HUNTSVILLE - Catcher Scott Thornburg's walk-off single in the bottom of the 10th inning powered Creighton to a 6-5 come-from-behind victory over Sam Houston to give the Blue Jays a 2-0 record on the first day of the Bearkat Invitational Baseball Tournament Friday.
Earlier in the day, Creighton (5-1) defeated Northern Colorado 15-8.
The loss overshadowed an outstanding pitching performance by junior Dallas Gallant who tied the Sam Houston record for most strike outs by one hurler in an NCAA Division I game. Jessie Marshall set the record in 2005 against Lamar. Gallant spread four hits over eight innings.
Sam Houston (1-8) appeared headed for their third win of the season as outfielder Tyler Fiebrich blasted a bases loaded double all the way to the left field fence in the top of 10th inning to give the Bearkats a three-run leadThe double followed consecutive singles by Jordan Bunch, Kevin Miller and Greg Olson.
Creighton would not go away as the Blue Jays loaded the bases in the bottom of the 10th Relief pitcher Matt Shleton hit two batters, walked another and gave up a single and a run. Justin Jackson came out of the pin to get the second out on a strike out but third baseman Jimmy Swift tied the contest 5-5 with a single to set up Thornburg's winning play. Shelton (0-2) took the loss.
Center fielder Mark Hudson doubled to give the Bearkats their first run in the third inning. The extra base hit scored Braeden Riley who singled.
Riley doubled in the fifth inning to score Jessie Plumlee after the third baseman singled to give the Bearkats a 2-1 lead.
Creighton opened with a run in the first inning as center fielder Robbie Knight walked, was sacrificed to second and scored on a single by right fielder T. J. Roemmich.
The Blue Jays tied the contest 2-2 in the bottom of the seventh inning as third base Jimmy Swift singled, was sacrificed to second and tallied on a single by first baseman Ian Dike.
Bobby Lackovic (3-0) earned the victory on the mound for Creighton in relief.
The Bearkat Invitational baseball tournament continues Saturday as Creighton and Northern Colorado face off at 2 p.m. and Sam Houston State meets Northern Colorado at 6:30 p.m.
The tournament concludes with two Bearkat games on Sunday starting at 11 a.m.
Tickets to Sam Houston Sate baseball are on sale now online at www.gobearkats or at the Bearkat Athletic Ticket office located in the Ron Mafrige Field House at Bowers Stadium. Ticket office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The ticket office telephone is 936 294-1729.
