Grasley ignores rocky Haymarket history, earns save in Creighton win

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BY CURT McKEEVER

So much for baseball superstition.

Looking to end a six-game losing streak to Nebraska, Creighton called on Steve Grasley to close out Tuesday's game at Haymarket Park. Yes, the same Steve Grasley who twice before allowed game-winning hits at the Huskers' home.

But Tuesday, before an overflow crowd of 5,745, the right-handed senior, now the Bluejays' Friday starter, slayed those demons by pitching a scoreless ninth inning in Creighton's 6-4 victory.

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Shortstop Joe SimoKaitis (2) ducks under the throw of second baseman Jake Mullinax (5) as Matt Daeges (4) is forced out but breaks up the double play in the sixth-inning.

Shortstop Joe SimoKaitis (2) ducks under the throw of second baseman Jake Mullinax (5) as Matt Daeges (4) is forced out but breaks up the double play in the sixth-inning.

"This is my senior year, I had nothing to lose," said Grasley, who with his first relief appearance of the year increased his school-record saves total to 24. "This is the last chance I'll have to pitch here."

Two years ago, just as a driving rainstorm hit, Grasley gave up a single to Joe Simokaitis that gave NU a 6-5 victory. Last year, John Grose singled in the decisive run in an 8-7 Husker win.

On Tuesday, Grasley gave up a one-out single to Alex Gordon, but then got NU's hottest hitter, Curtis Ledbetter, to bounce to shortstop Brad Dutton to start a game-ending double play.

"Steve's had a couple of tough games here," Creighton coach Ed Servais said. "He wanted (another) chance. We need him on Fridays, but we said, 'Hey, if it's one inning, we're going to go for it.' He's a true competitor."

Nebraska coach Mike Anderson, whom Grasley charged with being confrontational as he left the field following the 2002 game, agreed.

"I appreciate it," Anderson said of Grasley's performance. "That last inning, great job. Great save."

It left the Huskers with their fifth loss in seven games and dropped them to 26-10 on the season. The Bluejays, whose last win at Nebraska came in 2001 in a game Grasley started, have won five of their last six and are now 20-14.

Creighton, leading 5-4 after six innings, tacked on an insurance run in the seventh thanks to a fluke single. With runners at first and second and two outs, Dave Schultz hit a routine grounder down the first-base line. The ball, however, caught the lip of the grass infield and took a wild hop over Beau Sullivan that allowed Dutton to score.

Nebraska, which used a season-high seven pitchers while trying to contain the Bluejays, had closed to a run in its half of the sixth.

Pinch hitter Braden Keith drew a walk from Scott Reese and advanced to third on Jesse Boyer's single. Creighton called on Brandon Bird, who struck out Joe Simokaitis. Curtis Shockey followed with an RBI double that fell in only because center fielder Matt Daeges slipped. But Bird escaped further trouble by striking out Daniel Bruce, and after intentionally walking Alex Gordon, getting Curtis Ledbetter on a grounder to third.

Creighton had taken the lead for good by scoring twice in the top of the inning.

With one out, Tim Schoeninger hit Matt Hammer with a pitch, then gave up a double to Dan Norquist. Nebraska then went to left-handed freshman Jon Klausing, who threw a wild pitch that allowed Hammer to score.

Former Husker Matt Daeges followed by laying down a bunt in front of Klausing, who threw home too late to get Norquist.

Creighton had scored lone runs in the second, third and fourth innings to grab a 3-1 advantage.

After Nebraska got an RBI single from Gordon in the first, Zach Daeges tied the game by blasting the first pitch he saw from Brad Furnish completely out of the park beyond right field.

The Bluejays' run in the third came on a two-out passed ball by Chad Steele that allowed Dutton, who had doubled, to score. Schultz led off Creighton's fourth by homering off Schoeninger.

Nebraska tied the game in the fifth when Ledbetter hit a 2-2 pitch from Reese off the center-field wall for a two-run double. Shockey had started the inning with a walk, and after Bruce moved him up with a sacrifice, the Bluejays gave Gordon his first intentional walk.

"They played very well," Ledbetter said. "We didn't take advantage of some opportunities and they did."

Nebraska now heads to top-ranked Texas for a three-game weekend series against the Longhorns.

Reach Curt McKeever at 473-7441 or cmckeever@;journalstar.com.