MVC Tourney--ISU vs Creighton--Game Three (5/27)--Stayin' Alive!!

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bluepower

Baseball Mod
If ISU is to win this morning's 9:00 a.m. (CT) game, it will be through Jason Van Skike's best pitching performance of the year, a strong offensive performance and an undying determination to not accept defeat.

It is sounding as though the bullpen is suffering end-of-season pains. Todd Golden is reporting in today's TribStar that Scott Harlan had some kind of injury Tuesday in the 10th inning that made him unavailable yesterday and questionable for today. Harlan has made 31 relief appearances this year, which places him number two on the all-time single-season appearance list for ISU. Kevin Mann has been absent from his normal relief appearances... not sure why. Tyler Browning was not seen in the first two games, although he was warming up in the late innings. Hopefully he is strong and ready.

Jason Van Skike (3-3, 4.65) is ready to go. On May 22 against Bradley, Van Skike pitched six innings, giving up three runs on five hits, with one walk and three strikeouts. Historically this season, he has given up three or four runs in six innings of work. He needs to be a little better today and our offense needs to "go to bat" for Van Skike.

ISU has won three of the four games the two teams have played this season. Creighton's pitching is now reportedly in weaker shape than ISU's. But, they will start with a guy who has started in MVC Tourney action during the past two seasons--Greg Hellhake. In those two games he had a combined 7.2 innings, giving up four runs. This season, Hellhake (1-2, 7.53) has taken a back seat, pitching just 14.1 innings in nine appearances. Six of those in a starting roll. He has 12 strikeouts and has given up four walks and has an opposing batting average of .353. On paper, we are ripe for being able to lace hits together to score runs early.

Weatherwise this morning...look for mostly fair skies and 73-degrees with light winds. Perfect baseball weather.

Today's game is available on WBOW (AM 1130 & 1300). Here's the link to their site:

http://www.espnsportsradio.com/

The game is also available through live, streaming video, free of charge thanks to the MVC. here's that link:

https://www.nmnathletics.com//subs/...B_OEM_ID=7600&DB_LANG=&IN_SUBSCRIBER_CONTENT=

And, Live Stats service is also available:

http://www.goshockers.com/liveStats/liveStats.dbml?SPSID=36445&SPID=2904&&&DB_OEM_ID=7500
 
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WBOW Pre-Game Show

Coach Heller's Comments:

Yesterday was a game a coach doesn't like to see. Starting catcher, Lucas, sick and a fourth inning where Rodriguez gave up a walk and hit two batters, then gave up five runs. Our relief pitching imploded late in the game. Scottie Harlan hurt his arm in Tuesday's game, so we couldn't use him in the situation we normally use him. He says he is ready to give it a try today if needed. Today, Browning is ready and we can use Mann. Drake would be our starter for this afternoon.
 
In the top of the first, Hellhake faces Strausborger (.343) who grounds out to the pitcher... Burnam (.341) goes to 2-2 and doubles to the left-center gap and runs a stop sign and is thrown out at third trying for a triple...Fieser (.365) grounds out to pitcher. No Score.

Lucas back in the line-up behind the plate, still not 100% after flu-like illness yesterday

Into the bottom of the first, its Knight, Soto and Adams to face Van Skike...Knight (.330) grounds out to Grgurich at second...Soto (.293) who left with a back injury Tuesday and sat out yesterday, grounds out to Fieser at third...Adams (.351) walks on four pitches...Roemmick (.291) goes to 2-2, then strikes out swinging. No score.
 
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Moving to the top of the second...Hellhake faces Ort, Lucas and Ferguson...Ort (.359) taps back to the mound for first out...Lucas (.323) flies out to Knight in center...Ferguson (.302) lines out to right-center. No Score.

Into the bottom of the second...Van Skike will take on Vitale, Swift and Cuno...Vitale (.279) who is four for nine in tourney, goes to 1-2 and strikes out swinging...Swift (.292) is just one for 10 in the tourney, but singles to left...Cuno (.189) goes to 0-2 and fouls off twice, then strikes out swinging ...Swift steals second on the strikeout...Dike (.283) who is one for nine in tourney...Swift takes third on a past ball on Lucas...Dike strikes out looking...Van Skike's fourth strikeout in the first two inning. No Score.
 
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In the top of the third...Hellhake will face Graham, Grgurich and Ferrell...Graham (.283) who is three for seven in the tourney, goes to 0-2, then 3-2 and hits a ball to the wall in the right-center field gap for a double...action in Bluejay Pen with RHP Kurt Spomer...Grgurich (.288) goes to 3-1 count and bunt pop is caught by Vitale...one out...Graham steals third with no throw, his tenth on the year...Ferrell (.299) goes to 3-0, then 3-1 and singles with a blooper to right, Graham scores... Straus, who is just two for ten in tourney, and lines a double into left, Graham advances to third... runners at second and third with one out...New Pitcher is Kurt Spomer (0-1, 5.82) who is making his 14th appearance in 17 innings and has an opposing batting average of .284...Burnam grounds to second, Staeley makes wild throw to first, Straus and Ferrell scored...wild pitch sends Burnam to third...Fieser grounds to short for out number two, Burnam holds...Ort flies out to left-center. ISU leads 3-0.

Moving into the home-half of the third...Van Skike has a nice lead and will Staehely...Staehely doubles down the left-field line...Knight, CU's manager says, was hit by the first pitch and after a two-minute argument, play resumes...Knight goes to 3-2 and grounds out to Ferrell at short, Ort makes a nice scoop to beat the speedy Knight by half a step...Soto goes to 2-2 and hits ground-ball single to left, Staehely scores...Adams takes an elevated pitch and homers for his 11th time this season to left...score tied at 3-3...Roemmick goes to 3-2 and walks...runner at first with one out...Coach Herbst makes trip to mound...Roemmich advances to second on wild pitch...Vitale, who is four for ten in tourney, goes to 1-2 count, then 3-2 and strikes out swinging...Van Skike now has five K's today...two down...Swift goes to 0-2, then 3-2 and flies out to Burnam in left-center. Score tied 3-3.
 
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Our pitchers have struggled all year shutting down the other team after a good offensive inning for us.
 
Into the top of the fourth...Spomer will face Lucas, Ferguson and Graham...Lucas goes to 3-0 count, then 3-2 and grounds out to second on a good play by Staehely behind the bag at second... Ferguson gets infield hit up the middle to Soto...Graham, the DH today, is four for eight in tourney and hits into fielder's choice 6-4 to get the lead runner...Grgurich goes to 1-2 with a couple of well-hit fouls down the right field line, then singles through the right side...two on with two outs... Ferrell is four for ten in tourney and has three RBI's and he lines out to second. Score knotted at 3-3.

In the bottom of the fourth...Van Skike faces the 6, 7 & 8 hitters...Cuno grounds out to short... Dike (one for ten in tourney) goes to 2-2 and strikes out swinging on a change-up...Staehely, who doubled and scored in the third to start the CU rally, hits a home run ball that Burnam leaped above the fence for to make a great catch on!...WHEW!! Score tied at 3-3.
 
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In the top of the fifth...Straus gets a single through the right side...Burnam hits a grounder to Staehely at second where the ball is bobbled and runners are safe at first and second on the E4...Fieser flies out to left, both runners hold...one out...action again in the CU pen...Ort flies out to shallow left, runners hold...two outs...Lucas fouls out to first base. Score tied at 3-3.

Into the bottom of the fifth...Van Skike returns to face the top of the order...LHP Kevin Mann up in the ISU pen...Knight goes to 2-2 and strikes out swinging...seventh K for Van Skike today...take away the homer and Van Skike has had a solid day so far...88 pitches so far today...Soto goes to 3-1 and walks...Adams (who hit the homer last time up) goes to 1-2 and hits a ball barely foul down the right field line, then goes to 2-2 on a very close check swing, then Soto steals second, then Adams, with a 3-2 count, and walks...runners at first and second on back-to-back walks...one out...Herbst coming to mound as Van Skike is at 99 pitches... Roemmick grounds back to Van Skike and he throws wildly to second on what should have been an inning-ending double play, Soto scores, Adams moves to second... Vitale goes to 3-1 count, then 3-2 and strikes out swinging...third time for vitale to K today...two outs...Swift goes to 1-2 and Roemmick is gunned down trying to steal second on a pitch in the dirt. CU leads 4-3.
 
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In the top of the sixth, Spomer faces Ferguson, Graham and Grgurich, the 6, 7 & 8 batters...Ferguson flies out to shallow right...Graham grounds out to second...Sycamores have out hit the Jays 7-4 today...Grgurich grounds out to Soto at short...six in a row set down by Spomer. CU leads 4-3.

Into the home-half of the sixth...its Swift, Cuno and Dike to face Kevin Mann (4-1, 4.26) making his 23rd appearance on the season with 31.2 innings and an opposing batting average of just .205... Swift grounds out to ort...Dorsett begins warming in the pen...Cuno grounds out to second... Dike taps back to Mann for third out...Mann uses just six pitches. CU leads 4-3.
 
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Into the top of the seventh, Spomer will face Ferrell, Strausborger and Burnam... the time isd now to make something happen on offense...ISU has led after only four innings in this tournament so far...Ferrell grounds out to short...Straus, who is two for three today with a single and double, goes to 3-1 and walks...first walk given up today by CU pitching...two warming in CU pen, VanLeur and Lackovic...Straus not as aggresive on the basepaths as he'd nursing a groin injury...but Straus steals second with no-one covering the base on the throw...Burnam goes to 1-2, then 2-2 and hits a double to the left field wall down the line, Straus scores...New Pitcher is Bobby Lackovic (3-3, 4.42) who has pitched well in three appearances this season against ISU...Fieser bloops a single up the middle, Burnam moves to third...Ort grounds to first, who tries a 3-6-1 double play, but Lackovic isn't on bag, Burnam scores...Lucas--0 for three today--is hit by pitch...runners at first and second...Ferguson is hit by pitch...bases loaded with two outs...New Pitcher is LHP Jack Van Leur (3-4, 4.69) makes his 30th appearance. Has 40.1 innings and opposing batting average of .315... Graham taps to the right side to Van Leur for final out. ISU leads 5-4.

Going to the bottom of the seventh...Mann will face Staehely, Knight and Soto...Staehely (who was robbed of a homer by Burnam in the fourth) goes to 2-2 and lines out to second...Knight (0-3 today with three groundouts) goes to 0-2, then 3-2 and walks...Creighton has just four hits, but has five walks, four given up by Van Skike...Soto grounds to Ferrell and Knight cut down at second on fielder's choice...Adams goes to 2-2 and grounds to Ferrell, who forces Soto at second. ISU leads 5-4.
 
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ISU pitching has not given up a hit to CU since the third inning.

Looking for insurance runs in the top of the eighth, as ISU sends Grgurich, Ferrell and Straus to face VanLeur...Grgurich goes to 0-2, then 2-2 and down the right field line...Pearson to pinch-run for Grgurich and will play at second...Ferrell sac bunts to VanLeur and Pearson advances to third with one out...New Pitcher is LHP Mark Winkelman (2-3, 3.93) who was the loser in Tuesday's game against ISU...fifth Creighton pitcher...Straus lines to Staehley at second on one hop, Pearson scores as throw home is late...two run lead...Straus steals second--77th career stolen base, putting him at #2 in the ISU record books...6 runs -10 hits -1 error for ISU today...Burnam goes to 1-2, then 2-2 and lines a single to right, Straus moves to third...runners at the corners with one out...Fieser trys squeeze play, but bunt barely rolls foul, then goes to 1-2 gets a ground-rule double to left field, Straus scores...ISU leads 7-4...coach visits mound, but stays with LHP Winkelman... Ort goes to 2-2 count and sac flies to right, Burnam scores...two outs...ISU now leads 8-4...that's Ort's 50th RBI of the season...Lucas goes to 2-2 and flies out to shallow center, Staehely makes the grab. ISU leads 8-4.

Well, we got our insurance runs. We have controlled CU well since the third...let's close it out!!

Into the bottom of the eighth Roemmick, Vitale and Swift facing Mann, who's done a great job over two innings, allowing just one walk and no hits...Mann getting ahead of the batters consistently...Roemmick grounds out sharply to Fieser at third...Vitale goes to 2-2 and strikes out looking for his fourth strikeout today...two outs...Swift doubles to left field for the first hit for CU since the third...Mann's longest relief appearance since he went four innings against Texas Southern near the start of the season...Cuno singles to right...runners at the corners...Dike (0-3 today) goes to 3-0, then 3-2 flies out to Fieser at third to get out of a mess!...WOW!! ISU leads 8-4.
 
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Doesn't suck to be right...a blue and white team appears to be on the verge of victory. Good luck to the Syc's going forward...beat the Shocks if you get the chance...hate the Shocks.



Bluepower says "Thanks Eddie...appreciate your visits."
 
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Moving to the top of the ninth, ISU will look to continue the offensive barrage they started in the seventh as CU brings in Matt Patterson (1-2, 7.94, opp batting average of .289)...Ferguson, Graham and Pearson...Ferguson flies out for the third time today to left...Graham goes to 1-2 and grounds a base hit up the middle...Pearson flies out to deep center...two outs...Browning warming in the pen for bottom of ninth...Graham steals second...Ferrell doubles to left, Graham scores... Ferrell advances to third on a balk when Patterson drops the ball on the mound...Straus grounds out to short. ISU leads 9-4.

Going to the bottom of the ninth...Tyler Browning (1-2, 4.88) makes his first appearance of the tournament to get the final three outs and send ISU to another game against Illinois State this afternoon...good place for Browning (who led conference with 10 saves this year) to get his feet wet a a freshman in the tournament... Staehely walks...Browning throws a wild pitch to send Staehely to second...Knight flies out to Straus in shallow center... Soto grounds to Ferrell for infield single... runners at first and second with one out...Adams goes to 3-1, then 3-2 and homers to close the gap to 9-7...Heller comes to mound...LHP Brandon Flora (0-0, 4.58, opposing average of .269) is New Pitcher...LHB Roemmick (0 for 3 today) but has driven in five RBI in tourney, goes to 2-2 and grounds to Pearson at second for second out...New Pitcher is Scott Harlan (4-3, 1.48)...two outs...Vitale (0-4 today with four strikeouts) grounds out to Fieser. ISU wins 9-7!
 
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who was talking about the next game starter...............don't count the chickens yet............our relief corps lives for excitement.....................
 
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