batters on base including a leadoff double from
Diego Castellanos. Three batters later with runners on second and third, freshman infielder
Micah Nicholson would lay down a beautiful sacrifice bunt to score Castellanos from third and tie the game 2-2.
The Gaels offense came up empty in the top half of the sixth which opened the door for a four-run sixth for Creighton, giving them a 6-2 lead. The Bluejays went through two pitchers and smashed back-to-back home runs, doing all their damage with two outs in the inning. An RBI double late in the inning would cap off a four-run sixth and seal the 6-2 victory for Creighton to even the series at one.
GAME TWO SMC 5-6 CREIGHTON
The Gaels offense got off to a hot start in the series finale with four runs over the first four innings highlighted by a two-run shot from
Eddie Madrigal in the first inning. Madrigal cashed in with another two-out RBI hit in the third, singling to left field to score
Micah Nicholson to give Saint Mary's a 3-0 lead.
After taking a step back and coming out of the bullpen in his last outing for the first time this season, senior lefty
Derik Eaquinto returned to the mound as the Gaels starter in game two. Eaquinto showed flashes of his usual self, pitching to contact and completing four innings allowing three runs and no walks.
Eaquinto started the fifth inning but allowed the first two runners on to eventually get pulled from the game.
Talin Gardini came in and limited the damage but not before Creighton added two runs with a sac fly and a two-out RBI single to make it 5-3. Freshman lefty
Jaden McNeely and
Justin Santiago pieced together the sixth and seventh inning, allowing just one combined hit and no runs to maintain the Gaels two-run lead into the eighth.
Adam Enyart would start the eighth but struggle initially, giving up two hits and hitting a batter to surrender a run. Freshman
Diego Emerling would come into the game with runners on first and second but give up an RBI double to the first batter he saw, tying the game at five. Head coach
Eric Valenzuela would instruct Emerling to intentionally walk the next batter to load the bases and create a force at any base, but he would plunk the next batter to score the runner from third and give Creighton the 6-5 victory.
Madrigal and Williams led the team with a combined four hits and four RBI while Eaquinto would depart the game with a no decision, lowering his ERA to 10.98. Gardini, McNeely and Santiago all put together scoreless outings, allowing just two hits over their combined three innings of work.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Gaels return to Moraga with a 12-11 overall record after losing two of three to Big East member Creighton. They are back in action on Tuesday in their second faceoff with 21st ranked UC Santa Barbara. Catch all the action live on ESPN+ and get your tickets online at smcgaels.com/tickets
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