Creighton opened conference play with a 6-1 win at Evansville Friday night.

The Jays (11-4) got off to a quick start with two runs in the top of the first. Federico Castagnini laced a one-out single and with two down Mike Gerber was hit by a pitch. Alex Staehely took advantage of the opportunity with an RBI single. Walks to Reagan Fowler and Brennan Murphy extended Creighton's lead to 2-0.

Evansville got a run back in the bottom of the first, but that was all freshman Tommy Strunc (4-0) would surrender.

The Jays tacked on two more runs in the fourth on RBI singles from Jake Peter and Staehely. Kevin Lamb led off with a single and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Brad McKewon. Lamb scored on Peter's single. After a walk to Gerber, Staehely brought Peter home with a single to left.

Creighton added some insurance in the ninth as Lamb plated Fowler and Murphy with a two-out, two-run single.

Strunc allowed the one run on six hits in six innings. He walked one and struck out seven. Relievers Nick Highberger, Mark Winkelman and Peter kept the Purple Aces (7-12) off the board over the final three frames.

Evansville's Kyle Freeland (2-4) took the loss, surrendering four runs on 11 hits in 6.2 innings.