Creighton Downs KU In NCAA Tournament Opening Game

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- A seven-run sixth inning featuring three run-scoring doubles helped Creighton Baseball knock off No. 25 Kansas, 11-4, to open NCAA Tournament action in the Fayetteville Regional on Friday night.

The victory advances the Bluejays (42-14) to Saturday night's 8 p.m. winner's bracket game against sixth-ranked and third-seeded Arkansas that will air on ESPN+. The Razorbacks defeated North Dakota State, 6-2, in the first game of the Regional.

Nolan Sailors (3-4, 2B, 3B, HR, 2 BB, 4 RBI) finished a single shy of the cycle in his 200th career start, while Tate Gillen (3-5, 2 RBI) and Will MacLean (2-5, HR, 2B, 2 RBI) also had big nights offensively.

After Dominic Cancellieri needed just 11 pitches to retire the Jayhawk line-up in order in the first inning, Creighton took an early 1-0 lead on a powerful swing by MacLean. The senior first baseman launched his team-leading ninth homer of the season well over the JB and Johnelle Hunt Family Baseball Development Center in right field in a tape-measure shot that registered at 455 feet and give CU an early 1-0 lead.

Kansas countered in the home half of the second, taking advantage of a two-out walk to Michael Brooks before Tommy Barth belted his sixth homer of the year to give KU a 2-1 lead.

The Jays responded with a multi-run inning in the top of the third to reclaim the lead, 3-2. After Barth robbed Kyle Hess of a homer to open the inning, Dakota Duffalo walked and moved to third after an infield single by Gillen and a single to left by Matt Scherrman. A four-pitch walk to Sailors plated Duffalo and tied the game, and Gillen came home on a fielder's choice hit to third off the bat of Ben North.

Kansas tied the game on the the first pitch of the bottom of the fourth inning as Derek Cerda hit his 10th homer of the season over the bullpen in left. Cancellieri's night ended after four innings as the sixth-year senior was lifted after allowing four hits and two walks but throwing 76 pitches. Cancellieri had five strikeouts in his outing.

Four of Creighton's first five batters in the sixth inning reached, which sent KU ace Dominic Voegele to the showers. Teddy Deters walked on four pitches and was bunted into scoring position by Kyle Hess. Duffalo singled to right and slid into second on a throw home, and both men scored on Gillen's third single of the game to make it 5-3. Matt Scherrman singled to force KU to the bullpen for Manning West, and Sailors greeted the reliever with a two-run double to right-center. After North reached via an error, Capece drove home Sailors with a sac fly. MacLean then roped a two-run double into the right-field corner and Deters followed with a double of his own to make it 10-3 and chase West. On came former Bluejay Malakai Vetock, who plunked Hess before retiring Duffalo to end CU's seven-run inning.

Sailors added to his big night with a homer in the top of the seventh as he moved a single shy of the cycle.

Koosman (9-4) gave the Creighton bullpen exactly what it needed, needing just 42 pitches to throw four frames and pick up his team-leading ninth win of the season. Jimmy Burke closed out the ninth inning to send CU into the winner's bracket.

Kansas hit three homers in the game, upping its program-record season total to 103, but that accounted for all four of the Jayhawk runs.

Kansas (43-16) and North Dakota State (20-33) will square off in a 2 p.m. elimination game on Saturday.