Baseball Welcomes BYU to the CU Sports Complex Monday and Tuesday
3/20/2011 4:18:00 PM | Baseball
Creighton (15-4, 0-0)
vs. BYU (9-9, 1-2) • March 21 @ 3:00 p.m. • March 22 @ 1:00 p.m.
CU Sports Complex
vs. BYU (9-9, 1-2) • March 21 @ 3:00 p.m. • March 22 @ 1:00 p.m.
CU Sports Complex
ERA W-L App GS SV IP H R ER BB SO
Creighton
Greg Hellhake, LHP 4.12 2-1 5 5 0 19.2 16 9 9 10 12
Brandon Koenigstein, RHP 7.11 0-0 5 3 0 12.2 19 14 10 4 8
BYU
Mark Anderson, LHP 4.95 1-2 4 4 0 20.0 20 11 11 11 8
Desmond Paulson, RHP 9.26 1-0 5 2 0 11.2 14 14 12 8 7
Creighton
Greg Hellhake, LHP 4.12 2-1 5 5 0 19.2 16 9 9 10 12
Brandon Koenigstein, RHP 7.11 0-0 5 3 0 12.2 19 14 10 4 8
BYU
Mark Anderson, LHP 4.95 1-2 4 4 0 20.0 20 11 11 11 8
Desmond Paulson, RHP 9.26 1-0 5 2 0 11.2 14 14 12 8 7
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Last Time Out
The Jays continued play on the road improving their road record to 10-3 with wins over Valparaiso and SIU Edwardsville in Edwardsville, Ill. Creighton made quick work of their opponents, winning the first game in an hour and 25 minutes and playing a 10 inning game in just over two hours.
Creighton 1, Valparaiso 0 - Creighton rode the hot hand of pitcher Jonas Dufek in the first game, as he threw a complete game, two hitter and struck out a career high 13 batters. The Jays scored a single run, which proved to be all they needed in the 85 minute game, which is close, if not a record in the NCAA baseball history books. Creighton scored in top of the fifth when Trever Adams picked up creighton's second hit of the day, a double down the left field line. He moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Alex Staehely and then was driven home on a sacrifice fly by Nick Judkins to score the only run of the game.
Creighton 4, SIU Edwardsville - The Jays jumped on the board quick, but then were held scoreless until the extra frame in a 4-3 win in 10 innings. With one out in the third, Mike Gerber doubled to the left field fench. Michael Mutcheson was then hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. Nick Judkins grounded out to move the two runners up a base each followed by a Jimmy Swift infield single to score Gerber. The Jays added two more when Trever Adams knocked a 1-2 count double to the left field fence, driving in both Mutcheson and Swift. The Creighton pitching staff looked like they would hold off the SIUE comeback, but the Cougars put together a two out rally off Reese McGraw to pull the game even at 3-3 in the ninth. Creighton won the game in the top of the 10th, bringing to bat the top of the order. Mutcheson reached on a throwing error by the second baseman and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Judkins. After a Swift pop up, Adams singled to right field and scored Mutcheson from second to win the game.
Scouting Creighton
The Jays have started off the 2011 season with one of the best starts in Bluejay history, certainly the best under Ed Servais, rolling to a 15-4 start, highlighted by a four game sweep over New Mexico (2010 NCAA Tournament participant). The most recent start that was better was in 1999, when the team went 15-1 to open the season, including a 12 game win streak. Creighton was picked to finish fifth in the MVC this season, returning 20 players and just four starters from the team that went 27-25 last season. Creighton is being led offensively early this season by Trever Adams, Alex Staehely and Michael Mutcheson. Staehely has exploded in the early games, with a triple and game winning RBI in the 4-3 win over Kansas and a triple and three doubles over the weekend. Staehely is still swinging a hot bat, third on the team with a .338 batting average and a hit in 15 of the 19 games. Adams has improved his batting average almost .300 points after a slow start. He leads the team in batting average (.351), home runs (3) and triples (3). Mutcheson leads the team in on bast percentage, with a .455 and has been hit by pitch six different times. Overall, the team is hitting .281 with 108 runs on 178 hits and 35 doubles. The Jays have had solid pitching performances on the mound already this season. Jonas Dufek and Greg Hellhake have already set career strikeout records, with 13 and six, respectively while Ty Blach fanned a career high of eight against South Dakota State University (3/11/11). Jack VanLeur has been solid as a middle reliever, holding opponents to just a .105 average against him, giving up just one earned run on the season in 13.2 innings pitched. The pitching staff has a combined 3.09 ERA and is holding opponents to a .235 batting average against.
The Jays continued play on the road improving their road record to 10-3 with wins over Valparaiso and SIU Edwardsville in Edwardsville, Ill. Creighton made quick work of their opponents, winning the first game in an hour and 25 minutes and playing a 10 inning game in just over two hours.
Creighton 1, Valparaiso 0 - Creighton rode the hot hand of pitcher Jonas Dufek in the first game, as he threw a complete game, two hitter and struck out a career high 13 batters. The Jays scored a single run, which proved to be all they needed in the 85 minute game, which is close, if not a record in the NCAA baseball history books. Creighton scored in top of the fifth when Trever Adams picked up creighton's second hit of the day, a double down the left field line. He moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Alex Staehely and then was driven home on a sacrifice fly by Nick Judkins to score the only run of the game.
Creighton 4, SIU Edwardsville - The Jays jumped on the board quick, but then were held scoreless until the extra frame in a 4-3 win in 10 innings. With one out in the third, Mike Gerber doubled to the left field fench. Michael Mutcheson was then hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. Nick Judkins grounded out to move the two runners up a base each followed by a Jimmy Swift infield single to score Gerber. The Jays added two more when Trever Adams knocked a 1-2 count double to the left field fence, driving in both Mutcheson and Swift. The Creighton pitching staff looked like they would hold off the SIUE comeback, but the Cougars put together a two out rally off Reese McGraw to pull the game even at 3-3 in the ninth. Creighton won the game in the top of the 10th, bringing to bat the top of the order. Mutcheson reached on a throwing error by the second baseman and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Judkins. After a Swift pop up, Adams singled to right field and scored Mutcheson from second to win the game.
Scouting Creighton
The Jays have started off the 2011 season with one of the best starts in Bluejay history, certainly the best under Ed Servais, rolling to a 15-4 start, highlighted by a four game sweep over New Mexico (2010 NCAA Tournament participant). The most recent start that was better was in 1999, when the team went 15-1 to open the season, including a 12 game win streak. Creighton was picked to finish fifth in the MVC this season, returning 20 players and just four starters from the team that went 27-25 last season. Creighton is being led offensively early this season by Trever Adams, Alex Staehely and Michael Mutcheson. Staehely has exploded in the early games, with a triple and game winning RBI in the 4-3 win over Kansas and a triple and three doubles over the weekend. Staehely is still swinging a hot bat, third on the team with a .338 batting average and a hit in 15 of the 19 games. Adams has improved his batting average almost .300 points after a slow start. He leads the team in batting average (.351), home runs (3) and triples (3). Mutcheson leads the team in on bast percentage, with a .455 and has been hit by pitch six different times. Overall, the team is hitting .281 with 108 runs on 178 hits and 35 doubles. The Jays have had solid pitching performances on the mound already this season. Jonas Dufek and Greg Hellhake have already set career strikeout records, with 13 and six, respectively while Ty Blach fanned a career high of eight against South Dakota State University (3/11/11). Jack VanLeur has been solid as a middle reliever, holding opponents to just a .105 average against him, giving up just one earned run on the season in 13.2 innings pitched. The pitching staff has a combined 3.09 ERA and is holding opponents to a .235 batting average against.
Scouting the Cougars
BYU is off to a .500 start after finishing last season 27-31 and fourth in the MWC. The team was picked to finish second in the conference this season, just behind five-time defending champion TCU. The Cougars are led on the early season by Ryan Bernal and Andrew Law (son of head coach Vance Law) with a .403 and .342 batting average, respectively. The team has an overall .281 batting average and a .288 on base percentage. BYU does hit the long ball, as they have 11 home runs this season, led by Bernal with three. On the mound, Taylor Cole and Kolton Mahoney are the only two with two wins this season, both 2-1. The team boasts a 4.61 ERA and opponents are hitting .277 against them this season.
Last Time Out
BYU and Utah met up in the Deseret First Duel, where they Utes and Cougars get points for wins in various sports. The Utes took two of three from the Cougars, including the rubber match on Saturday. Utah capitalized on BYU miscues and took the game 15-6. BYU got solo homers from Andrew Law and Dillon Robinson, but the Cougars committed four errors on the afternoon to give the game away. Meet the Coaches
Ed Servais (Creighton) - Ed Servais enters his eighth season leading the Creighton baseball program in 2011. He currently holds a .637 winning percentage while at the helm of the Jays, which is the second best in school history. Servais needs just 14 wins to move into second in Creighton history in wins by a head coach, as Jack Dahm (283) and Jim Hendry (289) sit in front of him. He has taken the Jays to two NCAA Tournaments and has won the MVS Coach of the Year award three times in his seven seasons.
Servais' teams pride themselves on defense, as they again ranked among the top teams in the Nation in defensive fielding percentage last season, boasting a .980 percentage as a team, good for second in the nation. Servais has coached three Gold Gloves in his time at Creighton.
Servais started his coaching career as an assistant at St. Mary's and then was the first head coach at Viterbo, starting up the program and leading them to a 23-6 record in the first year. He then moved back to St. Mary's as the head coach, went to Iowa State as an assistant and landed at Creighton as an assistant from 1998-2003 before being named head coach in 2004. Servais is assisted by Rob Smith, Craig Moore and Brandon Tormoehlen.
Vance Law (BYU) - Coach Law is in his 12th year at the helm of the baseball program and has a career record of 344-294-2. The team finished 4th in the MWC last season and he guided BYU to win a second consecutive MWC Tournament champion San Diego State in 2002. Law was named the MWC Coach of the Year in 2001 when the team also won the MWC. He played 14 years in professional baseball, including 10 on th emajor league level. He played in the Pirates, White Sox, Expos, Cubs and Athletics organizations during his career. Law is assisted by Ryan Roberts, Bobby Applegate and Casey Nelson.
Jays vs. The Mountain West
While CU and BYU haven't met before in their school's histories, the Jays have matched up against the Mountain West 58 times, with the MWC holding a 30-28 edge. Creighton drew the series closer with a four game sweep at New Mexico earlier this season, and a split last week with Air Force (a 2-1 loss and an 11-9 win). Last season Creighton went 0-2 against the MWC, as they were swept by the Air Force Falcons.
The Series
Creighton vs. BYU - The games on Monday and Tuesday are the first meetings between the two teams in baseball in school history. The two teams met on the basketball court earlier this season, with BYU winning 77-65. The Jays do have the distinction of holding Jimmer Fredette to a season low 13 points in the early season, non-conference game.
Dufek's Dominance
Creighton's senior pitcher Jonas Dufek turned in another stellar performance in Saturday's win over Valparaiso. After improving his career strikeout numbers from nine to 11 in the Canisius game (Feb. 19), Dufek struck out 13 Crusader batters while giving up just one hit in the game. He pitched Creighton's first complete game of the season, and first since last year.
Roles Reversed
Creighton hit into three ground ball double plays in the games on Saturday, the most in a single day all season. The Jays have been doubled up 18 times this season. A perennial power in the double play category, the Jays have turned an equal 18 this season. Creighton's defense remains one of the top in the country, with a .977 fielding percentage, committing just 17 errors in it's 19 games.
Soft Hands
Creighton first baseman Nick Judkins has a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage, with a team and MVC leading 195 chances with 181 put outs and 14 attempts. A Gold Glove winner at Iowa Central Community College, the right handed Judkins has been a part of 17 double plays and can field his spot, as he has played other positions on the infield through his career.
Speed Demons
The Jays defeated Valparaiso in one hour and 25 minutes on Saturday. The 85 minute game is one of the fastest nine-inning game in the history of baseball, professional included. There was an MLB game recorded as finishing in 89 minutes, but there is no record of a faster nine-inning NCAA game. Jonas Dufek pitched the complete game, two hitter for the Jays, striking out 13 in the 1-0 win.
No Free Tickets
Creighton has been pretty good at taking advantage of the opponents erratic pitching. The team has racked up 57 walks and 28 hit by pitch, led in walks by five different players with six, and Michael Mutcheson in hit by pitch, with six also. In the first game on Saturday, however, the Jays did not reach base once on a free-pass, the first time this season that has happened to the Jays.
It's A First
Monday games are not very common for the Jays this season, while Tuesday games are just as sparse. Thus far on the season, the Jays are 1-1 when playing on Monday's and Tuesday's, winning their only Tuesday game (at Kansas on Feb. 22) and falling at Arkansas State during Spring Break trip on Monday, March 7.
Valley's Best
Bluejay senior right fielder Trever Adams has been named the MVC Player of the Week, after his play from March 7-13. The Lincoln, Neb., native hit two home runs, two triples and knocked in five RBI over the week, improving his batting average 100 points. He is also on a 10 game hit streak, the longest by a Bluejay this season.
Smarty Pants
Ty Blach, a sophomore southpaw from Centennial, Colo., has been named the Prairie Farms MVC Scholar Athlete of the Week, named on Wednesday, March 16. The pitcher struck out a career high eight batters in the 6-0 win over South Dakota State on March 12. Blach has a 3.812 gpa in business
2-2-2
Creighton's Michael Blatchford has had a good streak in his first at-bat of the season. Last year, as a freshman in his first ever collegiate at-bat, Blatchford knocked in his first homerun of his career. In the game at Air Force on March 16, Blatchford's first at-bat of the 2011 season resulted in the same way, a homerun over the left center field fence. Two season opening at bat homeruns in back to back seasons, not too shabby.
Touch 'em All
For the first time this season, the Jays had multiple homeruns in a single game in the 11-9 win at Air Force on Wednesday. After Michael Blatchford knocked a ball over the fence in the fourth, Chance Ross unleashed on a ball that went over the 400 foot deep, 30 foot high center field hitter's eye at Air Force.
Small Ball
With the first set of NCAA statistics to be released next week, the Jays are sure to be in the top of the lists in sacrifices thus far this season. The Jays have 23 sacrifices on the season and nine sacrifice fly's. Leading the way is Nick Judkins. The junior college transfer, who usually hits in the number two position, has six sacrifices on the season and one sacrifice fly. With the change of the bat, many teams will turn to the bunt, although anyone familiar with Creighton baseball knows Ed Servais has always been a fan of getting a runner on and moving them over.
D-D-D, D-Fence
The Jays are again on the top of the lists in fielding percentage in the conference. OVerall, Creighton has a .976 fielding percentage (as of March 17, 2011), committing just 16 errors (.941 per game).
Another, and Another, and Another
Creighton put up 13 runs in the win on Sunday, the highest single game output this season. In the three game series, Creighton outscored SDSU 25-3. The Sunday game was also a season high in hits (16) and total bases (20).
Multiplication
Creighton senior Trever Adams has put together a 10 game it streak, the longest of any Bluejay this season. Possibly even more impressive - the right fielder has had multiple hits in six games during that stretch, incuuding a three hit outing on March 12 and a two hit game on March 13, both against South Dakota State.
Back on the Horse
After putting together an eight game hit streak earlier in the season, sophomore Alex Staehely has been held hitless in two of the last five games. But the second baseman has continued to be aggressive at the plate. He knocked in a career high five RBI in the 13-0 win against SDSU on March 13, driving two doubles and a single from the dish and not committing an error on defense.
Taking a Chance
Chance Ross transfered into Creighton from Cowley College, not sure where he would fit in. After spending some time at shortstop in the fall, the junior has earned a starting spot at third base this season, and has fully taken advantage of the opportunity. In the three games this weekend, the third baseman had seven hits, scoring four runs and driving in two.
Fresh Faces
The Jays were able to get a couple players in on Sunday that haven't seen much playing time this season. Included in that mix were seniors Vince Bellino and Clay Cuno. Bellino scored his first run as a Bluejay, picking up a walk. He also mmade his first defensive play, tossing out a runner on a ground ball late in the game. Cuno went one for two from the dish in his first appearance this season, after being the designated hitter for much of last season.
Tossing Your Cookies
Head coach Ed Servais and Bluejay assistant Brandon Tormoehlen each got thrown out of the ball game on Monday, March 7 at Arkansas State. After a called strike three, the two voiced their feelings on the call, resulting in an ejection from home plate umpire Steve Dew. The last time Coach Servais was thrown out of a game was at Evansville on April 4, 2009.
Going Yard
Bluejay senior Trever Adams had another good series in Arkansas. The right fielder went six-for-twelve in the three games at Arkansas State,with two home runs (one to straight away center in the 6-0 win and the other off the scoreboard in right field in the 6-8 loss). He also added a triple and beat out a drag bunt for an infield hit. Adams finished the Central Arkansas game with two RBI in the game on a sacrifice fly and double down the left field line.
Get Your Motor Running
Bluejay senior Trever Adams had a rough start to the season, going .095 through the first five games of the season with just two hits. Adams has started his offensive power in the last three games, improving his average to .314 by getting seven hits in the final three games of the New Mexico weekend's games, including two doubles and a triple and scoring three runs. Adams also finished the Arkansas trip going seven for 14, with two homeruns. The Preseason MVC All-Valley pick finished last season with a .356 batting average while starting all 52 games.
Opening Shut-Outs
There have only been three opening day shutouts in Bluejay history, one of which happened last season. Jonas Dufek (5.0 IP), Jack VanLeur (2.0 IP), Mark Winkelman (1.0 IP) and Kurt Spomer (1.0 IP) each had a part in last season's 22-0 opening win over SIU Edwardsville. The other two shutouts have come in 1984, a 12-0 win over Xavier and in 1970, a 3-0 win over MVC foe Wichita State.
Opening Day History
The Jays are looking to move one step closer to evening the opening day record to .500. In the 42 recorded openers, Creighton is 20-22, including the 22-0 victory over SIU Evansville last season. The Jays are 19-13 in neutral site openers but just 12-24 in the season-opening road contests. Creighton has won four of the seven season openers under Ed Servais. Below is a list of those games:
Date Opponent Score Location
2/20/10 SIU Edwardsville W, 22-0 Conway, Ark.
2/20/09 Sam Houston St. L, 8-6 Huntsville, Texas
2/22/08 Washington St. W, 8-4 Pullman, Wash.
2/9/07 Gardner-Webb W, 4-3 Rock Hill, S.C.
2/11/06 Ark.-Little Rock L, 11-12 Little Rock, Ark.
2/11/05 Sam Houston St. W, 9-6 Huntsville, Texas
2/14/04 Southern Utah L, 10-5 Colorado Springs, Colo.
A New Start
The Jays are ready to kick off the 2011 campaign for a fresh start. Creighton finished the 2010 season 27-25 and went 1-2 in the MVC Tournament. The Jays kick off the 2011 season at the USA National Training Center in Cary, N.C. with games against Toledo (11 a.m. on Feb. 19) and Canisius (3 p.m. on Feb 19 and 11 a.m. on Feb. 20.)
Swift Stick
Bluejay senior Jimmy Swift has had great success in the two season openers he has played in, going a combined 5-of-9. In the opener a year ago, a 22-0 win over SIU Edwardsville, Swift went 4-for-6 from the plate, with three runs scored and four RBI. In Swift's sophomore debut, an 8-6 loss to Sam Houston State, Swift went 1-for-3 from the plate.
I'll Bet on a Nine
Creighton has had multiples of nine hits in its last three season openers. In 2010, Creighton had 18 hits, scoring 22 runs in a 22-0 shut out of SIU Edwardsville. In the 2009 opener against Sam Houston State, the Jays finished with nine hits and six runs in an 8-6 loss. The 2008 opener proved the same, with the Jays scratching out nine hits and eight runs in an 8-4 win over Washington State.
Everyone in on the Fun
In last year's season opener, eight of the nine starters got at least one hit, with freshman Alex Staehely being the only Jay not to get a hit. Creighton knocked out 18 hits, second most on the season, en route to a 22-0 win over SIU Edwardsville.
Get 'em Some Fresh Air
The Jays have taken advantage of the unseasonably warm temperatures the past week to get outside and practice on the turf. Head Coach Ed Servais has remarked this is the nicest since his first year with the Jays, when they opened with Iowa State, Servais' former school. With snow still down the foul lines and in patches in the outfield, the field looked like a scene from a movie - maybe the beginning of the feel good story of the year.
Iron Men
Five Bluejays played and started in all 52 games last season, including returners Trever Adams, Jimmy Swift and Alex Staehely. Joining those three were T.J. Roemmich and Ian Dike, both lost to graduation. Swift has started every game the last two seasons, 108 straight, and has played in 122 games over his career.
He'll Rob Ya
Senior Jimmy Swift led the team in stolen bases last season, going 10-of-13 on the season. Swift has 14 stolen bases in his Bluejay career. Creighton, as a team, stole 44 bases last season and was caught stealing 22 times.
No Free Tickets
Under pitching coach Rob Smith the Jays have had one of the top pitching staffs in the MVC. Last season marked the fourth straight season in which the Jays ranked in the top-25 nationally for fewest walks per nine innings. Over that same period, the Jays have combined for a 4.14 ERA which ranks 19th overall in the country.
Give Him the Ball
Last year, southpaw Ty Blach was named a Freshman All-American, the fifth selection during Rob Smith's four years. Blach finished the 2010 season with a 3.11 ERA, with one complete game in 75.1 innings pitched. Blach was second on the team in strikeouts (58) and held opponents to a .231 batting average. He will be one of the series starting pitchers for the Jays this season.
Overall 15-4
Non-Conference 15-4
MVC 0-0
MVC Tournament 0-0
vs. Ranked Teams 0-0
vs. Unranked Teams 15-4
Home 3-0
Away 10-3
Neutral 2-1
Day 15-4
Night 0-0
vs. Left 3-1
vs. Right 12-3
Friday 2-0
Saturday 7-0
Sunday 4-1
Monday 0-1 Tuesday 1-0 Wednesday 1-1
Thursday 0-0
1-Run Games 6-2
2-Run Games 1-1
5+ Run Games 3-0
In Extra Innings 3-0
Shutouts 4-0
Game 1 of MVC Series 0-0
Game 2 of MVC Series 0-0
Game 3 of MVC Series 0-0
Scoring First 9-3
When opponenet scores first 6-1
After 6 leading 11-1
After 6 trailing 2-2
After 6 tied 2-1
After 7 leading 11-0
After 7 trailing 1-3
After 7 tied 2-1
After 8 leading 12-0
After 8 trailing 0-3
After 8 tied 2-1
Last at-bat wins 0-0
Last at-bat losses 0-1
When hitting a homerun 5-1
When not hitting a homerun 10-3
When allowing a homerun 2-1
When not allowing a homerun 13-3
February 7-1
March 8-3
April 0-0
May 0-0
June 0-0
Players Mentioned
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LHP
/ Baseball2013 Creighton Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee Dan Smith
Friday, October 30
Jim Hendry & Alan Benes (4/11/11)
Friday, October 30
CREIGHTON BASEBALL
Thursday, October 15
Ambidextrous Pitcher
Thursday, October 15
