Baseball Welcomes Kansas State in Final Game at CU Sports Complex
4/11/2011 7:04:00 PM | Baseball
Creighton (22-7, 2-1)
vs. Kansas State (18-12, 4-8 Big 12)
April 12 @ 3:00 p.m.
Final Game at CU Sports Complex
vs. Kansas State (18-12, 4-8 Big 12)
April 12 @ 3:00 p.m.
Final Game at CU Sports Complex
ERA W-L App GS SV IP H R ER BB SO
Creighton
Brandon Koenigstein, RHP 10.43 0-1 7 4 0 14.2 28 21 17 7 8
Kansas State
Justin Lindsey, RHP 3.86 3-1 6 5 0 16.1 13 8 7 10 10
Creighton
Brandon Koenigstein, RHP 10.43 0-1 7 4 0 14.2 28 21 17 7 8
Kansas State
Justin Lindsey, RHP 3.86 3-1 6 5 0 16.1 13 8 7 10 10
Live stats will be available at www.gocreighton.com and live radio for the game against the Wildcats will be available through a link on the Creighton website. John Bishop and David Gustafson will have the call on KOIL 1180 AM on Tuesday, with all the action in the final game from the CU Sports Complex.
Last Time Out
The Jays took to the road again to open up the Missouri Valley Conference regular season. Creighton opened with Illinois State, the 2010 defending Regular Season and Tournament Champions.
Illinois State 5, Creighton 4 - The Redbirds took advantage of six Bluejay pitching staff walks and the Creighton offense didn't score after the fourth inning in game one. Creighton got on the board first for the first time in five games when Michael Mutcheson led off the game with a single to right field and then was advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Nick Judkins. Jimmy Swift then popped out to second base. With two outs, Trever Adams blasted out his eighth home run of the season, second in as many games, driving the two run shot over the right field fence. The Jays scored single runs in the second and fourth inning and with Ty Blach mowing through batters it looked like it would be enough. He took the game into the sixth, when the Redbirds caught up to him. Blach finished with 5.1 IP, gave up three earned runs and five hits while striking out six. But the Redbirds took the lead in the seventh and never looked back, scoring two to take the 5-4 advantage.
Creighton 8, Illinois State 2 - The Creighton offense started off the day right, putting up a run in the first and then was given strong pitching performances by both starter Jonas Dufek and reliever Kurt Spomer to give the Jays their first MVC win. The Jays again scored first, putting up one in the top of the first inning. Michael Mutcheson led off the game with a double down the left field line, just ripped past the diving third baseman. Nick Judkins then stood in, looking to put down a sacrifice bunt. He pulled a bunt down the first base line and then beat out the pitcher, safe with an infield hit. With runners on first and third, Jimmy Swift hit into a 4-6-3 double play, scoring Mutcheson from third. Dufek was the big story for the Jays in the early innings. He continued his dominance on the mound this season, sitting down batters and getting himeself out of jams. Dufek struck out eight Redbird batters in the first four innings and allowed just two hits. In the second inning, after striking out the first two batters, Dufek got in a jam with two walks sandwiching a single to load the bases. Dufek struck out Josh Colon to end the inning, as he had done to three other Redbirds to end innings in the first four innings. Spomer came in to close and finish out the game, retiring the eight the Redbirds in order to finish the game. He picks up his second save of the season for the Jays.
Creighton 6, Illinois State 5 - In the rubber match between the battle of the birds, Creighton held off a come back bid by the Redbirds in the bottom of the ninth to pick up the conference win, taking two-of-three games. Creighton's Kurt Spomer picked up his third save today, after earning his second save yesterday. The right hander struck out the final batter of the game for the Redbirds to secure the Bluejay victory. After a shaky first inning, Hellhake settled in on the mound, allowing just one hit in the next three innings. With the help of a defensive 6-4-3 double play, Hellhake and the Jays retired nine straight batters through the fourth inning. Hellhake used the help of his defense through those innings, picking up four ground balls and and four fly outs, while not striking out any batters. After the Jays scored two in the top of the ninth, ISU put three up to make it 6-5. With two outs and a 3-2 count, Spomer threw an inside pitch that Matt Mirabal swung at as he was hit by the pitch. With a heads up play, Bemboom picked up the ball and threw it down to first to secure the final out of the game, and the 6-5 win for the Jays.
Scouting Creighton
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 and Alex Staehely. Adams has improved his batting average almost .300 points after a slow start. He leads the team in batting average (.386), home runs (8), RBI (39) and triples (4). Adams has two game winning hits this season, blasting a two run home run against North Dakota State and a walk-off single up the middle in the 4-3 win over Portland. He also ripped a three run home run against Nebraska on 4/5/11 to pull the game withing 5-3. Staehely is still swinging a hot bat, second on the team with a .347 batting average and a hit in 19 of the 26 games. Staehely leads the team in doubles with 16, which also leads the Valley. Jimmy Swift leads the team in hit by pitch with nine on the season and assists with 7. Overall, the team is hitting .277 with 171 runs on 264 hits and 54 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 and Mark Winkelman have been solid as middle relievers, holding opponents to just a .188 and .227 average against, respectively. VanLeur has given up just nine earned runs on the season in 25.2 innings pitched while Winkelman has allowed just six earned runs in his 23.0 innings of work. The pitching staff has a combined 3.47 ERA and is holding opponents to a .243 batting average against.
The Jays took to the road again to open up the Missouri Valley Conference regular season. Creighton opened with Illinois State, the 2010 defending Regular Season and Tournament Champions.
Illinois State 5, Creighton 4 - The Redbirds took advantage of six Bluejay pitching staff walks and the Creighton offense didn't score after the fourth inning in game one. Creighton got on the board first for the first time in five games when Michael Mutcheson led off the game with a single to right field and then was advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Nick Judkins. Jimmy Swift then popped out to second base. With two outs, Trever Adams blasted out his eighth home run of the season, second in as many games, driving the two run shot over the right field fence. The Jays scored single runs in the second and fourth inning and with Ty Blach mowing through batters it looked like it would be enough. He took the game into the sixth, when the Redbirds caught up to him. Blach finished with 5.1 IP, gave up three earned runs and five hits while striking out six. But the Redbirds took the lead in the seventh and never looked back, scoring two to take the 5-4 advantage.
Creighton 8, Illinois State 2 - The Creighton offense started off the day right, putting up a run in the first and then was given strong pitching performances by both starter Jonas Dufek and reliever Kurt Spomer to give the Jays their first MVC win. The Jays again scored first, putting up one in the top of the first inning. Michael Mutcheson led off the game with a double down the left field line, just ripped past the diving third baseman. Nick Judkins then stood in, looking to put down a sacrifice bunt. He pulled a bunt down the first base line and then beat out the pitcher, safe with an infield hit. With runners on first and third, Jimmy Swift hit into a 4-6-3 double play, scoring Mutcheson from third. Dufek was the big story for the Jays in the early innings. He continued his dominance on the mound this season, sitting down batters and getting himeself out of jams. Dufek struck out eight Redbird batters in the first four innings and allowed just two hits. In the second inning, after striking out the first two batters, Dufek got in a jam with two walks sandwiching a single to load the bases. Dufek struck out Josh Colon to end the inning, as he had done to three other Redbirds to end innings in the first four innings. Spomer came in to close and finish out the game, retiring the eight the Redbirds in order to finish the game. He picks up his second save of the season for the Jays.
Creighton 6, Illinois State 5 - In the rubber match between the battle of the birds, Creighton held off a come back bid by the Redbirds in the bottom of the ninth to pick up the conference win, taking two-of-three games. Creighton's Kurt Spomer picked up his third save today, after earning his second save yesterday. The right hander struck out the final batter of the game for the Redbirds to secure the Bluejay victory. After a shaky first inning, Hellhake settled in on the mound, allowing just one hit in the next three innings. With the help of a defensive 6-4-3 double play, Hellhake and the Jays retired nine straight batters through the fourth inning. Hellhake used the help of his defense through those innings, picking up four ground balls and and four fly outs, while not striking out any batters. After the Jays scored two in the top of the ninth, ISU put three up to make it 6-5. With two outs and a 3-2 count, Spomer threw an inside pitch that Matt Mirabal swung at as he was hit by the pitch. With a heads up play, Bemboom picked up the ball and threw it down to first to secure the final out of the game, and the 6-5 win for the Jays.
Scouting Creighton
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 and Alex Staehely. Adams has improved his batting average almost .300 points after a slow start. He leads the team in batting average (.386), home runs (8), RBI (39) and triples (4). Adams has two game winning hits this season, blasting a two run home run against North Dakota State and a walk-off single up the middle in the 4-3 win over Portland. He also ripped a three run home run against Nebraska on 4/5/11 to pull the game withing 5-3. Staehely is still swinging a hot bat, second on the team with a .347 batting average and a hit in 19 of the 26 games. Staehely leads the team in doubles with 16, which also leads the Valley. Jimmy Swift leads the team in hit by pitch with nine on the season and assists with 7. Overall, the team is hitting .277 with 171 runs on 264 hits and 54 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 and Mark Winkelman have been solid as middle relievers, holding opponents to just a .188 and .227 average against, respectively. VanLeur has given up just nine earned runs on the season in 25.2 innings pitched while Winkelman has allowed just six earned runs in his 23.0 innings of work. The pitching staff has a combined 3.47 ERA and is holding opponents to a .243 batting average against.
Scouting the Wildcats
The Wildcats are coming off a series win at home over No. 7 Oklahoma last weekend, winning the Friday and Sunday games.
Offensively...
As a club, the Wildcats are hitting .265 led by Nick Martini with a .337 average and Jared King with a .301. Jason King leads the team with six home runs and 27 RBI on the season. Three Wildcats have 10 or more steals, with Martini leading the way with 12 and Jake Brown and Tanner Witt swiping 10 each.
On the Mound...
Kyle Hunter and Matt Applegate each hold 3-2 records in eight starts each, with a 2.61 and 3.99 ERA, respectively. The staff holds a 3.78 ERA, holding opponents to a .344 batting average against. Reliever James Allen holds a 0.83 ERA in 14 appearances, earning nine of the team's 10 saves this year.
Getting Dirty...
Defensively KSU has a .970 fielding percentage, committing 36 errors in the 30 games they have played.
Last Time Out
Evan Marshall pitched 3.2 shutout innings and Jared King capped a five-run outburst with a two-RBI single in the fifth inning as Kansas State took a weekend series from No. 7 Oklahoma with a 6-2 victory Sunday afternoon at Tointon Family Stadium.
The rubber game win earned K-State its first series win over the Sooners since 2001 as the Cats improved to 18-12 on the season and 4-8 in Big 12 play. It was also the first series victory for the Wildcats over a top-10 team since winning two games at No. 2 Texas in 2009.
Shawn Lewick, Gerardo Esquivel and James Allen combined to shut down Oklahoma over the final three innings. Lewick struck out the only batter he faced in the seventh before giving way to Esquivel, who worked the rest of the seventh and the eighth. Allen was perfect in the ninth as he struck out two of the three batters he faced.
Jared King and Ross Kivett paced the Wildcats with two hits apiece. Wade Hinkle produced an insurance run in the eighth when he beat out a potential inning-ending double play to push the lead to four.
The Wildcats are coming off a series win at home over No. 7 Oklahoma last weekend, winning the Friday and Sunday games.
Offensively...
As a club, the Wildcats are hitting .265 led by Nick Martini with a .337 average and Jared King with a .301. Jason King leads the team with six home runs and 27 RBI on the season. Three Wildcats have 10 or more steals, with Martini leading the way with 12 and Jake Brown and Tanner Witt swiping 10 each.
On the Mound...
Kyle Hunter and Matt Applegate each hold 3-2 records in eight starts each, with a 2.61 and 3.99 ERA, respectively. The staff holds a 3.78 ERA, holding opponents to a .344 batting average against. Reliever James Allen holds a 0.83 ERA in 14 appearances, earning nine of the team's 10 saves this year.
Getting Dirty...
Defensively KSU has a .970 fielding percentage, committing 36 errors in the 30 games they have played.
Last Time Out
Evan Marshall pitched 3.2 shutout innings and Jared King capped a five-run outburst with a two-RBI single in the fifth inning as Kansas State took a weekend series from No. 7 Oklahoma with a 6-2 victory Sunday afternoon at Tointon Family Stadium.
The rubber game win earned K-State its first series win over the Sooners since 2001 as the Cats improved to 18-12 on the season and 4-8 in Big 12 play. It was also the first series victory for the Wildcats over a top-10 team since winning two games at No. 2 Texas in 2009.
Shawn Lewick, Gerardo Esquivel and James Allen combined to shut down Oklahoma over the final three innings. Lewick struck out the only batter he faced in the seventh before giving way to Esquivel, who worked the rest of the seventh and the eighth. Allen was perfect in the ninth as he struck out two of the three batters he faced.
Jared King and Ross Kivett paced the Wildcats with two hits apiece. Wade Hinkle produced an insurance run in the eighth when he beat out a potential inning-ending double play to push the lead to four.
House Warming Party
CU Athletics will host an open house at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha on Monday, April 18 from 5:00 p.m., to 9:00 p.m., for fans interested in purchasing season tickets for Creighton's 12 scheduled regular season games at the venue in 2011. Seats not yet sold as season tickets will be marked and available for purchase. Season tickets will be available at the following prices: $144 (adult reserved) and $80 (youth reserved). Head coach Ed Servais and the Bluejays will be practicing at the venue during the open house event.
Bye Bye Birdie
Today's game will be the final game played at the CU Sports Complex for the Jays, the home for the Jays since 1988. Creighton has played 118 games in the CU Sports Complex since head coach Ed Servais has taken over the reigns of the Jays. Creighton is 91-27 in those games, for a winning percentage of .771. Creighton had back-to-back great seasons at the complex, going 20-2 on campus in 2007 and 18-1 in 2008. The Jays are 8-1 this season when playing at home, picking up two series sweeps over South Dakota State and Portland.
2011 8-1
2010 7-6
2009 10-4
2008 18-1
2007 20-2
2006 9-5
2005 19-3
2004 15-5
Worth Noting
Creighton has put together an impressive 22-7 record already this season, with four wins over New Mexico and two wins over Illinois State, both which were NCAA Tournament teams following the 2010 season. The Jays have moved up in RPI following the weekend wins, as they sit at 53, the highest in the Missouri Valley Conference. Today's opponent, Kansas State, is sitting at 55.
Creighton vs. Kansas State
The Jays and Wildcats are meeting for the 84th time in the history between the two schools, with Kansas State holding the 47-35-1 advantage. In their only meeting last season, the Jays won 7-4 in Manhattan. At the time, the NCAA Tournament qualifiers from Kansas were ranked #25 in the nation. It was Creighton's only meeting with a ranked opponent last season. The two schools opened up play for the first time in 1969, with the Wildcats controlling a 12-1 win. Creighton is on a two game win streak, however, losing last in March of 2009.
Creighton vs. the Big 12
In overall competition against the Big 12 Conference, the Jays trail 104-161-3. In the only competition thus far in the 2011 season against the conference, Creighton is 1-1 with a 4-3, 10-inning win over Kansas in February and last Tuesday's 8-5 loss at Nebraska. This is the only meeting between the Jays and Kansas State on the season, but Creighton will play the Huskers two more times this season, starting with next Tuesday's game which opens the new home of Bluejay baseball, TD Ameritrade Park Omaha. In all, the Jays face the Big 12 six times this season.
Meet the Coaches
Ed Servais (Creighton) - Ed Servais enters his eighth season leading the Creighton baseball program in 2011. He currently holds a .640 winning percentage (276-156) while at the helm of the Jays, which is the second best in school history. Servais needs just seven 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 MVC 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.
Two Wins on the Board
Creighton started off the MVC Regular season 2-1 for the fifth time under Ed Servais. The Jays have only started 3-0 one season in the last eight, defeating Illinois State in three in 2005. Below is a list of the 2-1 starts and the opponents.
2011 ILS
2010 SIU
2009 INS
2007 UE
2004 MSU
Best of the Best
Head coach Ed Servais is just seven wins away from second place on the All-Time list for wins as a Bluejay baseball head coach, and just 13 away from taking the lead as the most successful skipper. Servais holds a .640 winning percentage at the helm of the Jays, winning MVC Coach of the Year award three times in his first seven seasons.
Catch Ya Later
Creighton left 10 runners on base in the rubber match between CU and Illinois State on Sunday, pushing the total to 26 on the weekend. The Jays outscored the Redbirds 18-12, but with the extra runners driven in it could have helped Creighton's cause. The Jays left the bases loaded three times in the series.
1 and 2 and 3 and 4
Creighton's Sunday starter Greg Hellhake pitched a great game in the 6-5 win on Sunday, picking up his third win of the season. In the fifth inning, Hellhake's last full inning of work, the right hander threw just four pitches. It marks the first time for a CU pitcher since Otto Roberts accomplished the feat at Air Force in 2009.
Driving 'Em In
Bluejay right fielder Trever Adams drove in four of the five runs in the 8-5 loss at Nebraska on April 5, three on his sixth inning three-run home run and one in the top of the ninth inning. Adams now has 32 RBI on the season (10 more than any other Bluejay) and has driven in 14 in the past five games and 20 in the last eight games.
Sunday “Shellhaker”
Creighton's Greg Hellhake has turned into the weekend finisher, earning the nod to start on Sundays. After starting the season off with a couple rough outings, Hellhake has gotten into a rhythm on the mound. In the last four starts, Hellhake has gone 15.0 innings, allowing just two earned runs and picking up nine strike outs to just two walks. In his start last weekend against Portland, a 4-3 win, Hellhake went 6.0 scoreless innings of work, giving up just four hits and striking out two. He has lowered his ERA from 6.57 in his third start to 3.62 after seven starts.
Rally the Troops
Creighton left bases loaded two different times in the 8-5 loss at Nebraska on Tuesday, April 5, killing the rally in both innings. In the sixth inning, after Trever Adams drove out a three-run home run, Alex Staehely picked up his third triple of the season, with the next two batters walking to load the bases with no outs. Creighton wouldn't be able to capitalize on it, however, as the inning ended with a Joey Bowens strike out. In the ninth, three straight walks to load the bases again with no outs looked like CU would make a comeback. The Jays scored Michael Mutcheson on an Adams sacrifice fly, but a strikeout and a ground out up the middle would end the game.
I'll Take Adams for 400
Trever Adams pounded another home run over the left field fence on Tuesday, a three run shot that brought the Jays within 5-3. Adams now leads the team with seven home runs on the season, while he hit 12 a season ago in his Bluejay debut.
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
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.
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.
Under The Lights
Creighton played its first night game on April 5 at Nebraska. With the building of TD Ameritrade Park, many of Creighton's games will now be evening games, much different than the afternoon games played at the CU Sports Complex. The Jays have posted a .500 record or better in games played under the stars in all but one of Ed Servais' seasons.
Year Record Pct.
2011 0-1 .000
2010 4-1 .800
2009 10-6 .625
2008 4-4 .500
2007 10-3 .769
2006 4-5 .444
2005 11-7 .611
2004 5-3 .625
Slow Starters
The Jays gave up two runs in the bottom of the first inning to Nebraska, putting them at 6-3 on the season when the opponent scores first. Thus far in the season, Creighton is being outscored in just two innings, with an 18-12 deficit in the first inning and a 19-14 deficit in the second inning. The offense has outscored opponents in every other inning, including a 23-9 advantage in the fourth inning. On the season, Creighton is outscoring opponents 153-97.
Free Tickets
Creighton picked up 11 walks in the opening game against Nebraska on April 5, tying a season high for the team. Freshman Mike Gerber was walked his first three times at the plate, the first time this season he has earned more than one walk in a single game. He now has eight walks on the season.
Ker-Plunk
Creighton batters were hit-by-pitch three times in the seventh inning of the 11-3 win against Portland on Friday, April 1. Jimmy Swift, Alex Staehely and Chance Ross each reached first base safely after they were hit by a pitch. It is the first time this season three players have been hit in the same inning. three times on the weekend against Portland, including being plunked twice in the series opener on Friday. Swift now leads the team with nine hit-by-pitch on the season, as the Jays have reached base 38 times by virtue of the hit-by-pitch, while the pitching staff has hit just 16 batters.
Mr. Clutch
Creighton senior outfielder Trever Adams has turned into a clutch performer. The preseason All-MVC pick hit two game winners in the last week. With the Jays trailing in the bottom of the eighth against North Dakota State, Adams hit a two out, two run home run to propel the Jays to a 3-2 win. Less than a week later, Adams again had a game winner, knocking in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth. With runners on first and second, Adams ripped a ball back up the middle to score the winning run in walk off fashion.
Sweeping in Up
The Jays were just a half inning away from dropping the third game for the second time this season, before they rallied for two runs in the bottom of the ninth on Sunday. Creighton has swept the series three times this season, defeating New Mexico in four games (Feb. 25-27) and South Dakota State in three (March 11-13). Creighton lost the third game in the series with Arkansas State, dropping game three 8-6.
Ball Hog
The Creighton pitching staff has been pretty good this season at striking out opponents, as they have fanned 170 batters. But in the 4-3 win over Portland on Sunday, the Jays staff forced 14 fly balls and seven ground outs, including an inning ending double play in the seventh. Creighton's outfield was busy, as Joey Bowens and Mike Gerber caught more than half of the fly balls, with Bowens getting five in left field and Gerber catching four in center.
MVC Upcoming Schedule
4/12/2011
SEMO at Southern Illinois 3:00PM
Kansas State at Creighton 3:00PM
Northern Illinois at Illinois State 4:30PM
Saint Louis at Evansville. 6:00PM
Nebraska at Wichita State 6:30PM
Arkansas at Missouri State 6:30PM
4/13/2011
Indiana State at Indiana 2:00PM
Southern Illinois at Illinois 3:00PM
Bradley at Western Illinois 3:30PM
Wichita State at Kansas State 6:30PM
4/15/2011
Missouri State at Southern Illinois * 3:00PM
Illinois State at Bradley * 6:00PM
Creighton at Indiana State * 6:00PM
Evansville at Wichita State * 6:30PM
For the Team
Creighton has already put down 37 sacrifices this season and 12 sacrifice fly balls. True to any Ed Servais team, the Jays continued the same ball on the weekend. Creighton had five sacrifices on the weekend, with Alex Staehely and Joey Bowens each credited with two on the weekend. Leading the team this season is Nick Judkins with nine. Bowens and Staehely are tied in second with five each.
First to 20
Creighton's hot start this season is one of the best in the Ed Servais tenure at Creighton, as well as one of the best in Creighton baseball history. When looking back over the history of Servais' tenure, the only other team with just five losses when the team hits the 20-win mark was the 2005, NCAA qualifying team. That team finished the season 48-17 overall, 17-7 in the MVC. Even the 1991 College World Series team was 20-6 when they hit the 20-win plateau.
2010 20-17
2009 20-17
2008 20-7
2007 20-11
2006 20-7
2005 20-5
2004 20-17
1991 20-6
Perfect Pitching
The Creighton pitching staff has done well this season, only hitting a couple bumps in the first half of the season. On Sunday, April 3, Mark Winkelman continued his perfect pitching he has shown thus far on the season. Winkelman pitched 1.1 innings in the 4-3 win, picking up his first win of the season. In that outing, he struck out two batters, not allowing a single batter on base. On the season, Winkelman leads the staff with 15 appearances, holding a team low 0.95 era and has allowed just two runs in 19.0 innings of work.
No Foolin' Around
Creighton's bullpen has been one of its biggest strengths this season, with five different men logging 10 more appearances with great success. The Jays are 14-1 this year when leading after six innings, and 16-0 when leading after eight frames. In eight seasons under Ed Servais, Creighton is 209-11 when leading after six innings and 203-9 when leading after eight innings.
Sticky Business
Creighton's defense is annually among the national leaders, and with a .980 mark to date, this year is no different. Creighton is 8-0 this year in games in which it does not make an error, and has won its last 13 games without an error dating to last year. Creighton owns the nation's best fielding percentage since Ed Servais took over eight years ago (.976), as well as the nation's fewest errors in that time (390).
Using the Staff
The Jays used five pitchers in the win over NDSU, while the Bison used seven. Creighton threw Ty Blach (2.0 innings), Jonas Dufek (3.0 innings), Jack VanLeur (1.0 innings), Mark Winkelman 1.2 innings) and Kurt Spomer (1.2 innings and the win). With the weekend series getting cancelled against the North Dakota Fighting Sioux, Creighton's staff needed to get extra innings in, to kick the rust off, after not playing in six days. Friday and Saturday starters Blach and Dufek welcomed the work, as Blach struck out four of the seven batters he faced while Dufek worked off the rust, allowing the only two runs of the game.
Counting Down
This season is the last the Jays will play on campus at the CU Sports Complex. TD Ameritrade Park Omaha will become the new home of the Jays, starting with the April 19 opener against Nebraska. Following this weekend's series with Portland, the Jays will play just one more game at the CU Sports Complex, an April 12 meeting with Kansas State.
Home Field Advantage
Creighton is 8-1 already this season at home, losing just one against BYU on March 22. In the last 10 seasons, Creighton has a .677 winning percentage when playing at home, winning 147 of 217 home games. Creighton's best season at home was in 2003, when the Jays went 21-3 from home. Under Ed Servais, the Jays are 125-49 when playing at home. Below is the home record in each of the last 10 seasons.
2011 4-1
2010 10-14
2009 15-8
2008 22-6
2007 22-4
2006 12-7
2005 21-3
2004 19-6
2003 6-14
2002 16-7
We'll C U at the Sports Complex
Creighton is 8-1 at home this season, losing one against BYU on March 22. In the last 10 seasons, Creighton has a .677 winning percentage when playing at home, winning 148 of 217 home games. Under Ed Servais, the Jays are 126-49 when playing at home.
Perserverance
Creighton's 3-2 win over North Dakota State may not have been the prettiest game coach Ed Servais and his staff would have liked, but it did show the Jays don't give up. Creighton was trailing after the seventh inning, a spot they are just 2-4 in this season. But the Jays used a Michael Mutcheson double and a Trever Adams home run in the bottom of the bottom of the eighth to win the game. The two multi-base hits were the only two for the Jays the whole game, as they picked up just four hits the whole time.
Multi-madness
Two Bluejays, senior Trever Adams and sophomore Alex Staehely are in the top three in the Valley in multi-hit games, with Adams putting together 10 on the season and Staehely with 11. In the first game with BYU, the two were a combined seven-for-seven, each with a double while Adams drove out his team leading fourth home run of the season.
Two and Bar-B-Que
Head coach Ed Servais has done an impressive job of getting his teams refocused after losing a home game. In the time he has been at Creighton, the team has only lost back-to-back home games eight times, including going the 2004 and 2007 without dropping multiple games at home in a row. Last season, Creighton dropped four back-to-back games, including a four game skid with the Wichita State series being three of the four.
2011 1 time
2010 4 times
2009 one time
2008 one time
2007 none
2006 two times
2005 one time
2004 none
Win More Than Them
If your team has plans on sitting atop the MVC standings heading into the league's postseason tournament, you might want to get off to a good start as every team that has won the MVC regular season has won at least 16 games since 2005, the first year of a 24-game conference schedule.
In fact, last season was the first time a team won the MVC regular-season title (Illinois State and Wichita State) with fewer than 16 league victories (15-6).
Blast-off
Creighton's Trever Adams knocked in three RBI in the 3-2 win over NDSU, the only three of the game. Adams popped in a seeing eye single in the first inning and then hit the home run in the bottom of the eighth. Adams has a team high 21 RBI on the season, knocking in 10 in the last 10 games straight.
Back on Track
After starting the 2011 season just two-of-21 in the first five games, senior Trever Adams has connected and found his stride, going 30-of-65 in the last 16 games (462) and recording multi-hit games in eight of the 17 games. He has seven doubles, three triples and five home runs in that time span, getting a hit in 16 of the 17 games.
Chicks Dig the Long Ball
After starting the 2011 season just two of 21 in the first five games, senior Trever Adams has connected and found his stride, going 29 of 61 in the last 16 games, (.322) and recording multi-hit games in half of the 16 games. He has seven doubles, three triples and four home runs in that time span, getting a hit in 15 of the 16 games.
Squeezing By
Since the start of the 24-game conference schedule in 2005 (three-game series), the top two places in the regular-season standings have been separated by just one game in every year except one – in 2009 when first-place Missouri State had a two-game lead over second-place Indiana State heading into the State Farm MVC Baseball Tournament.
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.
Look Alikes
Creighton is now 16-5 on the season entering today's games, their best start since the 2006 season when the Jays reached the 17 win mark with just five losses. During Ed Servais' tenure, this ranks as the second-best overall start. The only team in the last 20 years to reach 17 wins with just four losses? The 1991 College World Series Bluejay team.
Free Baseball
The Jays have played three extra-inning games this season and are a perfect 3-0 in each game. Creighton has been the visiting team in each extra inning game, defeating Kansas 4-3, New Mexico 8-7 and SIU Edwardsville 4-3 on their respective home fields. Creighton played in six extra frame games last season, splitting a perfect 3-3 on the games.
Taking Extra BP
Two Bluejays, senior Trever Adams and spohomore Alex Staehely are in the top three in the Valley in multi-hit games, with Adams putting together 10 on the season and Staehely one-upping him with 11. In the first game with BYU, the two were a combined seven for seven, each with a double while Adams drove out his fourth home run of the season.
Use Your Brain
Adding to Creighton's list of accolades already this season is sophomore Alex Staehely. The Bluejay second baseman was named Prairie Farms MVC Scholar Athlete of the Week this week (along with Bluejay softball player Christa Ruf), marking the second straight week a baseball player has received the award. Staehely had three hits, including two doubles and two runs batted in, as the Jays defeated Air Force, Valparaiso and SIU Edwardsville. He holds a 3.50 gpa in economics/finance.
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.
Against the Field
The Missouri Valley Conference holds a winnisn record against 13 leagues in non-conference play. The Jays have played seven of the 13 leagues, playing against the Big 12, Horizon, Metro Atlantic, Mid-American, Mountain West, Ohio Valley and Summit leagues.
Adams Tabbed Preseason All-MVC
Creighton outfielder Trever Adams is the only Bluejay to be named to the preseason all-Valley team, earning the nod in the outfield. Adams, an all-Valley honorable mention selection last season, hit .356 last season with a team high 74 hits, 12 home runs and 58 RBI. Adams is slated to see most of his time in right field this season.
Rain, Rain, Go Away
With poor weather conditions all across the nation last week, all but one MVC team played three or fewer games last week. The Jays got in two against BYU, but had their weekend series cancelled with North Dakota. Wichita State split a four game series with Oregon, as the only team that got in more than three games last week. The cancellation was the third time this season the Jays have had to adjust their schedule due to inclement weather, making two adjustments during the Spring break trip in Arkansas, March 4-9.
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.
20-Years Later
This year marks the 20 year reunion of the NCAA College World Series team from 1991. It is the only time in Bluejay history the Jays have made it to the CWS. Creighton was eliminated by Wichita State, finished 2-2 in the tournament.
Middle of the Pack
Creighton was picked to finish fifth in the MVC preseason poll, as voted on by the league's coaches. The Jays were picked second in last season's preseason poll and finished sixth. Creighton finished with 35 points, just two points behind Indiana State at number five.
Place Team Points
1 Illinois State (4) 58
2 Wichita State (4) 53
3 Evansville 41
4 Indiana State 37
5 Creighton 35
6 Missouri State 27
7 Southern Illinois 25
8 Bradley 13
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.
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.
High Fives
Creighton seniors Jimmy Swift, Greg Hellhake and Jack VanLeur are all in their fifth-year of competition, after redshirting one year in their stay. The three have compiled 140-87 record, making it to one NCAA Regional and winning one MVC Tournament (both in 2007),
Double Dip Anyone?
CU currently has four 2011 dates scheduled with multiple games, inlcuding this weekend's opening Saturday games. The Ed Servais era has seen great success on such dates, as the Jays are 60-24 in twinbills since 2004, good for a .829 winning percentage. That mark includes 23 Jay sweeps and 14 splits.
CU Athletics will host an open house at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha on Monday, April 18 from 5:00 p.m., to 9:00 p.m., for fans interested in purchasing season tickets for Creighton's 12 scheduled regular season games at the venue in 2011. Seats not yet sold as season tickets will be marked and available for purchase. Season tickets will be available at the following prices: $144 (adult reserved) and $80 (youth reserved). Head coach Ed Servais and the Bluejays will be practicing at the venue during the open house event.
Bye Bye Birdie
Today's game will be the final game played at the CU Sports Complex for the Jays, the home for the Jays since 1988. Creighton has played 118 games in the CU Sports Complex since head coach Ed Servais has taken over the reigns of the Jays. Creighton is 91-27 in those games, for a winning percentage of .771. Creighton had back-to-back great seasons at the complex, going 20-2 on campus in 2007 and 18-1 in 2008. The Jays are 8-1 this season when playing at home, picking up two series sweeps over South Dakota State and Portland.
2011 8-1
2010 7-6
2009 10-4
2008 18-1
2007 20-2
2006 9-5
2005 19-3
2004 15-5
Worth Noting
Creighton has put together an impressive 22-7 record already this season, with four wins over New Mexico and two wins over Illinois State, both which were NCAA Tournament teams following the 2010 season. The Jays have moved up in RPI following the weekend wins, as they sit at 53, the highest in the Missouri Valley Conference. Today's opponent, Kansas State, is sitting at 55.
Creighton vs. Kansas State
The Jays and Wildcats are meeting for the 84th time in the history between the two schools, with Kansas State holding the 47-35-1 advantage. In their only meeting last season, the Jays won 7-4 in Manhattan. At the time, the NCAA Tournament qualifiers from Kansas were ranked #25 in the nation. It was Creighton's only meeting with a ranked opponent last season. The two schools opened up play for the first time in 1969, with the Wildcats controlling a 12-1 win. Creighton is on a two game win streak, however, losing last in March of 2009.
Creighton vs. the Big 12
In overall competition against the Big 12 Conference, the Jays trail 104-161-3. In the only competition thus far in the 2011 season against the conference, Creighton is 1-1 with a 4-3, 10-inning win over Kansas in February and last Tuesday's 8-5 loss at Nebraska. This is the only meeting between the Jays and Kansas State on the season, but Creighton will play the Huskers two more times this season, starting with next Tuesday's game which opens the new home of Bluejay baseball, TD Ameritrade Park Omaha. In all, the Jays face the Big 12 six times this season.
Meet the Coaches
Ed Servais (Creighton) - Ed Servais enters his eighth season leading the Creighton baseball program in 2011. He currently holds a .640 winning percentage (276-156) while at the helm of the Jays, which is the second best in school history. Servais needs just seven 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 MVC 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.
Two Wins on the Board
Creighton started off the MVC Regular season 2-1 for the fifth time under Ed Servais. The Jays have only started 3-0 one season in the last eight, defeating Illinois State in three in 2005. Below is a list of the 2-1 starts and the opponents.
2011 ILS
2010 SIU
2009 INS
2007 UE
2004 MSU
Best of the Best
Head coach Ed Servais is just seven wins away from second place on the All-Time list for wins as a Bluejay baseball head coach, and just 13 away from taking the lead as the most successful skipper. Servais holds a .640 winning percentage at the helm of the Jays, winning MVC Coach of the Year award three times in his first seven seasons.
Catch Ya Later
Creighton left 10 runners on base in the rubber match between CU and Illinois State on Sunday, pushing the total to 26 on the weekend. The Jays outscored the Redbirds 18-12, but with the extra runners driven in it could have helped Creighton's cause. The Jays left the bases loaded three times in the series.
1 and 2 and 3 and 4
Creighton's Sunday starter Greg Hellhake pitched a great game in the 6-5 win on Sunday, picking up his third win of the season. In the fifth inning, Hellhake's last full inning of work, the right hander threw just four pitches. It marks the first time for a CU pitcher since Otto Roberts accomplished the feat at Air Force in 2009.
Driving 'Em In
Bluejay right fielder Trever Adams drove in four of the five runs in the 8-5 loss at Nebraska on April 5, three on his sixth inning three-run home run and one in the top of the ninth inning. Adams now has 32 RBI on the season (10 more than any other Bluejay) and has driven in 14 in the past five games and 20 in the last eight games.
Sunday “Shellhaker”
Creighton's Greg Hellhake has turned into the weekend finisher, earning the nod to start on Sundays. After starting the season off with a couple rough outings, Hellhake has gotten into a rhythm on the mound. In the last four starts, Hellhake has gone 15.0 innings, allowing just two earned runs and picking up nine strike outs to just two walks. In his start last weekend against Portland, a 4-3 win, Hellhake went 6.0 scoreless innings of work, giving up just four hits and striking out two. He has lowered his ERA from 6.57 in his third start to 3.62 after seven starts.
Rally the Troops
Creighton left bases loaded two different times in the 8-5 loss at Nebraska on Tuesday, April 5, killing the rally in both innings. In the sixth inning, after Trever Adams drove out a three-run home run, Alex Staehely picked up his third triple of the season, with the next two batters walking to load the bases with no outs. Creighton wouldn't be able to capitalize on it, however, as the inning ended with a Joey Bowens strike out. In the ninth, three straight walks to load the bases again with no outs looked like CU would make a comeback. The Jays scored Michael Mutcheson on an Adams sacrifice fly, but a strikeout and a ground out up the middle would end the game.
I'll Take Adams for 400
Trever Adams pounded another home run over the left field fence on Tuesday, a three run shot that brought the Jays within 5-3. Adams now leads the team with seven home runs on the season, while he hit 12 a season ago in his Bluejay debut.
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
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.
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.
Under The Lights
Creighton played its first night game on April 5 at Nebraska. With the building of TD Ameritrade Park, many of Creighton's games will now be evening games, much different than the afternoon games played at the CU Sports Complex. The Jays have posted a .500 record or better in games played under the stars in all but one of Ed Servais' seasons.
Year Record Pct.
2011 0-1 .000
2010 4-1 .800
2009 10-6 .625
2008 4-4 .500
2007 10-3 .769
2006 4-5 .444
2005 11-7 .611
2004 5-3 .625
Slow Starters
The Jays gave up two runs in the bottom of the first inning to Nebraska, putting them at 6-3 on the season when the opponent scores first. Thus far in the season, Creighton is being outscored in just two innings, with an 18-12 deficit in the first inning and a 19-14 deficit in the second inning. The offense has outscored opponents in every other inning, including a 23-9 advantage in the fourth inning. On the season, Creighton is outscoring opponents 153-97.
Free Tickets
Creighton picked up 11 walks in the opening game against Nebraska on April 5, tying a season high for the team. Freshman Mike Gerber was walked his first three times at the plate, the first time this season he has earned more than one walk in a single game. He now has eight walks on the season.
Ker-Plunk
Creighton batters were hit-by-pitch three times in the seventh inning of the 11-3 win against Portland on Friday, April 1. Jimmy Swift, Alex Staehely and Chance Ross each reached first base safely after they were hit by a pitch. It is the first time this season three players have been hit in the same inning. three times on the weekend against Portland, including being plunked twice in the series opener on Friday. Swift now leads the team with nine hit-by-pitch on the season, as the Jays have reached base 38 times by virtue of the hit-by-pitch, while the pitching staff has hit just 16 batters.
Mr. Clutch
Creighton senior outfielder Trever Adams has turned into a clutch performer. The preseason All-MVC pick hit two game winners in the last week. With the Jays trailing in the bottom of the eighth against North Dakota State, Adams hit a two out, two run home run to propel the Jays to a 3-2 win. Less than a week later, Adams again had a game winner, knocking in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth. With runners on first and second, Adams ripped a ball back up the middle to score the winning run in walk off fashion.
Sweeping in Up
The Jays were just a half inning away from dropping the third game for the second time this season, before they rallied for two runs in the bottom of the ninth on Sunday. Creighton has swept the series three times this season, defeating New Mexico in four games (Feb. 25-27) and South Dakota State in three (March 11-13). Creighton lost the third game in the series with Arkansas State, dropping game three 8-6.
Ball Hog
The Creighton pitching staff has been pretty good this season at striking out opponents, as they have fanned 170 batters. But in the 4-3 win over Portland on Sunday, the Jays staff forced 14 fly balls and seven ground outs, including an inning ending double play in the seventh. Creighton's outfield was busy, as Joey Bowens and Mike Gerber caught more than half of the fly balls, with Bowens getting five in left field and Gerber catching four in center.
MVC Upcoming Schedule
4/12/2011
SEMO at Southern Illinois 3:00PM
Kansas State at Creighton 3:00PM
Northern Illinois at Illinois State 4:30PM
Saint Louis at Evansville. 6:00PM
Nebraska at Wichita State 6:30PM
Arkansas at Missouri State 6:30PM
4/13/2011
Indiana State at Indiana 2:00PM
Southern Illinois at Illinois 3:00PM
Bradley at Western Illinois 3:30PM
Wichita State at Kansas State 6:30PM
4/15/2011
Missouri State at Southern Illinois * 3:00PM
Illinois State at Bradley * 6:00PM
Creighton at Indiana State * 6:00PM
Evansville at Wichita State * 6:30PM
For the Team
Creighton has already put down 37 sacrifices this season and 12 sacrifice fly balls. True to any Ed Servais team, the Jays continued the same ball on the weekend. Creighton had five sacrifices on the weekend, with Alex Staehely and Joey Bowens each credited with two on the weekend. Leading the team this season is Nick Judkins with nine. Bowens and Staehely are tied in second with five each.
First to 20
Creighton's hot start this season is one of the best in the Ed Servais tenure at Creighton, as well as one of the best in Creighton baseball history. When looking back over the history of Servais' tenure, the only other team with just five losses when the team hits the 20-win mark was the 2005, NCAA qualifying team. That team finished the season 48-17 overall, 17-7 in the MVC. Even the 1991 College World Series team was 20-6 when they hit the 20-win plateau.
2010 20-17
2009 20-17
2008 20-7
2007 20-11
2006 20-7
2005 20-5
2004 20-17
1991 20-6
Perfect Pitching
The Creighton pitching staff has done well this season, only hitting a couple bumps in the first half of the season. On Sunday, April 3, Mark Winkelman continued his perfect pitching he has shown thus far on the season. Winkelman pitched 1.1 innings in the 4-3 win, picking up his first win of the season. In that outing, he struck out two batters, not allowing a single batter on base. On the season, Winkelman leads the staff with 15 appearances, holding a team low 0.95 era and has allowed just two runs in 19.0 innings of work.
No Foolin' Around
Creighton's bullpen has been one of its biggest strengths this season, with five different men logging 10 more appearances with great success. The Jays are 14-1 this year when leading after six innings, and 16-0 when leading after eight frames. In eight seasons under Ed Servais, Creighton is 209-11 when leading after six innings and 203-9 when leading after eight innings.
Sticky Business
Creighton's defense is annually among the national leaders, and with a .980 mark to date, this year is no different. Creighton is 8-0 this year in games in which it does not make an error, and has won its last 13 games without an error dating to last year. Creighton owns the nation's best fielding percentage since Ed Servais took over eight years ago (.976), as well as the nation's fewest errors in that time (390).
Using the Staff
The Jays used five pitchers in the win over NDSU, while the Bison used seven. Creighton threw Ty Blach (2.0 innings), Jonas Dufek (3.0 innings), Jack VanLeur (1.0 innings), Mark Winkelman 1.2 innings) and Kurt Spomer (1.2 innings and the win). With the weekend series getting cancelled against the North Dakota Fighting Sioux, Creighton's staff needed to get extra innings in, to kick the rust off, after not playing in six days. Friday and Saturday starters Blach and Dufek welcomed the work, as Blach struck out four of the seven batters he faced while Dufek worked off the rust, allowing the only two runs of the game.
Counting Down
This season is the last the Jays will play on campus at the CU Sports Complex. TD Ameritrade Park Omaha will become the new home of the Jays, starting with the April 19 opener against Nebraska. Following this weekend's series with Portland, the Jays will play just one more game at the CU Sports Complex, an April 12 meeting with Kansas State.
Home Field Advantage
Creighton is 8-1 already this season at home, losing just one against BYU on March 22. In the last 10 seasons, Creighton has a .677 winning percentage when playing at home, winning 147 of 217 home games. Creighton's best season at home was in 2003, when the Jays went 21-3 from home. Under Ed Servais, the Jays are 125-49 when playing at home. Below is the home record in each of the last 10 seasons.
2011 4-1
2010 10-14
2009 15-8
2008 22-6
2007 22-4
2006 12-7
2005 21-3
2004 19-6
2003 6-14
2002 16-7
We'll C U at the Sports Complex
Creighton is 8-1 at home this season, losing one against BYU on March 22. In the last 10 seasons, Creighton has a .677 winning percentage when playing at home, winning 148 of 217 home games. Under Ed Servais, the Jays are 126-49 when playing at home.
Perserverance
Creighton's 3-2 win over North Dakota State may not have been the prettiest game coach Ed Servais and his staff would have liked, but it did show the Jays don't give up. Creighton was trailing after the seventh inning, a spot they are just 2-4 in this season. But the Jays used a Michael Mutcheson double and a Trever Adams home run in the bottom of the bottom of the eighth to win the game. The two multi-base hits were the only two for the Jays the whole game, as they picked up just four hits the whole time.
Multi-madness
Two Bluejays, senior Trever Adams and sophomore Alex Staehely are in the top three in the Valley in multi-hit games, with Adams putting together 10 on the season and Staehely with 11. In the first game with BYU, the two were a combined seven-for-seven, each with a double while Adams drove out his team leading fourth home run of the season.
Two and Bar-B-Que
Head coach Ed Servais has done an impressive job of getting his teams refocused after losing a home game. In the time he has been at Creighton, the team has only lost back-to-back home games eight times, including going the 2004 and 2007 without dropping multiple games at home in a row. Last season, Creighton dropped four back-to-back games, including a four game skid with the Wichita State series being three of the four.
2011 1 time
2010 4 times
2009 one time
2008 one time
2007 none
2006 two times
2005 one time
2004 none
Win More Than Them
If your team has plans on sitting atop the MVC standings heading into the league's postseason tournament, you might want to get off to a good start as every team that has won the MVC regular season has won at least 16 games since 2005, the first year of a 24-game conference schedule.
In fact, last season was the first time a team won the MVC regular-season title (Illinois State and Wichita State) with fewer than 16 league victories (15-6).
Blast-off
Creighton's Trever Adams knocked in three RBI in the 3-2 win over NDSU, the only three of the game. Adams popped in a seeing eye single in the first inning and then hit the home run in the bottom of the eighth. Adams has a team high 21 RBI on the season, knocking in 10 in the last 10 games straight.
Back on Track
After starting the 2011 season just two-of-21 in the first five games, senior Trever Adams has connected and found his stride, going 30-of-65 in the last 16 games (462) and recording multi-hit games in eight of the 17 games. He has seven doubles, three triples and five home runs in that time span, getting a hit in 16 of the 17 games.
Chicks Dig the Long Ball
After starting the 2011 season just two of 21 in the first five games, senior Trever Adams has connected and found his stride, going 29 of 61 in the last 16 games, (.322) and recording multi-hit games in half of the 16 games. He has seven doubles, three triples and four home runs in that time span, getting a hit in 15 of the 16 games.
Squeezing By
Since the start of the 24-game conference schedule in 2005 (three-game series), the top two places in the regular-season standings have been separated by just one game in every year except one – in 2009 when first-place Missouri State had a two-game lead over second-place Indiana State heading into the State Farm MVC Baseball Tournament.
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.
Look Alikes
Creighton is now 16-5 on the season entering today's games, their best start since the 2006 season when the Jays reached the 17 win mark with just five losses. During Ed Servais' tenure, this ranks as the second-best overall start. The only team in the last 20 years to reach 17 wins with just four losses? The 1991 College World Series Bluejay team.
Free Baseball
The Jays have played three extra-inning games this season and are a perfect 3-0 in each game. Creighton has been the visiting team in each extra inning game, defeating Kansas 4-3, New Mexico 8-7 and SIU Edwardsville 4-3 on their respective home fields. Creighton played in six extra frame games last season, splitting a perfect 3-3 on the games.
Taking Extra BP
Two Bluejays, senior Trever Adams and spohomore Alex Staehely are in the top three in the Valley in multi-hit games, with Adams putting together 10 on the season and Staehely one-upping him with 11. In the first game with BYU, the two were a combined seven for seven, each with a double while Adams drove out his fourth home run of the season.
Use Your Brain
Adding to Creighton's list of accolades already this season is sophomore Alex Staehely. The Bluejay second baseman was named Prairie Farms MVC Scholar Athlete of the Week this week (along with Bluejay softball player Christa Ruf), marking the second straight week a baseball player has received the award. Staehely had three hits, including two doubles and two runs batted in, as the Jays defeated Air Force, Valparaiso and SIU Edwardsville. He holds a 3.50 gpa in economics/finance.
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.
Against the Field
The Missouri Valley Conference holds a winnisn record against 13 leagues in non-conference play. The Jays have played seven of the 13 leagues, playing against the Big 12, Horizon, Metro Atlantic, Mid-American, Mountain West, Ohio Valley and Summit leagues.
Adams Tabbed Preseason All-MVC
Creighton outfielder Trever Adams is the only Bluejay to be named to the preseason all-Valley team, earning the nod in the outfield. Adams, an all-Valley honorable mention selection last season, hit .356 last season with a team high 74 hits, 12 home runs and 58 RBI. Adams is slated to see most of his time in right field this season.
Rain, Rain, Go Away
With poor weather conditions all across the nation last week, all but one MVC team played three or fewer games last week. The Jays got in two against BYU, but had their weekend series cancelled with North Dakota. Wichita State split a four game series with Oregon, as the only team that got in more than three games last week. The cancellation was the third time this season the Jays have had to adjust their schedule due to inclement weather, making two adjustments during the Spring break trip in Arkansas, March 4-9.
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.
20-Years Later
This year marks the 20 year reunion of the NCAA College World Series team from 1991. It is the only time in Bluejay history the Jays have made it to the CWS. Creighton was eliminated by Wichita State, finished 2-2 in the tournament.
Middle of the Pack
Creighton was picked to finish fifth in the MVC preseason poll, as voted on by the league's coaches. The Jays were picked second in last season's preseason poll and finished sixth. Creighton finished with 35 points, just two points behind Indiana State at number five.
Place Team Points
1 Illinois State (4) 58
2 Wichita State (4) 53
3 Evansville 41
4 Indiana State 37
5 Creighton 35
6 Missouri State 27
7 Southern Illinois 25
8 Bradley 13
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.
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.
High Fives
Creighton seniors Jimmy Swift, Greg Hellhake and Jack VanLeur are all in their fifth-year of competition, after redshirting one year in their stay. The three have compiled 140-87 record, making it to one NCAA Regional and winning one MVC Tournament (both in 2007),
Double Dip Anyone?
CU currently has four 2011 dates scheduled with multiple games, inlcuding this weekend's opening Saturday games. The Ed Servais era has seen great success on such dates, as the Jays are 60-24 in twinbills since 2004, good for a .829 winning percentage. That mark includes 23 Jay sweeps and 14 splits.
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Baseball
C/OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
OF/LHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
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
