Creighton loses; season over

The Arkansas Razorbacks eliminated 20th-ranked Creighton with a 6-0 victory in Fayetteville on Sunday afternoon. Second-seeded Creighton ended its season with a 45-16 record, capping a impressive season that saw the team win its first MVC Tournament in school history. Oklahoma State went on to defeat Arkansas in the night game to earn its way to a Super Regional.

Creighton, playing in front of a raucous Arkansas crowd, kept the game close until the 7th inning, when ambidextrous reliever Pat Venditte took to the mound. The first batter he faced hit a long home run beyond the right-field bullpen. One out later, Omaha native Jake Dugger lofted a high fly ball to left that was dropped by Andrew Small, enabling Dugger to cruise all the way to third. Dugger then scored on a perfectly-executed suicide squeeze bunt.
Making his first start since being named Third-Team All-American by Collegiate Baseball, Ben Mancuso threw well despite taking the loss (10-3). He threw six innings and gave up five hits, two runs, one walk and struck out six in 80 pitches.
Creighton had just two hits against the Razorbacks' starting pitcher; a one-out blooper down the right-field line in the second inning, and a punched single through the left-side to open the sixth inning. The Bluejays also managed two base hits against the Arkansas closer in the final two innings.
Incredibly, Creighton managed just two ground balls in the entire game, both of which were bunt attempts. CU also had 15 fly outs and five strikeouts.