BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—Creighton scored six runs on just three hits in the top of the fifth inning as the Bluejays completed an opening weekend sweep of CSU Bakersfield 10-4. It is the first time in the 6+ year history of the Roadrunner program that the team has been swept on opening weekend.

“I am obviously disappointed in the result,” said CSUB head coach Bill Kernen.

CSUB scored the game's first round without a recording a hit in the bottom of the first. With one out, David Metzgar (So., Lancaster, Calif., Paraclete HS) was hit by a pitch. Mylz Jones (Jr., Palmdale, Calif., Paraclete HS) and Soloman Williams (Sr., Long Beach, Calif., Golden West College) both walked to load the bases.  Logan Trowbridge (Sr., Santa Cruz, Calif., College of San Mateo) drove in Metzgar with a sacrifice fly for the first Roadrunner lead of the series.

Creighton's Nicky Lopez was hit by a Nick Rogowski (Sr., Woodbridge, Va., Cypress College) pitch to open the top of the fourth. He advanced to second on a Reagan Fowler ground out and moved to third on a Rogowski wild pitch. Rogowski settled in and struck out Bluejays' cleanup hitter Brett Murray looking. Ryan Fitzgerald grounded out to second for the final out.

The Bluejays put two runners on to begin the fifth on a CSUB error and a walk. Rogowski struck out Landon Lucansky looking. Tommy Clouthier walked to load the bases. Creighton leadoff hitter Daniel Woodrow walked to tie the game. Lopez also walked with the bases loaded, giving CU a 2-1 lead. Fowler cleared the bases with Creighton's first hit of the inning, a double, giving the Bluejays a four-run lead. Murray grounded out to first to push Fowler to third. Fitzgerald singled to left to drive in Fowler. Harrison Crawford singled to bring up Joey Mancuso who grounded out to end the inning.

Ryan Grotjohn (So., Cave Creek, Ariz., Brophy College Prep) doubled to open the bottom of the fifth for CSUB. Jordie Hein (Sr., Scottsdale, Ariz., Chapparal HS) was hit by a Jeff Albrecht pitch. Metzgar lined out before Jones grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to end the frame.

“We didn't put pressure on them offensively,” Kernen said.

Fowler's third hit of the day produced his fourth RBI when he singled in Lopez in the top of the seventh. Woodrow and Lopez added RBI's in the eighth. Drew Seelman (Fr., Temecula, Calif., Temecula Valley HS) and Max Carter (So., Bakersfield, Calif., Stockdale HS) registered RBI's singles in the bottom of the eighth to make it 9-3.

CSUB loaded the bases with two outs later in the inning. Sophomore Joey Sanchez (Pico Rivera, Calif., El Ranchero HS) worked a 2-0 count on the fourth CU pitcher of the day, Connor Miller. Miller was removed in favor of Nick Highberger. Highberger walked Sanchez to plate Seelman. Pinch-hitter Nick Vehlewald (Jr., Bakersfield, Calif., Garces HS) flew out to right to conclude the inning.

“We had good starting pitching in about a half of each game that was probably the highlight,” said Kernen. “We know our defense is going to be very good. We have to put the ball in play. We didn't do anything offensively.”

A Crawford double in the top of the ninth provided the Bluejays with its 10th run. Fitzgerald went 3-for-5 while Crawford was 3-for-4. A total of four Bluejays' pitchers saw time on the hill, with Albrecht going 4.1 innings to get the win.

CSUB opens a four-game series with Northern Kentucky on Friday with a 2 p.m. doubleheader. Tickets are available at Vallitix.com.

“We have a long way to go and have many things in front of us,” Kernen said. “They will be fine. They won't be satisfied with this level of play. I know we are better than this.”

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