Abeita homer starts Huskers’ rout of Bluejays

The Associated Press

OMAHA - Mitch Abeita hit a three-run homer in the first inning and finished with four RBIs, and Erik Bird and Casey Hauptman combined on a four-hitter in Nebraska’s 8-1 victory over Creighton on Tuesday night at Rosenblatt Stadium.

The Cornhuskers (39-9-1) swept the three-game season series over the Bluejays (33-18).

Nebraska collected 14 hits against five pitchers. Jake Opitz and Tyler Farst had three hits apiece.

Bird (5-1) worked the first five innings and held the Bluejays to three hits and one run. He walked four and struck out three.

Hauptman pitched four innings, allowing one hit and no runs and striking out six.

Greg Hellhake (3-1) took the loss, allowing six hits and five runs in 4 1-3 innings.

Hellhake struck out Bryce Nimmo to open the game, but Jake Mort followed with a single and Opitz with a double before Abeita sent a 1-2 pitch over the right-field wall for his eighth homer of the season.

Opitz and Farst had RBI singles and Abeita a sacrifice fly in the fifth as Nebraska opened a 6-1 lead.

Nebraska is 21-0-1 when recording at least 10 hits and 31-0 when out-hitting the opponent.

The Huskers also beat the Bluejays 4-3 in Lincoln on April 22 and 16-7 at Rosenblatt on April 23.