FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — In a thrilling game at the Fayetteville Regional, Kyle Hess emerged as the hero for Creighton by delivering a crucial walk-off single to secure an 11-10 victory against North Dakota State on Sunday. This victory propelled Creighton into the championship round of the regional tournament, where they face a challenging matchup against Arkansas.
The Bluejays are under pressure, needing to defeat the regional host Razorbacks twice—once on Sunday night and then again on Monday—in order to claim the regional title and advance to the super regionals scheduled for next weekend. Meanwhile, Arkansas requires just one more win to secure their place in the next round.
Hess had an outstanding performance, contributing a significant three-run home run during a five-run third inning for Creighton. This offensive explosion gave the Bluejays an early 8-3 lead before North Dakota State mounted a comeback, driven by impressive performances from Dante Smith and Davis Hamilton.
The inning’s momentum started with a two-run single by Dakota Duffalo, paving the way for Creighton’s big scoring burst in the third. The Bluejays extended their lead with additional solo home runs from Nolan Sailors and Teddy Deters in the fourth inning. However, Creighton was unable to score further runs until the dramatic ninth inning.
North Dakota State launched a spirited rally, starting in the top of the sixth. Smith contributed with an RBI single, while Hamilton followed with a crucial three-run home run. The eighth inning saw Smith hitting a double to right field, driving in two runs, with Hamilton subsequently tying the game with a timely single.
Relief pitcher Garrett Langrell was instrumental in securing the win for Creighton, as he struck out the side in the ninth inning, improving his record to 7-1 for the season. Unfortunately for North Dakota State, pitcher Danny Lachenmayer, with a current record of 2-4, allowed the decisive walk-off hit by Hess.
Home Hess stars in Creighton's 11-10 win over NDSU