MILLINGTON, Tenn. (4/8/14) — The Arkansas State baseball team dropped at 7-3 decision to Creighton Saturday night in Millington, Tenn., at USA Baseball Stadium.
The game, which was a home game for the Red Wolves, was moved to Millington due to due the large amounts of ice and sleet that covered Tomlinson Stadium earlier in the week and caused the field to become unplayable.
The Red Wolves (6-7) struck first with a run in the bottom of the first when Matt Burgess drove in Zach Maggio with a double to right centerfield for the game's first run but the Bluejays (5-4-1) countered with four runs in the top of the fourth inning and never relinquished the lead.
Trailing 7-1, the Red Wolves scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to cut the lead to five runs. Dustin Jones drew a 1-out walk and moved into scoring position on a wild pitch and Maggio followed with a walk to setup an RBI opportunity for Stuart Levy, who delivered a two-RBI single through the left side. The junior catcher advanced to second base on a wild pitch and Burgess singled to put runners on the corners, but a strikeout to end the inning left both runners stranded.
Creighton blew the game open in the top of the fourth inning with walk to leadoff hitter Cody Kottich, who moved into a scoring position a sacrifice bunt. A wild pitch put Kottich at third base with one out and a RBI single by Brad McKewon tied the game. Arkansas State's Bradley Wallace continued to struggle in the inning and hit the next batter he saw and Jake Peter followed with an RBI double. Peter came around to on a single by Mike Gerber to give the Bluejays a three-run lead after three innings.
Wallace continued to struggle in the top of the fourth inning and gave up two more runs but finished the inning before being lifted in before the start of the fifth. He finished the night with four strikeouts and just one walk, but gave up six runs (five earned) on six hits.
Tyler Zuber relieved Wallace and gave up one run on two hits in three innings of work. Adam Grantham pitched the final two innings of the game and had two strikeouts and did not issue a hit.
Levy and Burgess each finished the night 2-for-4, while Maggio, Austin Baker and Lucas Feddersen each had a hit. Collin Massanelli also had on the night when he came into pinch-hit in the eighth inning.
The series continues Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. in Millington, Tenn., at USA Baseball Stadium. The game can be heard on 95.3FM The Ticket/970AM KNEA and on AStateRedWolves.com For in-game updates follow @AStateGameDay on Twitter and stay up to date with A-State baseball by following the team on Twitter (@AStateBaseball) and Facebook (Facebook.com/RedWolvesbaseball).
