Creighton Baseball Walks-Off NDSU, 11-10; Advances to Regional Final

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Kyle Hess drove home pinch-runner Jack Torosian in the bottom of the 9th inning as the Creighton Baseball team posted its first walk-off win in NCAA Tournament history, 11-10 over North Dakota State on Sunday, June 1 to advance to an 8 p.m. game tonight against Arkansas. It's Creighton's third straight NCAA Tournament appearance to reach the Regional Finals, joining the 2012 and 2019 squads, as the Bluejays strive to win their first Regional since 1991.

The victory didn't lack for drama. Creighton appeared in control with a 10-3 lead through five innings before NDSU scored seven runs against the Bluejay bullpen to tie it.

Creighton improved to 43-15 on the season with its 22nd win in its last 25 games, while North Dakota State had its season end with a 21-34 mark. The Bison were vying for their first Regional Final appearance as a Division I program.

After Jack Pineau set the tone by striking out the side in the top of the first inning, Tate Gillen built on the momentum with a homer on the third pitch of the bottom of the first inning against NDSU starter Parker Puetz. It was Gillen's fifth homer of the season, as he became the first player in Creighton history to open an NCAA Tournament game with a leadoff home run. Nolan Sailors ripped a double into right for his 250th career hit, moved to third on an NDSU error by the third baseman, and scored on a throwing error by the Bison catcher while trying to cut down Ben North on a steal of second.

The Bison countered in the top of the second when Sam Canton led off inning with a homer, his fifth of the year.

Creighton again put the pressure on the Bison with a two-out rally in the second. Kyle Hess and Gillen walked, and Hess motored all the way from second to score on the first wild pitch of the year from Puetz.

NDSU evened the game in the third at 3-all.  Luis Garcia was hit by a pitch, bunted over to second, and scored on a double to right-center by Dante Smith. Smith then scored on a sharply hit single off the bat of Davis Hamilton.

The Bluejays broke open the game with a five-run third to move in front 8-3, and it all came with two outs. Teddy Deters and Connor Capece walked to sandwich a Will MacLean single and end the day for Puetz. Reese Ligtenberg came on in relief and gave up a two-run bases-loaded single to Dakota Duffalo, and Kyle Hess followed that with a three-run homer off the scoreboard in right.

The power surge continued in the fourth frame, as Sailors launched his second homer of the Regional to start the inning. Two batters later Deters joined the home run club with a shot over the bullpen in left, making it 10-3.

Pineau struck out seven and left with a 10-3 lead after five innings but did not factor into the decision. Henry Prindl worked the sixth and seventh before turning the ball over to Matt Aukerman in the eighth.

NDSU scored four runs in the sixth inning to make a game of it, with the big blow coming on a three-run homer by Davis Hamilton. The Bison comeback continued in the top of the eighth inning with three runs off Matthew Aukerman to tie the score at 10-all. Aukerman walked the first two men he faced and both men scored on an RBI double by Dante Smith. Smith then scored on Hamilton's single, which caused CU to turn to Brendan Strenke, who escaped with back-to-back flyouts to the warning track in left.

Creighton threatened to retake the lead in the bottom of the eighth inning as North and Deters reached before NDSU closer Danny Lachenmayer coaxed a fly out to strand the go-ahead run.

The Bluejays turned to All-BIG EAST closer Garrett Langrell for the ninth inning. He retired the Bison in order with three straight strikeouts to set the stage. Capace singled to short, and Summit League Defensive Player of the Year Jake Schaffner's throw went to the dugout to advance Capece to second. Duffalo bunted him over the third with a sacrifice, and Jack Torosian then came on to pinch-run at third. Against a drawn-in infield, Hess chopped one over the first baseman's head to drive home the winning run.

Langrell improved to 7-1 with the win while Lachenmayer dropped to 2-4 with the loss.

Six Bluejays finished with multiple hits, including three by Duffalo and two each from Gillen, Sailors, Deters, Capece and Hess. Hess tied a season-best with four RBI.

Hamilton paced NDSU with a 4-for-5 day that included five RBI, while Smith finished 3-for-5 with four RBI and scored three times.