CINCINNATI (Interstat) — Teddy Deters hit a tie-breaking two-run home run in the top of the ninth inning, lifting Creighton to a 5-2 victory over Xavier in a Big East Conference game Thursday afternoon at Marge Schott Stadium.

The Bluejays (29-22) overcame a 9-7 deficit in hits by relying on stingy pitching that struck out 13 Musketeers and held Xavier to two earned runs. Starter Jack Pineau set the tone, working through 4 1/3 innings without allowing a hit, striking out six and walking two. He departed after surrendering an unearned run, but five Creighton relievers combined for 4 2/3 innings of one-run ball.

Xavier (25-28) countered with a strong start from Ryan Piech, who struck out seven over five innings while giving up one earned run on two hits. The Musketeers, however, left seven runners on base and had two runners caught stealing.

Creighton struck first in the third inning. Blake Rice walked and advanced to second on a single by Tyler Gump. After a strikeout, Nolan North singled to center field, driving in Rice for a 1-0 lead.

Xavier answered in the fifth. Tanner Thomas doubled down the left-field line and scored on a single to right center by Richard Valdes, tying the game at 1-1. Eli Nissen relieved Pineau and struck out the next two batters to limit the damage.

The Bluejays regained the lead in the seventh. Jimmy Capece walked and Deters singled, advancing Capece to second. A sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position, and Jack Venteicher’s sacrifice fly to right field scored Capece to make it 2-1.

Xavier rallied in the bottom of the seventh. Shea Wendt, who had replaced Nissen, saw Ryan Mensik hit by a pitch and Thomas single to right center. Matt Canterberry grounded out to second base, driving in Mensik to tie the game at 2-2. Wendt then issued an intentional walk and hit a batter to load the bases, but Joe Hauser entered and struck out Ryan Fitz to end the inning.

The game remained deadlocked until the ninth. With one out and pinch runner Will Washburn on third after a sacrifice bunt, Deters homered to left field, scoring Washburn and himself to put Creighton ahead 4-2. The Bluejays added an unearned run when Jack Venteicher singled and eventually scored on a fielding error by Xavier left fielder Ryan Fitz.

Hauser earned the win with 1 1/3 perfect innings, striking out three. Matt Goldenbaum recorded the save with a scoreless ninth, allowing one hit.

Luke Hammond led Xavier with three hits, including a double and two singles. Thomas added two hits and scored a run. For Creighton, Deters finished 2-for-4 with the home run and two RBIs.

The victory snapped a two-game losing streak for Creighton, which had fallen to Nebraska and Georgetown earlier in the week. Xavier had won three straight, including a sweep at Butler.

Pineau’s outing was a bounce-back after a rough start May 1 at St. John’s, where he allowed nine earned runs. He threw 72 pitches Thursday, mixing a fastball and curveball to keep Xavier off balance.

Creighton and Xavier continue the three-game series Friday afternoon, with the finale Saturday.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Xavier 6, Creighton 4. Interstat’s ELO system gave Creighton a 53.70 percent probability to win.