Baseball Set For Missouri Valley Conference Tournament
5/23/2011 1:38:00 PM | Baseball
Creighton (39-13, 15-6)
vs. Bradley (22-30, 4-17)
May 24 • 7:30 p.m.
TD Ameritrade Park Omaha
Opening Round of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament
vs. Bradley (22-30, 4-17)
May 24 • 7:30 p.m.
TD Ameritrade Park Omaha
Opening Round of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament
Opening Round Opponent
Bradley Braves
www.bradleybraves.com
Record: 22-30, 4-17 • Location: Peoria, Ill. • Enrollment: 5,801
Head Coach: Elvis Dominguez • Alma Mater: Creighton (1986)
Career Record: 237-292-2 • School Record: 59-93
2010 Record: 20-32 • 2010 MVC Finish 7th
www.bradleybraves.com
Record: 22-30, 4-17 • Location: Peoria, Ill. • Enrollment: 5,801
Head Coach: Elvis Dominguez • Alma Mater: Creighton (1986)
Career Record: 237-292-2 • School Record: 59-93
2010 Record: 20-32 • 2010 MVC Finish 7th
Probable Pitchers
ERA W-L App GS CG IP H R ER BB SO
Creighton
Tues. - Jonas Dufek, RHP 2.32 9-1 15 13 1 93.0 65 26 24 24 105
Bradley
Tues. - Joe Bircher, LHP 2.70 6-5 13 13 3 90.0 74 36 27 25 59
Creighton
Tues. - Jonas Dufek, RHP 2.32 9-1 15 13 1 93.0 65 26 24 24 105
Bradley
Tues. - Joe Bircher, LHP 2.70 6-5 13 13 3 90.0 74 36 27 25 59
Conference Champions
The Bluejays won the Missouri Valley Conference regular season championship for the first time since 2005, using a sweep of Missouri State in the final weekend of play to do so. The Jays sat atop the league through the whole season. Creighton's road didn't come easy, as the Jays opened up play at the defending tournament champions Illinois State. Creighton took two-of-three and then traveled to Indiana State the following weekend, earning their first of three conference series sweeps. Home series began with the opening of the new TD Ameritrade Park Omaha, with the SIU Salukis taking two of three on opening weekend. CU turned around and swept first round opponent Bradley before hitting the road again, traveling to Wichita State and at Evansville, winning three of six games between the two series and clinging to a half game lead entering the final weekend of play. The sweep of Missouri State gave the Jays the crown outright.
The Series
Creighton vs. Bradley - The two schools have met up 108 times in the history of the two programs, with the Jays holding a 66-42 lead over the Braves. An 8-0 Bradley win started the series history in 1968, with the most recent meeting going to the Jays, a16-6 win in Omaha on May 1. Creighton swept the series earlier this season, winning game one 7-3 and game two 10-1 before the 16-6, 7-inning game three.
Meet the Coaches
Ed Servais (Creighton) - Ed Servais is in his eighth season leading the Creighton baseball program in 2011. The Wisconsin-La Crosse native currently holds a .644 winning percentage (293-162) while at the helm of the Jays, which puts him atop all Bluejay baseball coaches in school history. Servais moved into first in Creighton history in wins by a head coach with his win on Tuesday, May 17 over Iowa, coached by third winningest coach Jack Dahm. The 5-3 win moved Servais over current Cubs GM Jim Hendry, who left Creighton with a career 289 wins. Servais 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.
Elvis Dominguez (Bradley) – A four year starting shortstop for Creighton, Elvis Dominguez was named the 15th head coach in Braves baseball history in 2008. A standout infielder for the Bluejays, Dominguez led the team with a .348 batting average as a senior. He has compiled a 57-82 record since then, when he replaced Dewey Kalmer, a 29-year veteran at the helm of Bradley baseball. Dominguez, 46, has 19 years of college coaching experience, including seven seasons as the head coach at Eastern Kentucky University. During his career, Dominguez has recruited and coached eight players that advanced to the Major Leagues, 22 All-Americans and three Ohio Valley Conference Players of the Year. Eight of his Eastern Kentucky players were drafted by Major League organizations, including a trio of Colonels selected within the first seven rounds of the MLB First-Year Player Draft. Of particular note, 2008 OVC Pitcher of the Year Christian Friedrich was the 25th overall selection by the Colorado Rockies in the first round of the 2008 draft. Dominguez is assisted by John Corbin, Sean Lyons and Ross Winter.
In the Tournament
Creighton and Bradley have met up 13 times in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament, with the Bluejays holding a 10-3 lead, including a 5-1 advantage when playing under Ed Servais. The two first met up in 1979 and played most recently in the 2010 MVC Tournament, with the Jays winning 6-5 in 12 innings. Below is a listing of the years and scores:
2010 CU 6-5 (12)
2009 CU 14-2
2007 CU 2-0
2007 CU 17-2
2006 BU 1-0
2005 CU 9-7
1994 BU 5-2
1992 CU 7-1
1992 CU 11-3
1987 CU 8-1
1987 CU 8-5 1986 CU 5-3
1979 BU 9-3
Welcome Home
The lone Nebraska native on the Braves roster is Friday night starter Joe Bircher. The left handed pitcher from Omaha Roncalli Catholic High School has compiled a 6-5 record this season in 13 starts, throwing three complete game for the Braves. In his career against the Bluejays, Bircher has thrown 21.1 innings, allowing 23 hits, 14 runs (just eight earned), walking six batters while striking out 14. In his best outing against CU, Bircher went 2.1 innings on April 25, 2009 at the CU Sports Complex, allowing no runs, no hits, and striking out two batters. Earlier this season, he started the Friday night game against the Jays, throwing 5.0 innings with eight hits and four runs given up.
I Like Our Chances
Creighton head coach Ed Servais is 11-0 in home games against Bradley, including three-game sweeps in 2005, 2007 and 2011, and a two-game sweep in 2009. Overall, Creighton has won 13 straight home contests vs. the Braves dating to a loss on May 16, 2003. Five games during that win streak have been by exactly two runs.
A Worthy Opponent
In the series between the Jays and Braves earlier this season, Creighton put together one of it's best three game series of the season, hitting .415 as a team with a .660 slugging percentage. The Jays were 2-for-3 in stolen bases and had three players, Trever Adams, Mike Gerber and Jimmy Swift hit home runs against the Braves pitching staff. The Jays scored 33 runs in the three games on 39 hits, led by Adams' 9-13 weekend and Swift's MVC Player of the Week weekend, picking up a career high three doubles in the May 1 game.
They Needed One
Creighton put up 16 runs in the win over Bradley on May 1, scoring 11 of the 16 with two outs. The Jays stranded just three runners on base on the day, The 16 runs on 16 RBI both marked season high outputs for the team.
Creighton vs. Bradley - The two schools have met up 108 times in the history of the two programs, with the Jays holding a 66-42 lead over the Braves. An 8-0 Bradley win started the series history in 1968, with the most recent meeting going to the Jays, a16-6 win in Omaha on May 1. Creighton swept the series earlier this season, winning game one 7-3 and game two 10-1 before the 16-6, 7-inning game three.
Meet the Coaches
Ed Servais (Creighton) - Ed Servais is in his eighth season leading the Creighton baseball program in 2011. The Wisconsin-La Crosse native currently holds a .644 winning percentage (293-162) while at the helm of the Jays, which puts him atop all Bluejay baseball coaches in school history. Servais moved into first in Creighton history in wins by a head coach with his win on Tuesday, May 17 over Iowa, coached by third winningest coach Jack Dahm. The 5-3 win moved Servais over current Cubs GM Jim Hendry, who left Creighton with a career 289 wins. Servais 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.
Elvis Dominguez (Bradley) – A four year starting shortstop for Creighton, Elvis Dominguez was named the 15th head coach in Braves baseball history in 2008. A standout infielder for the Bluejays, Dominguez led the team with a .348 batting average as a senior. He has compiled a 57-82 record since then, when he replaced Dewey Kalmer, a 29-year veteran at the helm of Bradley baseball. Dominguez, 46, has 19 years of college coaching experience, including seven seasons as the head coach at Eastern Kentucky University. During his career, Dominguez has recruited and coached eight players that advanced to the Major Leagues, 22 All-Americans and three Ohio Valley Conference Players of the Year. Eight of his Eastern Kentucky players were drafted by Major League organizations, including a trio of Colonels selected within the first seven rounds of the MLB First-Year Player Draft. Of particular note, 2008 OVC Pitcher of the Year Christian Friedrich was the 25th overall selection by the Colorado Rockies in the first round of the 2008 draft. Dominguez is assisted by John Corbin, Sean Lyons and Ross Winter.
In the Tournament
Creighton and Bradley have met up 13 times in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament, with the Bluejays holding a 10-3 lead, including a 5-1 advantage when playing under Ed Servais. The two first met up in 1979 and played most recently in the 2010 MVC Tournament, with the Jays winning 6-5 in 12 innings. Below is a listing of the years and scores:
2010 CU 6-5 (12)
2009 CU 14-2
2007 CU 2-0
2007 CU 17-2
2006 BU 1-0
2005 CU 9-7
1994 BU 5-2
1992 CU 7-1
1992 CU 11-3
1987 CU 8-1
1987 CU 8-5 1986 CU 5-3
1979 BU 9-3
Welcome Home
The lone Nebraska native on the Braves roster is Friday night starter Joe Bircher. The left handed pitcher from Omaha Roncalli Catholic High School has compiled a 6-5 record this season in 13 starts, throwing three complete game for the Braves. In his career against the Bluejays, Bircher has thrown 21.1 innings, allowing 23 hits, 14 runs (just eight earned), walking six batters while striking out 14. In his best outing against CU, Bircher went 2.1 innings on April 25, 2009 at the CU Sports Complex, allowing no runs, no hits, and striking out two batters. Earlier this season, he started the Friday night game against the Jays, throwing 5.0 innings with eight hits and four runs given up.
I Like Our Chances
Creighton head coach Ed Servais is 11-0 in home games against Bradley, including three-game sweeps in 2005, 2007 and 2011, and a two-game sweep in 2009. Overall, Creighton has won 13 straight home contests vs. the Braves dating to a loss on May 16, 2003. Five games during that win streak have been by exactly two runs.
A Worthy Opponent
In the series between the Jays and Braves earlier this season, Creighton put together one of it's best three game series of the season, hitting .415 as a team with a .660 slugging percentage. The Jays were 2-for-3 in stolen bases and had three players, Trever Adams, Mike Gerber and Jimmy Swift hit home runs against the Braves pitching staff. The Jays scored 33 runs in the three games on 39 hits, led by Adams' 9-13 weekend and Swift's MVC Player of the Week weekend, picking up a career high three doubles in the May 1 game.
They Needed One
Creighton put up 16 runs in the win over Bradley on May 1, scoring 11 of the 16 with two outs. The Jays stranded just three runners on base on the day, The 16 runs on 16 RBI both marked season high outputs for the team.
Vs. The Braves
Creighton head coach Ed Servais is 11-0 in home games against Bradley, including three-game sweeps in 2005, 2007 and 2011, and a two-game sweep in 2009. Overall, Creighton has won 13 straight home contests vs. the Braves dating to a loss on May 16, 2003. Five games during that win streak have been by exactly two runs.
Pitching Staff Stars
While the Creighton hitters excelled in the three-game series against Bradley, the pitchers held their own. The staff had three different pitchers that held a 0.00 ERA (with at least 1.0 innings of work). Reese McGraw, Kurt Spomer and Mark Winkelman all threw scoreless frames against the Braves, combining for seven strikeouts. Spomer and Winkelman didn't allow a single hit in their time on the rubber earlier this season.
Crazy 8's
The Bluejay offense has exploded over the last eight games at home, in which the Jays are 8-0, the longest stretch since the 13 they had to open the 2008 campaign. The team has combined for a .327 average, with eight of the starting nine batters hitting over .300. Below is those eight players' average in the last eight home games.
Trever Adams .500
Scott Thornburg .450
Joey Bowens .429
Anthony Bemboom .348
Mike Gerber .333
Jimmy Swift .313
Michael Mutcheson .310
Alex Staehely .308
In It to Win It
Creighton's last and only MVC Tournament title came in 2007 when the Jays scored a 10-9, 12-inning victory over Wichita State in Springfield, Mo. While there are no current Bluejays who played in any of the games during that tournament, fifth year seniors Jimmy Swift, Greg Hellhake and Jack VanLeur were redshirted that season and experienced the win.
A Season Ago
Creighton came into the MVC Tournament needing to win-or-go-home. The Jays entered the tournament as the No. 6 seed, facing Indiana State in the opening game, then outlasted the Braves 6-5 in 12-innings, only to fall, once again, to Indiana State 9-7 in the next elimination game.
Worth Noting
• Creighton is 6-1 in opening round games under Ed Servais at the MVC Tournament, and 14-14 all-time in opening games.
• Creighton is 16-12 under Ed Servais at the MVC Tournament.
• Creighton reached the finals in 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1999 and 2005 before finally winning its first title in 2007. Creighton also lost in the 2009 final.
• Creighton's first finals appearance in 1988 ended in a 3-3 tie after the game was called due to rain after eight innings. The Jays took on Wichita State in that game.
• Creighton is hosting the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament for the first time since it was contested at Rosenblatt Stadium in 1978.
• The State Farm MVC Tournament is the first tournament held at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha, which opened on April 19, 2011.
One Game at a Time
Creighton enters the MVC Tournament with a four-game win streak. To win the MVC Tournament, Creighton will need to win at least four, and possibly five, games. Creighton owns six different win streaks of four or longer this season, which ties it for the national lead along with North Carolina, Clemson and Cal State Fullerton.
The First of Many
The 2011 State Farm MVC Tournament will be the first tournament of any kind contested at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha. The facility has a 25-year deal to host the Men's College World Series, which comes to Omaha next month from June 18-29.
A Gracious Host
The host school has won its first game in each of the last four MVC Tournaments, and has gone 0-2 just once in the last 15 years (Wichita State in 2001). A top-seeded host school has also won five straight games to open tournament play, dating to a 1997 loss by Wichita State. The host school has won the MVC Tournament in seven of the past 12 years, and 28 times overall in the 56 tournaments contested all-time.
• Each of the last six times the top seed was also the host school, that team would advance to the MVC Tournament title game.
Welcome Back
The 2011 MVC Tournament bracket is unique in one sense. Among MVC schools, only Creighton, Bradley, Southern Illinois and Missouri State have played at the five-week old TD Ameritrade Park Omaha. All four teams are in Bracket B. The four teams in Bracket A (Evansville, Indiana State, Illinois State, Wichita State), have never played a game at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha.
Making Our Presence Known
The MVC's current No. 7 RPI is the best it has been since 2007, when it was also the seventh-ranked conference by Warrennolan.com. In recent seasons, the No. 7 RPI league has garnered three bids in 2010 (Sun Belt), two bids in 2009 (Sun Belt), two bids in 2008 (West Coast) and two bids in 2007 (MVC). Impressively, those leagues have won a minimum of three NCAA Tournament games in each season, and a total of 17 NCAA games amongst those nine squads, with only one 0-2 showing.
So Close
Trever Adams enters the MVC Tournament hitting .399. The last Creighton player to hit better than .395 with 125 or more at-bats was Chad McConnell, who hit .400 in 1992.
Not a Spectator Sport
Three members of the 2011 Creighton team redshirted on the 2007 team that captured the MVC Tournament title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. Starting pitcher Greg Hellhake, everyday shortstop Jimmy Swift and relief pitcher Jack VanLeur were each a part of the festivities in 2007.
Creighton head coach Ed Servais is 11-0 in home games against Bradley, including three-game sweeps in 2005, 2007 and 2011, and a two-game sweep in 2009. Overall, Creighton has won 13 straight home contests vs. the Braves dating to a loss on May 16, 2003. Five games during that win streak have been by exactly two runs.
Pitching Staff Stars
While the Creighton hitters excelled in the three-game series against Bradley, the pitchers held their own. The staff had three different pitchers that held a 0.00 ERA (with at least 1.0 innings of work). Reese McGraw, Kurt Spomer and Mark Winkelman all threw scoreless frames against the Braves, combining for seven strikeouts. Spomer and Winkelman didn't allow a single hit in their time on the rubber earlier this season.
Crazy 8's
The Bluejay offense has exploded over the last eight games at home, in which the Jays are 8-0, the longest stretch since the 13 they had to open the 2008 campaign. The team has combined for a .327 average, with eight of the starting nine batters hitting over .300. Below is those eight players' average in the last eight home games.
Trever Adams .500
Scott Thornburg .450
Joey Bowens .429
Anthony Bemboom .348
Mike Gerber .333
Jimmy Swift .313
Michael Mutcheson .310
Alex Staehely .308
In It to Win It
Creighton's last and only MVC Tournament title came in 2007 when the Jays scored a 10-9, 12-inning victory over Wichita State in Springfield, Mo. While there are no current Bluejays who played in any of the games during that tournament, fifth year seniors Jimmy Swift, Greg Hellhake and Jack VanLeur were redshirted that season and experienced the win.
A Season Ago
Creighton came into the MVC Tournament needing to win-or-go-home. The Jays entered the tournament as the No. 6 seed, facing Indiana State in the opening game, then outlasted the Braves 6-5 in 12-innings, only to fall, once again, to Indiana State 9-7 in the next elimination game.
Worth Noting
• Creighton is 6-1 in opening round games under Ed Servais at the MVC Tournament, and 14-14 all-time in opening games.
• Creighton is 16-12 under Ed Servais at the MVC Tournament.
• Creighton reached the finals in 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1999 and 2005 before finally winning its first title in 2007. Creighton also lost in the 2009 final.
• Creighton's first finals appearance in 1988 ended in a 3-3 tie after the game was called due to rain after eight innings. The Jays took on Wichita State in that game.
• Creighton is hosting the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament for the first time since it was contested at Rosenblatt Stadium in 1978.
• The State Farm MVC Tournament is the first tournament held at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha, which opened on April 19, 2011.
One Game at a Time
Creighton enters the MVC Tournament with a four-game win streak. To win the MVC Tournament, Creighton will need to win at least four, and possibly five, games. Creighton owns six different win streaks of four or longer this season, which ties it for the national lead along with North Carolina, Clemson and Cal State Fullerton.
The First of Many
The 2011 State Farm MVC Tournament will be the first tournament of any kind contested at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha. The facility has a 25-year deal to host the Men's College World Series, which comes to Omaha next month from June 18-29.
A Gracious Host
The host school has won its first game in each of the last four MVC Tournaments, and has gone 0-2 just once in the last 15 years (Wichita State in 2001). A top-seeded host school has also won five straight games to open tournament play, dating to a 1997 loss by Wichita State. The host school has won the MVC Tournament in seven of the past 12 years, and 28 times overall in the 56 tournaments contested all-time.
• Each of the last six times the top seed was also the host school, that team would advance to the MVC Tournament title game.
Welcome Back
The 2011 MVC Tournament bracket is unique in one sense. Among MVC schools, only Creighton, Bradley, Southern Illinois and Missouri State have played at the five-week old TD Ameritrade Park Omaha. All four teams are in Bracket B. The four teams in Bracket A (Evansville, Indiana State, Illinois State, Wichita State), have never played a game at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha.
Making Our Presence Known
The MVC's current No. 7 RPI is the best it has been since 2007, when it was also the seventh-ranked conference by Warrennolan.com. In recent seasons, the No. 7 RPI league has garnered three bids in 2010 (Sun Belt), two bids in 2009 (Sun Belt), two bids in 2008 (West Coast) and two bids in 2007 (MVC). Impressively, those leagues have won a minimum of three NCAA Tournament games in each season, and a total of 17 NCAA games amongst those nine squads, with only one 0-2 showing.
So Close
Trever Adams enters the MVC Tournament hitting .399. The last Creighton player to hit better than .395 with 125 or more at-bats was Chad McConnell, who hit .400 in 1992.
Not a Spectator Sport
Three members of the 2011 Creighton team redshirted on the 2007 team that captured the MVC Tournament title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. Starting pitcher Greg Hellhake, everyday shortstop Jimmy Swift and relief pitcher Jack VanLeur were each a part of the festivities in 2007.
Creighton in the MVC Tournament
1977 @ Creighton
Tulsa 7, Creighton 3
New Mexico State def. Creighton
1978 @ Creighton
Indiana State 5, Creighton 2
Creighton 6, New Mexico State 4
Indiana State 10, Creighton 9
1979 @ Wichita State
Southern Illinois 9, Creighton 2
Bradley 9, Creighton 3
1980 @ Wichita State
Wichita State 12, Creighton 3
Southern Illinois 18, Creighton 4
1982 @ Indiana State
Indiana State 5, Creighton 2
Southern Illinois 7, Creighton 6
1983 @ Wichita State
Indiana State 13, Creighton 9
Southern Illinois 20, Creighton 6
1986 @ Southern Illinois
Southern Illinois 3, Creighton 1
Creighton 5, Bradley 3
Indiana State 5, Creighton 0
1987 @ Wichita State
Creighton 8, Bradley 1
Indiana State 12, Creighton 8
Creighton 8, Bradley 5
Wichita State 4, Creighton 1
1988 @ Wichita State
Creighton 5, Illinois State 4
Creighton 10, Southern Illinois 5
Wichita State 11, Creighton 5
Creighton 3, Indiana State 1
Wichita State 3, Creighton 3*
*Called due to rain-- 8 innings
1989 @ Wichita State
Southern Illinois 7, Creighton 4
Creighton 10, Illinois State 4
Southern Illinois 6, Creighton 2
1990 @ Wichita State
Creighton 3, Indiana State 1
Creighton 5, Southern Illinois 4
Southern Illinois 7, Creighton 5
Creighton 8, Indiana State 4
Southern Illinois 9, Creighton 8
1991 @ Wichita State
Creighton 10, Illinois State 1
Creighton 7, Indiana State 6
Wichita State 14, Creighton 1
Creighton 8, Indiana State 6
Wichita State 13, Creighton 1
1992 @ Wichita State
Creighton 7, Bradley 1
Indiana State 4, Creighton 3
Creighton 11, Bradley 3
Creighton 6, Indiana State 2
Creighton 4, Wichita State 3 (12)
Wichita State 5, Creighton 0
1993 @ Wichita State
Creighton 8, Missouri State 3
Creighton 10, Indiana State 9
Wichita State 9, Creighton 7
Indiana State 7, Creighton 4
1994 @ Wichita State
Bradley 4, Creighton 2
Creighton 14, Illinois State 2
Wichita State 8, Creighton 6
1995 @ Springfield, Ill.
Creighton 7, Illinois State 6
Missouri State 7, Creighton 5 (12)
Creighton 11, Wichita State 9
Missouri State 3, Creighton 2
1998 @ Evansville
Wichita State 6, Creighton 4
Evansville 5, Creighton 2
1999 @ Wichita State
Creighton 12, Evansville 4
Illinois State 8, Creighton 7
Creighton 11, Missouri State 2
Creighton 3, Illinois State 2 (10)
Wichita State 11, Creighton 2
2000 @ Wichita State
Indiana State 15, Creighton 4
Creighton 3, Wichita State 1
Evansville 6, Creighton 1
2002 @ Wichita State
Indiana State 9, Creighton 7
Northern Iowa 4, Creighton 0
2003 @ Wichita State
Missouri State 5, Creighton 1
Indiana State 2, Creighton 0
2004 @ Missouri State
Creighton 14, Indiana State 4
Southern Illinois 6, Creighton 5
Evansville 6, Creighton 4
2005 @ Wichita State
Creighton 9, Bradley 7
Creighton 6, Evansville 0
Wichita State 3, Creighton 0
Creighton 16, Indiana State 3
Creighton 4, Wichita State 3
Wichita State 10, Creighton 3
2006 @ Wichita State
Creighton 11, Wichita State 8
Missouri State 3, Creighton 1
Bradley 1, Creighton 0
2007 @ Missouri State
Creighton 8, Southern Illinois 5
Creighton 2, Bradley 0
Creighton 17, Bradley 2
Wichita State 2, Creighton 1
Creighton 10, Wichita State 9 (12)
2008 @ Wichita State
Creighton 14, Bradley 2
Missouri State 9, Creighton 5
Creighton 4, Northern Iowa 2
Southern Illinois 6, Creighton 5
2009 @ Wichita State
Creighton 5, Southern Illinois 1
Creighton 11, Wichita State 0
Creighton 7, Missouri State 6 (10)
Wichita State 4, Creighton 2
2010 @ Wichita State
Indiana State 8, Creighton 7 (10)
Creighton 6, Bradley 5 (12)
Indiana State 9, Creighton 7
2011 @ Creighton
Creighton vs. Bradley
Tulsa 7, Creighton 3
New Mexico State def. Creighton
1978 @ Creighton
Indiana State 5, Creighton 2
Creighton 6, New Mexico State 4
Indiana State 10, Creighton 9
1979 @ Wichita State
Southern Illinois 9, Creighton 2
Bradley 9, Creighton 3
1980 @ Wichita State
Wichita State 12, Creighton 3
Southern Illinois 18, Creighton 4
1982 @ Indiana State
Indiana State 5, Creighton 2
Southern Illinois 7, Creighton 6
1983 @ Wichita State
Indiana State 13, Creighton 9
Southern Illinois 20, Creighton 6
1986 @ Southern Illinois
Southern Illinois 3, Creighton 1
Creighton 5, Bradley 3
Indiana State 5, Creighton 0
1987 @ Wichita State
Creighton 8, Bradley 1
Indiana State 12, Creighton 8
Creighton 8, Bradley 5
Wichita State 4, Creighton 1
1988 @ Wichita State
Creighton 5, Illinois State 4
Creighton 10, Southern Illinois 5
Wichita State 11, Creighton 5
Creighton 3, Indiana State 1
Wichita State 3, Creighton 3*
*Called due to rain-- 8 innings
1989 @ Wichita State
Southern Illinois 7, Creighton 4
Creighton 10, Illinois State 4
Southern Illinois 6, Creighton 2
1990 @ Wichita State
Creighton 3, Indiana State 1
Creighton 5, Southern Illinois 4
Southern Illinois 7, Creighton 5
Creighton 8, Indiana State 4
Southern Illinois 9, Creighton 8
1991 @ Wichita State
Creighton 10, Illinois State 1
Creighton 7, Indiana State 6
Wichita State 14, Creighton 1
Creighton 8, Indiana State 6
Wichita State 13, Creighton 1
1992 @ Wichita State
Creighton 7, Bradley 1
Indiana State 4, Creighton 3
Creighton 11, Bradley 3
Creighton 6, Indiana State 2
Creighton 4, Wichita State 3 (12)
Wichita State 5, Creighton 0
1993 @ Wichita State
Creighton 8, Missouri State 3
Creighton 10, Indiana State 9
Wichita State 9, Creighton 7
Indiana State 7, Creighton 4
1994 @ Wichita State
Bradley 4, Creighton 2
Creighton 14, Illinois State 2
Wichita State 8, Creighton 6
1995 @ Springfield, Ill.
Creighton 7, Illinois State 6
Missouri State 7, Creighton 5 (12)
Creighton 11, Wichita State 9
Missouri State 3, Creighton 2
1998 @ Evansville
Wichita State 6, Creighton 4
Evansville 5, Creighton 2
1999 @ Wichita State
Creighton 12, Evansville 4
Illinois State 8, Creighton 7
Creighton 11, Missouri State 2
Creighton 3, Illinois State 2 (10)
Wichita State 11, Creighton 2
2000 @ Wichita State
Indiana State 15, Creighton 4
Creighton 3, Wichita State 1
Evansville 6, Creighton 1
2002 @ Wichita State
Indiana State 9, Creighton 7
Northern Iowa 4, Creighton 0
2003 @ Wichita State
Missouri State 5, Creighton 1
Indiana State 2, Creighton 0
2004 @ Missouri State
Creighton 14, Indiana State 4
Southern Illinois 6, Creighton 5
Evansville 6, Creighton 4
2005 @ Wichita State
Creighton 9, Bradley 7
Creighton 6, Evansville 0
Wichita State 3, Creighton 0
Creighton 16, Indiana State 3
Creighton 4, Wichita State 3
Wichita State 10, Creighton 3
2006 @ Wichita State
Creighton 11, Wichita State 8
Missouri State 3, Creighton 1
Bradley 1, Creighton 0
2007 @ Missouri State
Creighton 8, Southern Illinois 5
Creighton 2, Bradley 0
Creighton 17, Bradley 2
Wichita State 2, Creighton 1
Creighton 10, Wichita State 9 (12)
2008 @ Wichita State
Creighton 14, Bradley 2
Missouri State 9, Creighton 5
Creighton 4, Northern Iowa 2
Southern Illinois 6, Creighton 5
2009 @ Wichita State
Creighton 5, Southern Illinois 1
Creighton 11, Wichita State 0
Creighton 7, Missouri State 6 (10)
Wichita State 4, Creighton 2
2010 @ Wichita State
Indiana State 8, Creighton 7 (10)
Creighton 6, Bradley 5 (12)
Indiana State 9, Creighton 7
2011 @ Creighton
Creighton vs. Bradley
Follow the Jays
Follow the Jays all post-season through live stats at www.gocreighton.com. Click on the link on the right side of the front page to follow all the action of Creighton baseball in the MVC Tournament. The games will also be broadcast on KOZN 1620 AM on Tuesday, with John Bishop and David Gustafson calling the game. A link for that is on the baseball schedule page on www.gocreighton.com also. Make sure to check in after the game for statistics on your favorite Jays. You can also follow the Jays via Twitter at gocreighton or on Facebook at Official Creighton Athletics Page.
Last Time Out
Creighton swept the Missouri State Bears, picking up its first MVC Regular Season Championship since the 2005 season. The three game sweep gave Creighton sole possession of the crown, leaving them a game ahead of the Wichita State Shockers. The Jays outscored the Bears 9-3, including a 3-1 win on Senior Day (Saturday, May 21).
Creighton 3, Missouri State 2 – After being held scoreless and stranding six runners through five innings, Creighton broke through against Missouri State's Nick Petree in the bottom of the sixth. Trever Adams, reached on a bunt single to start the sixth and then scored when Alex Staehely followed by ripping his team-leading 20th double of the season into the left centerfield gap. Staehely would later score on Mike Gerber's double down the right field line, putting runners at second and third with one out. Chance Ross drove in the third run of the inning on a sacrifice fly to center field and the Bluejays led 3-1 after six. Missouri State cut into Creighton lead and threatened to go ahead in the eighth. Barrett Noirfalise led off the inning with a single, before Bluejay starter Jonas Dufek retired the next two MSU hitters. Back-to-back two-out singles from Kevin Medrano and Brock Chaffin scored one run and chased Dufek from the game. CU reliever Reese McGraw walked the only hitter he faced to load the bases, and head coach Ed Servais brought in his closer Kurt Spomer. Spomer threw just one pitch to retire Luke Voit, as the MSU catcher grounded out to second base to help the Jays get out of the inning with a 3-2 lead, the eventual final score.
Creighton 3, Missouri State 1 – Ty Blach and Blake Barber of Missouri State baffled the opponent's bats through the first third of the ball game, with each pitcher facing the minimum number of batters through three frames. Creighton's only base runner in the first three innings was Trever Adams, who singled to center field to lead off the frame. A quick spin by Barber fooled Adams, resulting in Barber's fourth pick off of the season. Blach's only baserunner in the first three frames was a walk in the second inning, erased by Scott Thornburg's sixth baserunner caught stealing this season. The Jays got on the board with single tallies in the fourth and fifth innings. Nick Judkins singled through the right side and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Jimmy Swift picked up his 39th RBI of the season when he drove a single into center field that scored Judkins for Creighton's first run of the night. The fifth inning started when Barber hit Alex Staehely on the wrist, just the second time in the game the Bluejays put the leadoff batter on. A sacrifice bunt by Anthony Bemboom and a double to the right center gap by Scott Thornburg plated Creighton's second run of the day, which ended up being the winning run. Blach continued his “no-no” into the sixth inning, giving up his first hit of the day to the number nine hitter in the Bears lineup, a single back up the middle. He had six strikeouts and just one walked batter in the first 5.2 innings of work. Creighton picked up another run in the bottom of the seventh when Adams hit his 14th home run of the season, a shot that landed just over the left field fence, inside the Creighton bullpen. It is Adams' first RBI in seven games, snapping the longest drought of his career. The Bears did put together a rally in the top of the ninth, stranding runners on first and second to end the game. A leadoff walk by closer Kurt Spomer to Brent Seifert was followed by a ground ball out and a strike out. Another walk put runners on the first two bases before Spomer forced a ground out to Staehely to secure the win.
Creighton 3, Missouri State 1 – The Bluejays got on the board first, plating a run in the second inning for the first time this weekend. Trever Adams led off the second inning with a hit by pitch, advanced to second on a Mike Gerber walk and then scored when Chance Ross singled up the middle. Creighton added a pair in the bottom of the fourth, using three singles in a row to plate the two runs. Scott Thornburg picked up the first of the three, a one out single up the middle. Anthony Bemboom followed with a single to centerfield, advancing to second on an error by the MSU shortstop. With runners on second and third, Gerber hit a single through the right side, thread right between the pulled in Bears defense. A ground ball, potential double play ball off Ross' bat scored the third run of the game, giving CU the 3-0 lead after four. Missouri State's Pierce Johnson came in and shut down the Creighton offense in the second half of the game, limiting the Jays to just one hit through the last five frames. But Creighton's defense turned two more double plays, stranding Bears on the bases in the seventh and eighth frames. Creighton relievers Jack VanLeur and Mark Winkelman both threw 1.1 innings in the game, allowing three combined hits. Reese McGraw closed things down, earning his fifth save of the season in the victory.
Scouting Creighton
Creighton won the Missouri Valley Conference regular season championship last weekend after being picked to finish fifth in the conference this season, returning 20 players and just four starters from the team that went 27-25 last season. The Bluejays sit atop the MVC, with a 39-13 overall record and 15-6 mark in the MVC going into the tournament.
Creighton is being led offensively this season by Trever Adams and Alex Staehely. Adams leads the team in batting average (.399), home runs (14), RBI (53) and triples (4). Adams has six game winning RBI this season, including 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 picked up the first Bluejay hit and scored the first run in TD Ameritrade Park Omaha history. He currently has reached base safely in 36 consecutive games. Staehely continues to swing a hot bat, second on the team with a .311 batting average and a team leading 20 doubles, second in the MVC. Michael Mutcheson and Jimmy Swift lead the team in hit by pitch with 10 on the season. Overall, the team is hitting .275 with 284 runs on 467 hits and 98 doubles.
The Jays have also had solid pitching performances on the mound this season. Jonas Dufek has moved into the Friday night starter position, leading the staff with 105 strikeouts this season. He and Greg Hellhake set career strikeout records, with 13 and six, respectively while Ty Blach fanned a career high of nine against MVC foe Southern Illinois (4/22/11). Kurt Spomer has been the top pitcher lately, picking up the closer position and holding a 2.13 ERA and 10 saves. The pitching staff has a combined 3.42 ERA and is holding opponents to a .242 batting average against.
As any team under Ed Servais can attest - the Jays are still among the nation's best in defense, as they hold a .979 fielding percentage on the season. Creighton committed just one error in each of the last three weekend series, and has committed 43 in the 52 games this season.
Scouting the Braves
After starting the season with an 18-8 record, Bradley has stumbled throughout the second half of the season and comes to Omaha hoping to break a season-long 7-game losing streak. Four of the seven losses have come by just one run and the Braves have been outscored by a total of only 13 runs in those seven losses (an average margin of defeat of just 1.9 runs per game). At 22-30 overall, the Braves have surpassed their win total from each of the past two seasons. Sophomore outfielder Mike Tauchman leads the Braves with a .347 batting average and 35 walks for a .464 on-base percentage, while sophomore shortstop Jason Leblebijian is second on the team with a .323 average and leads the Braves with 14 doubles. Junior third baseman Rob Elliott is threatening the single-season school record for steals, entering the MVC Tournament with 28 thefts and just two shy of the 1977 mark set by Jim Shaddid (30). Tuesday's starter, Joe Bircher, has paced the pitching staff with a 3.03 ERA in his 14 starts, while Jacob Booden and junior lefty Tory Doerr have combined for a 5-4 record in their last 18 starts. Justin Ziegler has set the school single-season record with eight saves this season.
Bluejays at their Offensive Best
• Head coach Ed Servais became the winningest head coach in Bluejay baseball history with the 5-3 win over Iowa (coached by former Bluejay skipper Jack Dahm) on Tuesday. Servais now sits at 293-162 (.644 winning percentage).
• Trever Adams is hitting .473 when playing at home this season, which has helped raise his overall average to .399. The senior outfielder has seven homeruns, 21 RBI and 40 hits when in Omaha this season.
• In the series against Bradley earlier this season, Trever Adams went 9-for-13, hitting .692 against the Braves pitching staff. The Bluejays had a .496 on base percentage during the three games.
• Mike Gerber is one of Creighton's hottest hitters at home. The centerfielder has a .314 average when in Omaha, driving out three home runs.
• In the 10 games Joey Bowens has started while at home this season, the fourth-year junior is hitting .393 (11-for-28). Bowens is hitting .214 on the season overall.
• Alex Staehely leads the Bluejays with 20 doubles this season. That is the most by a sinlge Bluejay since 2005, when Dan Norquist (22), Gabe Lapito (21) and Tony Roth (20) each did it.
• Jimmy Swift hit his third home run of the season in the second inning against Nebraska, a two run shot over the left field fence. Swift has a hit in 13-of-the-last-17 games, holding a .320 average in that stretch. He has driven in 14 in that span, picking up five doubles. He was named MVC Player of the Week following the Bradley series when he went 7-for-13 with 10 RBI.
• Nick Judkins has been a vaccuum at first base this season. The junior has committed just two errors on the season (one at Illinois State on 4/9 and one against Nebraska on 5/10) in 513 chances, for a .996 fielding percentage.
• Chance Ross had an RBI double against Nebraska on Tuesday, an RBI at Evansville and an RBI in the 5-3 win at Iowa. The everyday third baseman is hitting .253 when playing at home with two doubles and 13 RBI, as he drove in three last weekend against Missouri State, including a game-winner.
• Jimmy Swift had a career high three doubles in the May 1 game against Bradley, including two in the same inning.
• Nick Judkins leads the MVC with 19 sacrifice bunts, tied for second nationally. No other Bluejay has more than 12. He broke into the top 10 on the Bluejay all-time charts, jumping all the way into 2nd for sacrifices in a season.
• Michael Mutcheson has been Creighton's top leadoff hitter this season. The Jays are 33-6 when Mutcheson bats leadoff, and 6-7 when all other players hit atop the order.
Meet the Jays Pitching Staff
• Creighton has not allowed a home run in the last 10 games, a span of 91.2 innings, 337 at-bats and exactly 400 plate appearances by the opposition. Wichita State's Tyler Grimes went yard in the eighth inning on May 6, 2011 for the last home run off the staff.
• Creighton has earned a save in all four victories last weekend, giving them a Valley-best 18 saves this season, which also is tied for ninth-most nationally. Each of the previous 14 teams in league history with 18 saves or more in a season would advance to the NCAA Tournament.
• Jonas Dufek enters the MVC Tournament having struck out 105 batters this season, sixth-most in CU's single-season history. Dufek, who owns four or more K's in each of his 14 starts this season, is five punchouts away from moving past former first-round draft picks Dan Smith (108 in 1989) and Alan Benes (110 in 1992) for fourth-most in CU single-season history.
• Ty Blach had another solid outing for the Jays against Missouri State, pitching 8.0 innings of shutout baseball. The south paw allowed just three hits and three walks while striking out eight. Blach holds a 2.70 ERA in Valley play this season, holding a 4-1 record.
• Creighton's bullpen while at home has been lights out. Kurt Spomer holds a 2-0 record with five saves and a 0.47 ERA in 19.0 innings of work while at home this season and Reese McGraw is right behind him with a 3-0 record and 0.57 ERA in 15.2 innings. The two have combined for 29 strikeouts and seven walks.
• Ty Blach is a perfect 5-0 at home this season, making eight starts and throwing 39.1 innings. The south paw holds a 1.60 ERA in Omaha and has 47 strikeouts at home, which leads the staff while at home.
• Kurt Spomer's 10 saves are the most by a Bluejay since Andy Masten had 16 in 2007 for the Jays. His 10 saves are the most by a junior in Creighton history for one season.
• Mark Winkelman leads the pitching staff on the road with 16 appearances. He holds a 3.62 ERA with one save when Wink is on the mound.
• Jonas Dufek moved in the Creighton all-time charts, thanks to his 12 strikeouts against Wichita State. He now is T-5th in career wins (21), 6th in strike outs in a season (105) and 9th in strike outs in a career (222).
Get one for the Gipper... Or Skipper!
Head coach Ed Servais moved into first place on the All-Time list for wins as a Bluejay baseball head coach in the 5-3 win over Iowa on May 17, following moving into second with the 10-1 win over Bradley on Saturday, April 30. Servais holds a .644winning percentage at the helm of the Jays, winning MVC Coach of the Year award three times in his first seven seasons. He has compiled a 293-162 record in his eighth season as Creighton's skipper. Below is a list of the top three in order:
Coach (Years) Record Win %
Ed Servais (2004-present) 293-162 .644
Jim Hendry (1984*-1991) 289-182-2 .613
Jack Dahm (1994-2003) 283-276-2 .506
* Hendry took over mid-way through the 1984 season.
When at Home
The Creighton pitching staff has combined for a 2.60 ERA at home this season, earning an 18-4 record with seven saves. The staff has combined for 158 of their 369 strikeouts when in Omaha this season, holding opponents to a .234 average against.
FORE!
Creighton started 2-3 in their new ballpark, TD Ameritrade Park Omaha, but have improved to 9-3. And while the team was hopeful to have a better opening weekend against SIU, the Jays currently sit at 39-13, the second best record in program history. Only one other team has a better record after 52 games, the 2007 NCAA Regional Team. Below is how each of those teams, as well as the 1999 and 2000 NCAA Tournament teams fared through 52:
Year Record After 52
2007 40-12
2005 38-14 2000 35-17
1999 32-20
1991 34-18
Dry-Spell
Bluejay right fielder Trever Adams has a team leading 53 total RBI on the season. The senior went seven straight games without knocking in a single RBI until his solo home run against Missouri State, the first time in his CU career he has gone more than four games without driving in a run. Earlier this season Adams drove in 18 RBI in five games, spanning from April 2-9.
The Fri-urday Starter
Jonas Dufek has moved from the Saturday starter into the Friday position, leading off the weekend for the Bluejays on the mound. The senior from Omaha holds a 2.32 ERA and is 9-1 when starting in 13 appearances. He is holding opponents to a .201 batting average against, striking out 104 when starting. His counterpart, Ty Blach has the next best ERA among starters, holding a 2.41 ERA and a 10-1 mark when starting this season. The two combined have the lowest combined ERA of any Creighton starters this season (2.36). The duo is 19-2 in 182.2 innings of work as starters this season.
Every Rose has its Thorn
Scott Thornburg has earned his first MVC Player of the Week honors of his Bluejay career, for his play during the week of May 16. The junior catcher/designated hitter helped the Bluejays to a 9-8 win over Nebraska at home on Tuesday before taking two-of-three in Evansville over the weekend.
Thornburg was Creighton's hottest hitter during the last week, finishing 7-for-15 (.467) from the plate, starting three of four games behind the dish and the other as the designated hitter. Thornburg had multi-hit games in three of the four, including a two-double performance at Evansville on Sunday, May 15. The junior from Lakewood, Colo., drove in three RBI on the week and scored two runs.
Thornburg, who is currently on a career-high six game hitting streak, is hitting .448 in his last 9-games, picking up a hit in 13 of his 29 at bats over that stretch and raising his batting average 60 points. Seven of his 13 hits have been doubles. He has driven in seven RBI in the 9-game stretch, scoring nine runs himself, while playing perfectly behind the dish with no errors in 56 chances. He is hitting .298 on the season with a .426 slugging percentage in 94 at bats.
What a Relief!!!
One reason for Creighton's success in the last eight games at home has been strong pitching by relievers Jack VanLeur (0.00 ERA 1-0, 3.1 IP), Reese McGraw (1-0, 0.00 ERA in 9.2 IP), and Kurt Spomer (0-0, 4 saves in 5.1 IP). The trio has struck out 15 and not allowed an earned run over its last 18.1 innings of work.
Batting Around
Creighton batters 1-through-9 each picked up a hit in the game against Nebraska on Tuesday, May 10, marking the third time this season the Jays have accomplished the feat. They also did it in the 7-5 win at Wichita State on May 7 and at Air Force on March 16. Leading the Jays on Tuesday were Michael Mutcheson, Alex Staehely and Scott Thornburg with two hits a piece, while Trever Adams improved his hit streak to 10-games, and his reaching base safely streak to 29 games, which leads the Valley this season.
Starter's Success
Ty Blach made his team-high 16th start of the season Friday, May 20, taking over the lead in the Valley this season. Creighton is 13-3 in Blach's first 16 starts this year and the Bluejays have won 16 of the past 19 games he's appeared in, dating to late last season. Blach has made 30 career appearances, including 27 starts. Only three times has the opposition scored four or more earned runs against him, and in 23 of those games Blach allowed two or fewer earned runs.
Blach's career ERA of 2.73 ranks second-best in the Ed Servais era among pitchers with 50 innings or more. Brandon Bird is first on that list at 2.60, while Pat Venditte is third on the same list at 2.86.
For the Team
Creighton excels when it comes to the little things, such as sacrifice bunts. The Jays are fourth nationally in sacrifice bunts since the start of the 2008 season, with 289 in that time. Leading the way this season has been junior first baseman Nick Judkins, who is tied for second nationally with 19 sacrifice bunts. Judkins has eight sacrifices in his last 17 games, and has seven more sac bunts than any other Valley player this spring. He now sits in 2nd place on the all-time Bluejay charts, just three behind the MVC Record set by Vince Pietro in 1999. The NCAA record in a single season is 34, set by Ben Orloff of UC Irvine in 2007.
One to Four
Bluejay right hander Jonas Dufek has turned into a strike out pitcher in his senior season on the mound, leading the Jays with 99 strike outs this season. In his career, Dufek has fanned 216 batters while walking just 59 total, including an impressive zero in his five innings of work at Evansville last weekend. He has cut his ERA from the past two seasons in half, holding just a 2.32 ERA this season against a 4.33 his sophomore season and 4.92 his junior year.
Keep Going and Going
Jimmy Swift leads the Creighton lineup with 162 consecutive starts in his career. The senior, who moved from the hot corner at third base to short stop this season, has played in and started every game since his sophomore season, holding a .289 lifetime batting average with 19 stolen bases. He is one of four Jays this season who has started every game for the club, joining Trever Adams, Alex Staehely and Chance Ross. Nick Judkins has started 51-of-52 games at first base this season.
We Came to Play
The Bluejays put up a four-spot to open the game on Tuesday, May 10 against Nebraska, the first time this season they have scored four in the opening frame and the highest first inning output since last season against Portland (5-0 after one).
Adapting
Creighton has played a majority of their games on the road this season, putting together the eighth best road record, as ranked by WarrenNolan.com. The Bluejays won nine of the last 12 on the road and are 18-8 in road games this season. The Jays also sit at #7 in the country in win percentage, winning 75.0% of their games this season
Moving On Up
The Tuesday night against Nebraska brought 17, 588 fans to TD Ameritrade Park Omaha, ranking third in attendances this season, behind the 22,197 from the first NU vs CU game at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha and the 18,156 who saw Georgia at Georgia Tech on April 26. Creighton now sits in 7th in the country in home attendance, averaging 4,984 in their 22 home games this season. While at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha, Creighton is averaging 8,852 fans.
The Park that Adams Built...
Creighton is 9-3 in its 12 games at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha, including a 6-1 mark in night games at the venue. Trever Adams leads all players with 20 hits and three homers, good for a .444 batting average, while Jimmy Swift tops everyone with five doubles and 13 RBI. Alex Staehely is the only player with two stolen bases. On the mound, Reese McGraw and Ty Blach are each 2-0, making them the only two players with multiple victories on the TD Ameritrade Park Omaha mound.
• Creighton has won 31 straight home games when scoring eight or more runs, dating to a 12-10 loss on April 3, 2007.
• Creighton has won 48 straight home games when allowing 0 or 1 run, including a 45-0 mark under Ed Servais, since losing 1-0 to Wichita State on April 19, 2002.
• Creighton has outscored foes 7-0 in the first inning of the 12 games at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha, and 25-6 in the seventh inning and later. Creighton is 9-0 when scoring three or more runs, but 0-3 when scoring two runs or less.
On the Loose
Creighton's third baseman Chance Ross was cut loose on the base-paths at Evansville, stealing two bases on Friday and two more on Saturday. It marks the second time this season the junior has picked up two stolen bases in three games, stealing a pair against both North Dakota State and Portland. He has 11 stolen bases on the season, tied with Trever Adams for the most on the team.
Stranded
Before stringing together four consecutive two-out singles to score twice in the ninth inning of Tuesday, May 17th 4-2 win at Iowa, Creighton had not scored in the ninth inning since April 23rd, a span of 13 games. By comparison, Creighton was 2-for-27 in two-out situations against Evansville last weekend.
Rough Outings
The Creighton baseball team has been pretty solid behind the arms of Friday and Saturday starters Ty Blach and Jonas Dufek. Sunday's have seen a handful of starters and even more of CU's bullpen staff. The Sunday numbers for opponents are considerably higher, but have spiked in the last three Sunday's (vs. SIU, Wichita State and Evansville). In all of the Sunday games this season, Creighton pitchers have given up 94 hits, 65 runs and allowed 40 free passes. In the last three Sunday's combined, the pitching staff has given up 33 hits, 28 runs and issued 15 free passes.
Walking Woes
The Creighton pitching staff walked a combined 10 batters on Sunday, May 8 at Wichita State and seven batters against Nebraska on Tuesday, May 10. Six of the 10 batter walked scored in the 12-3 Shocker win, while just 2-of-the-7 scored in the Husker game. 10-of-the-13 combined Bluejay pitchers used in the two games had at least one walk.
One of a Kind
Trever Adams is the only player with two seasons of 12 or more homers under Ed Servais. He's also the only player under Servais with multiple seasons of 74 or more hits, to hit over .350 in two different seasons and to own more than 120 total bases more than once. He is also the first player with two seasons of 53 or more RBI as well.
Our Own Rick Vaughn
Kurt Spomer owns a 2.13 ERA in 42.1 innings of work this season. He is currently the fourth reliever under Ed Seravis to own 40 or more innings and a ERA of 2.25 or better. Each of the other three times it has happened (Brandon Bird in 2005 and both Pat Venditte and Andy Masten in 2007), the Jays have reached the NCAA Tournament and won either the MVC regular-season or tournament title. Along those same lines, Spomer's 10 saves are the most by a Bluejay since Masten had a school-record 16 saves in 2007. Bird added 11 saves in 2005.
D-D-D-DFENCE
There's an old adage that championships are won with pitching and defense, and those are two characteristics associated with Creighton baseball under Ed Servais. In the eight years under Servais, Creighton owns the nation's fewest errors with just 414 miscues, far ahead of second-place San Jose State's 456 errors in that same span.
Additionally, Creighton's .977 fielding percentage under Servais also leads the nation, ahead of second-place South Carolina (.9748.)
Creighton also ranks 20th nationally with a 4.00 ERA in the eight years under Servais. Of the teams on that top-20 list, 19 of the 20 have advanced to the Super Regionals since 2004, and 13 of the 20 have advanced to the College World Series (garnering five titles) in those years.
CPR
Creighton has found a closer in walk-on Kurt Spomer. The junior from Honey Creek, Iowa leads the team with seven saves this season, nearly perfect in 10-12 save opportunities. The right-hander holds a 1.79 ERA when coming out of the bullpen this season, working 40.1 innings in 28 appearances. 27 of the 28 appearances have been at least 1.0 innings of work.
Just Another Day's Work
Bluejay outfielder Trever Adams has now reached safely in 36 consecutive games, a streak that leads the MVC. He has also gotten a hit in 43 of his last 47 games, including 22 multi hit games in that stretch. He is hitting .415 with 14 home runs 49RBI in the last 48 games. Below is a list of the longest consecutive games reached streaks by a Bluejay since 1999.
38 Vince Pietro - March 6 - April 26, 2000
(snapped by Illinois State)
38 Darin Ruf - Feb. 24 - May 4, 2007
(snapped by SIU)
36 Trever Adams - March 16, 2011 - Present
33 Robbie Knight - March 11-May 3, 2009
(snapped by Missouri State)
30 Tony Roth - April 23, 2004 - March 7, 2005 (snapped by Texas A&M-Corpus Christi)
Worth Noting
Creighton has put together an impressive 39-13 record this season, with four wins over New Mexico, two wins over Illinois State and a victory over Kansas State, all of which were NCAA Tournament teams following the 2010 season. Creighton also has a 15-6 record in Valley play this season, winning the MVC regular season. The Jays had moved up in RPI to a season high 38 following the weekend sweep at Indina State. Creighton is still the highest in the Missouri Valley Conference. Below is where the MVC teams sit as of 5/22/11.
Creighton 40
Illinois State 55
Missouri State 66
Wichita State 74
Evansville 122
Southern Illinois 160 Indiana State 175
Bradley 213
Through the Order
Creighton's eight and nine-hole hitters in the Saturday, April 30 game, Scott Thornburg and Joey Bowens, combined for five hits on the night, each scoring two runs and knocking in at least one RBI (Bowens with two). It marked the first time those two spots in the line-up have both had two hits since March 16, when they Jays played at Air Force.
Take 'em to the Casino
Bluejay pitchers Jonas Dufek and Ty Blach each picked up their seventh win of the season in the weekend sweep of Bradley. It marks the first time since 2008 that Creighton has had two pitchers aith 7+ wins in a season. Pat Venditte (9-3) and Jeremy Hauer (8-2) both did it that season. Dufek also won again at Wichita State on May 7, becoming the first Bluejay this season to reach eight wins. Blach picked up his eighth win in a pre-determined 2.0 innings on Tuesday, May 10 against Nebraska.
Doctor, Doctor
Creighton's future med-school student, Joey Bowens, went a perfect 3-for-3 in the 10-1 win over Bradley on April 30. The junior has played in 34 games, starting 18 in the outfield. Bowens has a career high of four hits in a single game (earlieer this season against SDSU), but this was the first time the Libertyville, Ill., native had exactly three on the night.
A Little Fun
The Bluejays had a little fun at the expense of sophomore Jordan Makovicka following the 5-3 win over Kansas on April 26. After Makovicka knocked a two-RBI single in the eighth to give the Jays the win, his Bluejay teammates gave him a shaving cream pie in the face while he was talking to reporters. The two RBI were just the second and third for Makovicka on the season, and the single came in his 16th at-bat of the year. Less than a week later, Makovicka returned the favor, pie-ing Joey Bowens after his 3-for-3 night at the plate and stellar defense in the 10-1 win over Bradley on April 30.
Anniversary
The 1991 season marks the 20-year anniversary of Creighton's 1991 College World Series team. The group was honored by Creighton April 22-24 and will be honored again in June during the 2011 College World Series. Top names on that squad include head coach Jim Hendry (current GM Of the Chicago Cubs), and future first-round draft picks Scott Stahoviak, Chad McConnell and Alan Benes. The Bluejays went 2-2 in 1991, becoming the first school from Nebraska to reach as well as win games in the CWS. Creighton's two wins are twice as many as all other schools from the state of Nebraska combined in CWS action.
In the Polls
The Bluejays have put together one of the best starts in school history and cracked the top-30 poll on April 18, 2011. The Jays were ranked at #28 in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper's magazine, released on Monday, April 18. The last time the Jays were ranked in the poll was May 28, 2007, when the Jays won the MVC Tournament and jumped into the #22 spot after not previously being ranked. Creighton was #29 in the Baseball Writers Poll and receiving votes in the USA Today/ESPN poll. After a 1-3 week the following week, Creighton dropped out of both polls. They are now receiving votes in both the NCBWA and USA Today/ESPN Poll. Revolving Door
Jordan Makovicka put his name in a hat for the starting left fielder on Tuesday against Kansas on April 26 and made a pretty good case for himself. The sophomore drove in the game winning run on a single in the eighth. He now is hitting .167 when patrolling left field. Seven different Bluejays have seen time in left field this season, as Creighton continues to try and find the best lineup. Taking most of the games has been Joey Bowens, who has played 40 games in left, hitting .226 when in the outfield. No other Jay has played in more than 18 games in left, with Brad McKewon (.185) and Michael Blatchford (.220) leading the way with 18 games in left. Creighton has also thrown catcher Anthony Bemboom in left field to keep his bat in the order, but the junior is hitting .222 when in left and .237 when catching.
Cutting it Close
Creighton has played in 22 one-run games this season, tallying an impressive 16-6 record in those contests. Four of the Bluejays' 13 losses has been by more than three runs (the 11-4 BYU loss on March 22, and at Wichita State, 8-0 on May 6, 12-3 on May 8 and 10-1 at Evansville on May 15.)
Under the Stars
The Bluejays are 7-3 when playing at night this season. Three of Creighton's wins have been come from behind, as the Bluejays had a come from behind win against SIU on Friday, 4/22 and put up two runs in the eighth to defeat Kansas on April 26. and two runs in the ninth to down Iowa 5-3 on May 17 The three losses, 6:30 and later start times, have been at the hands of Nebraska and Wichita State. The Jays lost game one 8-5 and gave up two unearned runs in the second to fall 2-1against the Huskers earlier this season and were shut out 8-0 against Wichita State on Friday, May 6. With the new facility, Creighton will play three more regular season games this season with a start time after 6:00 pm central time (just one more at home). The Jays were 10-7 in night games last season.
Decades
With 14 homers and 11 stolen bases this year, Trever Adams is the only player in the MVC this season with 10 or more homers and 10 or more stolen bases. In the past three seasons, the only other Valley players with at least 13 homers and 11 steals in the same season was Evansville's Cody Fick (19 HR/12 SB) in 2010.
Home or Away
The Jays are one of four Missouri Valley teams that holds a winning record both at home and on the road. Creighton is 18-4 at home and 18-8 on the road this season. The Jays also hold the distinction of having a winning record at home and on the road in Valley play, going 7-2 at home and 8-4 on the road. The road record is a figure that no doube contributed to Creighton's RPI finish of 37 at the end of Saturday.
• The 18 road wins were the most by any team in the nation with an RBI of 37 or better and the 26 true road games tied Cal State Fullerton for most in the country by any top-37 club.
Pitching Machine
Jack VanLeur has 109 career appearances entering this weekend and has become just the third player in Creighton history to pitch in 100 games with his appearance against SIU on April 24, joining the ranks of Pat Venditte (110) and Scott Reese (123).
Fanning Figures
Going into the series with Southern Illinois, the Bluejays had struck out 213 times as a team. In the highest total in three games all season, Creighton batters struck out 32 times on the weekend, just under a sixth of the previous season total. The starting three Saluki pitchers all had career high strike out numbers against the Jays, as they struck out 11 times both Friday and Saturday and 10 on Sunday.
If You Build It... They Will Come
Creighton's new home, TD Ameritrade Park Omaha, has boosted the average attendance of the Jays this season considerably (and the winning ways of the Jays doesn't hurt either!) Creighton now sits in 7th in home attendance, averaging 4,984 per game. Below is the top 20 home averages this season:
1 LSU 400,295 38 10,534
2 Mississippi 261,006 32 8,156
3 Arkansas 245,907 31 7,932
4 S. Carolina 258,651 35 7,390
5 Texas 222,270 34 6,537
6 Mississippi St. 189,218 31 6,103
7 Creighton 109,665 22 4,984
8 Florida St. 152,096 32 4,753
9 Clemson 137,837 32 4,307
10 TCU 139,170 33 4,217
11 Alabama 128,854 33 3,904
12 Texas A&M 136,148 35 3,889
13 Florida 134,582 35 3,845
14 Rice 112,544 32 3,517
15 Southern Miss. 90,884 26 3,495
16 Wichita State 110,723 32 3,460
17 Louisiana 92,784 28 3,313
18 Arizona St. 86,522 27 3,204 19 Hawaii 111,343 35 3,181
20 Virginia 95,356 32 2,980
Major League Numbers
There were 12 Major League Baseball games the night of April 19. The Creighton-Nebraska crowd of 22,197 was larger than six of them, and also larger than the MLB average crowd of 22,072.
45,408 Milwaukee at Philadelphia
41,596 Atlanta at Los Angeles (NL)
30,320 San Francisco at Colorado
27,032 Houston at New York (NL)
25,250 New York (AL) at Toronto
22,450 Los Angeles (AL) at Texas
-- 22,197 Nebraska at Creighton --
13,731 Chicago (AL) at Tampa Bay
12,994 Arizona at Cincinnati
12,411 Detroit at Seattle
12,045 Minnesota at Baltimore
11,118 Pittsburgh at Florida
10,506 Cleveland at Kansas City
Record Setting
Creighton's record after 33 games was 26-7, matching the best record after 33 games in school history. Also starting 26-7 after 33 games were both the 2000 and 2005 teams that eventually would qualify for the NCAA Regionals. The 2000 team lost its 34th game (also against Nebraska), while the 2005 club is the program's only squad to start 27-7.
A New Place to Call Home
Tuesday, April 19th's opening game against Nebraska was the first for the Bluejays in TD Ameritrade Park Omaha, their new home for games. Creighton had a great deal of success playing at the CU Sports Complex, racking up a .770 winning percentage under Ed Servais in his tenure. When opening the CU Sports Complex, the Jays won the first 14 games at the stadium, including defeating Mount Marty 8-7 in the opener and 16-3 in game two. That season, the Jays finished 23-6 overall at home, losing the last six straight. Creighton fell to Nebraska 2-1 in the TD Ameritrade Park Omaha opener, starting 0-1 in the new complex. The Jays won just one-of-three against SIU, but defeated Kansas State on April 26 and swept Bradley the last weekend of May to move their current record in TD Ameritrade Park Omaha to 9-3 with the win over Nebraska.
Two-for-Two
The Bluejays swept the MVC Player/Pitcher of the Week honors for the week of April 18, with Trever Adams and Kurt Spomer earning the honors. Adams continued to lead the Bluejay offense, going 7-for-14 from the plate during that week. The senior right fielder improved his overall batting average to .397, driving out two doubles and two home runs on the week, both in the sweep at Indiana State. Adams finished the week hitting .500, with a slugging percentage of 1.071 and an on-base percentage of .611. Adams was intentionally walked twice on the week, both against Big 12 power Kansas State. He was also walked twice in the 6-5 win on Sunday over Indiana State, both after his solo home run and one on four pitches. Adams finished the day on Saturday (the 9-5 win) going 3-for-4 from the plate, driving in four and scoring once. He finished the week with five runs scored, scoring in every game last week and twice in the 6-5 Sunday win. In Kurt Spomer's last eight appearances to that date, the junior from Honey Creek, Iowa, has some sort of a decision in each, picking up three wins, four saves and one loss. In action last week, Spomer picked up a win over Kansas State, a win over Indiana State (4/17) and a save at Indiana State (4/16). In 4.1 innings of work, the right hander gave up just two hits, no runs, walked two and struck out four. Spomer got out of a jam in the eighth inning of Sunday's win, coming in with a tie ball game, getting two outs and then striking out two and forcing a ground ball in the ninth to earn the win.
Going Streaking
Trever Adams entered the weekend series with SIU with an 18-game hitting streak. In that time, he was 32-for-70 (.457) with seven homers and 32 RBI. Adams owned at least one hit in 28 of the last 29 games, and during those 29 games he was 52-for-112 (.464) with 10 homers and 40 RBI. Here are Creighton's longest hitting streaks under Ed Servais:
28 – Tony Roth, April 23, 2004 - March 1, 2005
23 – Elliot Soto, March 24 - April 29, 2009
19 – Zach Daeges, May 8, 2004 - March 1, 2005
18 - Trever Adams, March 16, 2011 - April 24, 2011
16 - Trever Adams, April 23 - May 20, 2011
16 – Robbie Knight, March 11 - April 5, 2009
15 – Darin Ruf, April 12 - May 3, 2008
15 – Chris Gradoville, April 20 - May 15, 2007
Walk-Off Winners
Creighton won in “walk-off” fashion in three of the four home games from April 3-April 22. Creighton beat Kansas State 7-6 on a walk-off walk by Joey Bowens in the final game at the CU Sports Complex. Before that, Trever Adams had a walk-off single to score Michael Mutcheson and give the Jays a 4-3 win over Portland on April 3rd. The Jays also defeated SIU on April 22 in the bottom of the 10th, putting up a run to win the game on a Chance Ross blooper over the short stop's head, scoring Staehely from third base.
Touch Em All
The Bluejays hit eight home runs in the series sweep at Indiana State on April 15-17, getting two each from Nick Judkins, Trever Adams and Anthony Bemboom, with Jimmy Swift and Mike Gerber each adding solo shots on the weekend. The Jays improved their slugging percentage 15 points on the weekend, moving from .410 as a team to .425. The Jays added four doubles to the eight home runs to help improve the percentage. Creighton moved from a tie for 5th in the Valley in slugging percentage to second over the weekend. Adams is now the sole leader in the slugging percentage in the Valley, holding a .763 percentage, nearly 100 points higher than Cody Fick of Evansville, who has a .676 average and is in second place.
Running Rampant
Ed Servais has turned Creighton loose on the basepaths so far this season. Creighton has stolen 59 bases, eclipsing its entire stolen base total from 2010 and exceeding the 38 swipes in 2009. Creighton's 73.1 success rate on the basepaths this season (49-67 )is the best mark in any season so far under Servais.
A First for Everything
Creighton had eight homers in the series sweep at Indiana State, hitting three each on Friday and Sunday and two dingers on Saturday. The Jays entered the weekend with multiple homers in just two of its first 29 games, and hadn't had two or more homers in three straight games since March 7-8, 2009. Creighton has never had four straight games with two or more homers under Ed Servais.
Finding a Gap
With 20 doubles on the season, Alex Staehely currently leads the MVC in the category in the MVC, and leads the Bluejays this season. Staehely's double output has been slowed a little, as he has went ten games without a double dating from April 3 to April 23. He did hit a double in the April 24 loss to Southern Illinois. The sophomore had seven hits in the span, accompanied by four sacrifice bunts. Staehely did pick up his second home run of the season in the 5-3 win over Kansas, marking back-to-back games with extra base hits. He had a double and home run in the 7-5 win over Wichita State on May 7.
Catch Ya Later
Creighton left 10 runners on base in the rubber match between CU and Illinois State on Sunday, April 10 in Normal, Ill., 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.
Check Him Out
• Trever Adams' 81 hits are the most by a Bluejay since 2007, when Darin Ruf had 86 and Chris Gradoville had 81 hits.
• Trever Adams enters the MVC Tournament hitting .399. The last Creighton player to hit better than .395 with 125 or more at-bats was Chad McConnell, who hit .400 in 1992.
• Trever Adams' 14 homers lead the MVC and are the most by a Bluejay in one season since Ryan Gripp (25) and Peyton Lewis (19) in 1999.
• Trever Adams is hitting .377 in his career entering the MVC Tournament, fifth-best in school history. The last player to finish a career better than .360 was Scott Stahoviak, who hit a school-record .418 from 1989-91 en route to National Player of the Year accolades in his junior campaign.
• Through games of May 15th, Trever Adams was one of five players to rank in the top-50 nationally in batting average, home runs and RBI. He was also the only player in the country hitting .380 or better with at least 12 homers, 52 RBI and 10 stolen bases. With numbers like these, Adams seems likely to become the first Bluejay outfielder to be named first-team all-MVC since Chris Hinrichs in 2000.
More on the 'Pen
• Reese McGraw is 2-0 with a save and has not allowed a run in eight career appearances at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha. In 11.2 innings of work, he's allowed just five hits, holding foes to a .135 average. Jack VanLeur has appeared in seven games and also owns a perfect 0.00 ERA in 6.2 innings of work, despite allowing 12 baserunners in that span.
• Kurt Spomer's 10 saves are the most by a Bluejay since Andy Masten had 16 in 2007 for the Jays. His 10 saves are the most by a junior in Creighton history for one season.
• Jack VanLeur is third in Creighton history and fifth in Valley history with 109 career appearances, one behind Pat Venditte for a share of second in CU history.
• Creighton has earned a save in all four victories last weekend, giving them a Valley-best 18 saves this season, which also is tied for ninth-most nationally. Each of the previous 14 teams in league history with 18 saves or more in a season would advance to the NCAA Tournament.
• One big reason that Creighton went 4-0 last week is the work of its bullpen. The Bluejay relief corps went 2-0 with a save in all four games, throwing 13.2 scoreless innings. In Creighton's last six games, the Bluejay bullpen is 3-0 with five saves and a miniscule 0.40 ERA in 22.1 innings of work.
• Creighton's bullpen has allowed just 42-of-132 (31.2 percent) men to score this season. Kurt Spomer (3-of-18, 16.7 percent) leads that group, with Mark Winkelman ( 4-of-22, 18.2 percent) and Reese McGraw (13-of-39, 33.3 percent) aren't far behind. In last week's four wins, Creighton's bullpen allowed just 2-of-14 men to score. McGraw has stranded seven straight inherited runners, while each of Chase Webb's last three relief outings have seen him inherit bases-loaded situations. Impressively for Webb, only one of those nine men scored.
• Reese McGraw owns an ERA of 0.73 (1 ER in 12.1 IP) when pitching in the ninth inning or later, while Kurt Spomer owns an ERA of 0.64 (2 ER in 28.0 IP) in the eighth inning or later. As a team, Creighton owns a 1.65 ERA in the 9th inning or later this season.
Starter's Success
• In Creighton's series-clinching victory over Missouri State last Friday, Ty Blach earned his 10th win while Kurt Spomer earned his 10th save. It marked the first time since a June 5, 2005 win over North Carolina State that Creighton had where someone with 10 or more wins (Scott Reese, 12-0) and someone else with 10 or more saves (Brandon Bird, 1th save) each factored in the decision in the same game.
• Ty Blach is 10-1 this season, good for a .909 win percentage that is tied for second-best in school history. Only Scott Reese (12-0 in 2005) has been better.
• Ty Blach's 2.73 ERA is the second-best in school history by a pitcher who has pitched for two or more years and thrown 100 or more career innings. Only Rick Heiserman (2.68 from 1992-94) has a better mark.
• Ty Blach has not allowed a second-inning run this year in 15 starts.
•Ty Blach hasn't started every game at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha, it just seems that way. The southpaw has started five of the 12 games played at the park (including five of the seven night games), owning a 3-0 record and 1.90 ERA in 23.2 innings of work in which he's struck out 29 men. In the seven night games at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha, Creighton's starting pitchers are 4-0 with a 1.78 ERA in 35.1 innings.
• The Valley leader in victories, Ty Blach (10-1) is the first Creighton pitcher with 10 or more wins in a season since Ben Mancuso was named MVC Pitcher of the Year after going 10-3 in 2007. Only five men in Creighton history (including Alan Benes, twice), have won 11 or more games in a season, most recently Scott Reese (12) in 2005.
• Jonas Dufek enters the MVC Tournament having struck out 105 batters this season, sixth-most in CU's single-season history. Dufek, who owns four or more K's in each of his 14 starts this season, is five punchouts away from moving past former first-round draft picks Dan Smith (108 in 1989) and Alan Benes (110 in 1992) for fourth-most in CU single-season history.
• Despite not recording a win in his true freshman campaign of 2008, senior Jonas Dufek ranks tied for fifth in Creighton history with 21 career wins. A victory on Tuesday would give him the most by any Bluejay since Drue Councill had 24 from 1995-98.
• Greg Hellhake has started 14 games and thrown 56.0 innings this year, but has yet to allow a home run. In fact, in his last 26 appearances (which includes 23 starts), he has allowed a homer in just one of those games.
Follow the Jays all post-season through live stats at www.gocreighton.com. Click on the link on the right side of the front page to follow all the action of Creighton baseball in the MVC Tournament. The games will also be broadcast on KOZN 1620 AM on Tuesday, with John Bishop and David Gustafson calling the game. A link for that is on the baseball schedule page on www.gocreighton.com also. Make sure to check in after the game for statistics on your favorite Jays. You can also follow the Jays via Twitter at gocreighton or on Facebook at Official Creighton Athletics Page.
Last Time Out
Creighton swept the Missouri State Bears, picking up its first MVC Regular Season Championship since the 2005 season. The three game sweep gave Creighton sole possession of the crown, leaving them a game ahead of the Wichita State Shockers. The Jays outscored the Bears 9-3, including a 3-1 win on Senior Day (Saturday, May 21).
Creighton 3, Missouri State 2 – After being held scoreless and stranding six runners through five innings, Creighton broke through against Missouri State's Nick Petree in the bottom of the sixth. Trever Adams, reached on a bunt single to start the sixth and then scored when Alex Staehely followed by ripping his team-leading 20th double of the season into the left centerfield gap. Staehely would later score on Mike Gerber's double down the right field line, putting runners at second and third with one out. Chance Ross drove in the third run of the inning on a sacrifice fly to center field and the Bluejays led 3-1 after six. Missouri State cut into Creighton lead and threatened to go ahead in the eighth. Barrett Noirfalise led off the inning with a single, before Bluejay starter Jonas Dufek retired the next two MSU hitters. Back-to-back two-out singles from Kevin Medrano and Brock Chaffin scored one run and chased Dufek from the game. CU reliever Reese McGraw walked the only hitter he faced to load the bases, and head coach Ed Servais brought in his closer Kurt Spomer. Spomer threw just one pitch to retire Luke Voit, as the MSU catcher grounded out to second base to help the Jays get out of the inning with a 3-2 lead, the eventual final score.
Creighton 3, Missouri State 1 – Ty Blach and Blake Barber of Missouri State baffled the opponent's bats through the first third of the ball game, with each pitcher facing the minimum number of batters through three frames. Creighton's only base runner in the first three innings was Trever Adams, who singled to center field to lead off the frame. A quick spin by Barber fooled Adams, resulting in Barber's fourth pick off of the season. Blach's only baserunner in the first three frames was a walk in the second inning, erased by Scott Thornburg's sixth baserunner caught stealing this season. The Jays got on the board with single tallies in the fourth and fifth innings. Nick Judkins singled through the right side and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Jimmy Swift picked up his 39th RBI of the season when he drove a single into center field that scored Judkins for Creighton's first run of the night. The fifth inning started when Barber hit Alex Staehely on the wrist, just the second time in the game the Bluejays put the leadoff batter on. A sacrifice bunt by Anthony Bemboom and a double to the right center gap by Scott Thornburg plated Creighton's second run of the day, which ended up being the winning run. Blach continued his “no-no” into the sixth inning, giving up his first hit of the day to the number nine hitter in the Bears lineup, a single back up the middle. He had six strikeouts and just one walked batter in the first 5.2 innings of work. Creighton picked up another run in the bottom of the seventh when Adams hit his 14th home run of the season, a shot that landed just over the left field fence, inside the Creighton bullpen. It is Adams' first RBI in seven games, snapping the longest drought of his career. The Bears did put together a rally in the top of the ninth, stranding runners on first and second to end the game. A leadoff walk by closer Kurt Spomer to Brent Seifert was followed by a ground ball out and a strike out. Another walk put runners on the first two bases before Spomer forced a ground out to Staehely to secure the win.
Creighton 3, Missouri State 1 – The Bluejays got on the board first, plating a run in the second inning for the first time this weekend. Trever Adams led off the second inning with a hit by pitch, advanced to second on a Mike Gerber walk and then scored when Chance Ross singled up the middle. Creighton added a pair in the bottom of the fourth, using three singles in a row to plate the two runs. Scott Thornburg picked up the first of the three, a one out single up the middle. Anthony Bemboom followed with a single to centerfield, advancing to second on an error by the MSU shortstop. With runners on second and third, Gerber hit a single through the right side, thread right between the pulled in Bears defense. A ground ball, potential double play ball off Ross' bat scored the third run of the game, giving CU the 3-0 lead after four. Missouri State's Pierce Johnson came in and shut down the Creighton offense in the second half of the game, limiting the Jays to just one hit through the last five frames. But Creighton's defense turned two more double plays, stranding Bears on the bases in the seventh and eighth frames. Creighton relievers Jack VanLeur and Mark Winkelman both threw 1.1 innings in the game, allowing three combined hits. Reese McGraw closed things down, earning his fifth save of the season in the victory.
Scouting Creighton
Creighton won the Missouri Valley Conference regular season championship last weekend after being picked to finish fifth in the conference this season, returning 20 players and just four starters from the team that went 27-25 last season. The Bluejays sit atop the MVC, with a 39-13 overall record and 15-6 mark in the MVC going into the tournament.
Creighton is being led offensively this season by Trever Adams and Alex Staehely. Adams leads the team in batting average (.399), home runs (14), RBI (53) and triples (4). Adams has six game winning RBI this season, including 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 picked up the first Bluejay hit and scored the first run in TD Ameritrade Park Omaha history. He currently has reached base safely in 36 consecutive games. Staehely continues to swing a hot bat, second on the team with a .311 batting average and a team leading 20 doubles, second in the MVC. Michael Mutcheson and Jimmy Swift lead the team in hit by pitch with 10 on the season. Overall, the team is hitting .275 with 284 runs on 467 hits and 98 doubles.
The Jays have also had solid pitching performances on the mound this season. Jonas Dufek has moved into the Friday night starter position, leading the staff with 105 strikeouts this season. He and Greg Hellhake set career strikeout records, with 13 and six, respectively while Ty Blach fanned a career high of nine against MVC foe Southern Illinois (4/22/11). Kurt Spomer has been the top pitcher lately, picking up the closer position and holding a 2.13 ERA and 10 saves. The pitching staff has a combined 3.42 ERA and is holding opponents to a .242 batting average against.
As any team under Ed Servais can attest - the Jays are still among the nation's best in defense, as they hold a .979 fielding percentage on the season. Creighton committed just one error in each of the last three weekend series, and has committed 43 in the 52 games this season.
Scouting the Braves
After starting the season with an 18-8 record, Bradley has stumbled throughout the second half of the season and comes to Omaha hoping to break a season-long 7-game losing streak. Four of the seven losses have come by just one run and the Braves have been outscored by a total of only 13 runs in those seven losses (an average margin of defeat of just 1.9 runs per game). At 22-30 overall, the Braves have surpassed their win total from each of the past two seasons. Sophomore outfielder Mike Tauchman leads the Braves with a .347 batting average and 35 walks for a .464 on-base percentage, while sophomore shortstop Jason Leblebijian is second on the team with a .323 average and leads the Braves with 14 doubles. Junior third baseman Rob Elliott is threatening the single-season school record for steals, entering the MVC Tournament with 28 thefts and just two shy of the 1977 mark set by Jim Shaddid (30). Tuesday's starter, Joe Bircher, has paced the pitching staff with a 3.03 ERA in his 14 starts, while Jacob Booden and junior lefty Tory Doerr have combined for a 5-4 record in their last 18 starts. Justin Ziegler has set the school single-season record with eight saves this season.
Bluejays at their Offensive Best
• Head coach Ed Servais became the winningest head coach in Bluejay baseball history with the 5-3 win over Iowa (coached by former Bluejay skipper Jack Dahm) on Tuesday. Servais now sits at 293-162 (.644 winning percentage).
• Trever Adams is hitting .473 when playing at home this season, which has helped raise his overall average to .399. The senior outfielder has seven homeruns, 21 RBI and 40 hits when in Omaha this season.
• In the series against Bradley earlier this season, Trever Adams went 9-for-13, hitting .692 against the Braves pitching staff. The Bluejays had a .496 on base percentage during the three games.
• Mike Gerber is one of Creighton's hottest hitters at home. The centerfielder has a .314 average when in Omaha, driving out three home runs.
• In the 10 games Joey Bowens has started while at home this season, the fourth-year junior is hitting .393 (11-for-28). Bowens is hitting .214 on the season overall.
• Alex Staehely leads the Bluejays with 20 doubles this season. That is the most by a sinlge Bluejay since 2005, when Dan Norquist (22), Gabe Lapito (21) and Tony Roth (20) each did it.
• Jimmy Swift hit his third home run of the season in the second inning against Nebraska, a two run shot over the left field fence. Swift has a hit in 13-of-the-last-17 games, holding a .320 average in that stretch. He has driven in 14 in that span, picking up five doubles. He was named MVC Player of the Week following the Bradley series when he went 7-for-13 with 10 RBI.
• Nick Judkins has been a vaccuum at first base this season. The junior has committed just two errors on the season (one at Illinois State on 4/9 and one against Nebraska on 5/10) in 513 chances, for a .996 fielding percentage.
• Chance Ross had an RBI double against Nebraska on Tuesday, an RBI at Evansville and an RBI in the 5-3 win at Iowa. The everyday third baseman is hitting .253 when playing at home with two doubles and 13 RBI, as he drove in three last weekend against Missouri State, including a game-winner.
• Jimmy Swift had a career high three doubles in the May 1 game against Bradley, including two in the same inning.
• Nick Judkins leads the MVC with 19 sacrifice bunts, tied for second nationally. No other Bluejay has more than 12. He broke into the top 10 on the Bluejay all-time charts, jumping all the way into 2nd for sacrifices in a season.
• Michael Mutcheson has been Creighton's top leadoff hitter this season. The Jays are 33-6 when Mutcheson bats leadoff, and 6-7 when all other players hit atop the order.
Meet the Jays Pitching Staff
• Creighton has not allowed a home run in the last 10 games, a span of 91.2 innings, 337 at-bats and exactly 400 plate appearances by the opposition. Wichita State's Tyler Grimes went yard in the eighth inning on May 6, 2011 for the last home run off the staff.
• Creighton has earned a save in all four victories last weekend, giving them a Valley-best 18 saves this season, which also is tied for ninth-most nationally. Each of the previous 14 teams in league history with 18 saves or more in a season would advance to the NCAA Tournament.
• Jonas Dufek enters the MVC Tournament having struck out 105 batters this season, sixth-most in CU's single-season history. Dufek, who owns four or more K's in each of his 14 starts this season, is five punchouts away from moving past former first-round draft picks Dan Smith (108 in 1989) and Alan Benes (110 in 1992) for fourth-most in CU single-season history.
• Ty Blach had another solid outing for the Jays against Missouri State, pitching 8.0 innings of shutout baseball. The south paw allowed just three hits and three walks while striking out eight. Blach holds a 2.70 ERA in Valley play this season, holding a 4-1 record.
• Creighton's bullpen while at home has been lights out. Kurt Spomer holds a 2-0 record with five saves and a 0.47 ERA in 19.0 innings of work while at home this season and Reese McGraw is right behind him with a 3-0 record and 0.57 ERA in 15.2 innings. The two have combined for 29 strikeouts and seven walks.
• Ty Blach is a perfect 5-0 at home this season, making eight starts and throwing 39.1 innings. The south paw holds a 1.60 ERA in Omaha and has 47 strikeouts at home, which leads the staff while at home.
• Kurt Spomer's 10 saves are the most by a Bluejay since Andy Masten had 16 in 2007 for the Jays. His 10 saves are the most by a junior in Creighton history for one season.
• Mark Winkelman leads the pitching staff on the road with 16 appearances. He holds a 3.62 ERA with one save when Wink is on the mound.
• Jonas Dufek moved in the Creighton all-time charts, thanks to his 12 strikeouts against Wichita State. He now is T-5th in career wins (21), 6th in strike outs in a season (105) and 9th in strike outs in a career (222).
Get one for the Gipper... Or Skipper!
Head coach Ed Servais moved into first place on the All-Time list for wins as a Bluejay baseball head coach in the 5-3 win over Iowa on May 17, following moving into second with the 10-1 win over Bradley on Saturday, April 30. Servais holds a .644winning percentage at the helm of the Jays, winning MVC Coach of the Year award three times in his first seven seasons. He has compiled a 293-162 record in his eighth season as Creighton's skipper. Below is a list of the top three in order:
Coach (Years) Record Win %
Ed Servais (2004-present) 293-162 .644
Jim Hendry (1984*-1991) 289-182-2 .613
Jack Dahm (1994-2003) 283-276-2 .506
* Hendry took over mid-way through the 1984 season.
When at Home
The Creighton pitching staff has combined for a 2.60 ERA at home this season, earning an 18-4 record with seven saves. The staff has combined for 158 of their 369 strikeouts when in Omaha this season, holding opponents to a .234 average against.
FORE!
Creighton started 2-3 in their new ballpark, TD Ameritrade Park Omaha, but have improved to 9-3. And while the team was hopeful to have a better opening weekend against SIU, the Jays currently sit at 39-13, the second best record in program history. Only one other team has a better record after 52 games, the 2007 NCAA Regional Team. Below is how each of those teams, as well as the 1999 and 2000 NCAA Tournament teams fared through 52:
Year Record After 52
2007 40-12
2005 38-14 2000 35-17
1999 32-20
1991 34-18
Dry-Spell
Bluejay right fielder Trever Adams has a team leading 53 total RBI on the season. The senior went seven straight games without knocking in a single RBI until his solo home run against Missouri State, the first time in his CU career he has gone more than four games without driving in a run. Earlier this season Adams drove in 18 RBI in five games, spanning from April 2-9.
The Fri-urday Starter
Jonas Dufek has moved from the Saturday starter into the Friday position, leading off the weekend for the Bluejays on the mound. The senior from Omaha holds a 2.32 ERA and is 9-1 when starting in 13 appearances. He is holding opponents to a .201 batting average against, striking out 104 when starting. His counterpart, Ty Blach has the next best ERA among starters, holding a 2.41 ERA and a 10-1 mark when starting this season. The two combined have the lowest combined ERA of any Creighton starters this season (2.36). The duo is 19-2 in 182.2 innings of work as starters this season.
Every Rose has its Thorn
Scott Thornburg has earned his first MVC Player of the Week honors of his Bluejay career, for his play during the week of May 16. The junior catcher/designated hitter helped the Bluejays to a 9-8 win over Nebraska at home on Tuesday before taking two-of-three in Evansville over the weekend.
Thornburg was Creighton's hottest hitter during the last week, finishing 7-for-15 (.467) from the plate, starting three of four games behind the dish and the other as the designated hitter. Thornburg had multi-hit games in three of the four, including a two-double performance at Evansville on Sunday, May 15. The junior from Lakewood, Colo., drove in three RBI on the week and scored two runs.
Thornburg, who is currently on a career-high six game hitting streak, is hitting .448 in his last 9-games, picking up a hit in 13 of his 29 at bats over that stretch and raising his batting average 60 points. Seven of his 13 hits have been doubles. He has driven in seven RBI in the 9-game stretch, scoring nine runs himself, while playing perfectly behind the dish with no errors in 56 chances. He is hitting .298 on the season with a .426 slugging percentage in 94 at bats.
What a Relief!!!
One reason for Creighton's success in the last eight games at home has been strong pitching by relievers Jack VanLeur (0.00 ERA 1-0, 3.1 IP), Reese McGraw (1-0, 0.00 ERA in 9.2 IP), and Kurt Spomer (0-0, 4 saves in 5.1 IP). The trio has struck out 15 and not allowed an earned run over its last 18.1 innings of work.
Batting Around
Creighton batters 1-through-9 each picked up a hit in the game against Nebraska on Tuesday, May 10, marking the third time this season the Jays have accomplished the feat. They also did it in the 7-5 win at Wichita State on May 7 and at Air Force on March 16. Leading the Jays on Tuesday were Michael Mutcheson, Alex Staehely and Scott Thornburg with two hits a piece, while Trever Adams improved his hit streak to 10-games, and his reaching base safely streak to 29 games, which leads the Valley this season.
Starter's Success
Ty Blach made his team-high 16th start of the season Friday, May 20, taking over the lead in the Valley this season. Creighton is 13-3 in Blach's first 16 starts this year and the Bluejays have won 16 of the past 19 games he's appeared in, dating to late last season. Blach has made 30 career appearances, including 27 starts. Only three times has the opposition scored four or more earned runs against him, and in 23 of those games Blach allowed two or fewer earned runs.
Blach's career ERA of 2.73 ranks second-best in the Ed Servais era among pitchers with 50 innings or more. Brandon Bird is first on that list at 2.60, while Pat Venditte is third on the same list at 2.86.
For the Team
Creighton excels when it comes to the little things, such as sacrifice bunts. The Jays are fourth nationally in sacrifice bunts since the start of the 2008 season, with 289 in that time. Leading the way this season has been junior first baseman Nick Judkins, who is tied for second nationally with 19 sacrifice bunts. Judkins has eight sacrifices in his last 17 games, and has seven more sac bunts than any other Valley player this spring. He now sits in 2nd place on the all-time Bluejay charts, just three behind the MVC Record set by Vince Pietro in 1999. The NCAA record in a single season is 34, set by Ben Orloff of UC Irvine in 2007.
One to Four
Bluejay right hander Jonas Dufek has turned into a strike out pitcher in his senior season on the mound, leading the Jays with 99 strike outs this season. In his career, Dufek has fanned 216 batters while walking just 59 total, including an impressive zero in his five innings of work at Evansville last weekend. He has cut his ERA from the past two seasons in half, holding just a 2.32 ERA this season against a 4.33 his sophomore season and 4.92 his junior year.
Keep Going and Going
Jimmy Swift leads the Creighton lineup with 162 consecutive starts in his career. The senior, who moved from the hot corner at third base to short stop this season, has played in and started every game since his sophomore season, holding a .289 lifetime batting average with 19 stolen bases. He is one of four Jays this season who has started every game for the club, joining Trever Adams, Alex Staehely and Chance Ross. Nick Judkins has started 51-of-52 games at first base this season.
We Came to Play
The Bluejays put up a four-spot to open the game on Tuesday, May 10 against Nebraska, the first time this season they have scored four in the opening frame and the highest first inning output since last season against Portland (5-0 after one).
Adapting
Creighton has played a majority of their games on the road this season, putting together the eighth best road record, as ranked by WarrenNolan.com. The Bluejays won nine of the last 12 on the road and are 18-8 in road games this season. The Jays also sit at #7 in the country in win percentage, winning 75.0% of their games this season
Moving On Up
The Tuesday night against Nebraska brought 17, 588 fans to TD Ameritrade Park Omaha, ranking third in attendances this season, behind the 22,197 from the first NU vs CU game at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha and the 18,156 who saw Georgia at Georgia Tech on April 26. Creighton now sits in 7th in the country in home attendance, averaging 4,984 in their 22 home games this season. While at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha, Creighton is averaging 8,852 fans.
The Park that Adams Built...
Creighton is 9-3 in its 12 games at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha, including a 6-1 mark in night games at the venue. Trever Adams leads all players with 20 hits and three homers, good for a .444 batting average, while Jimmy Swift tops everyone with five doubles and 13 RBI. Alex Staehely is the only player with two stolen bases. On the mound, Reese McGraw and Ty Blach are each 2-0, making them the only two players with multiple victories on the TD Ameritrade Park Omaha mound.
• Creighton has won 31 straight home games when scoring eight or more runs, dating to a 12-10 loss on April 3, 2007.
• Creighton has won 48 straight home games when allowing 0 or 1 run, including a 45-0 mark under Ed Servais, since losing 1-0 to Wichita State on April 19, 2002.
• Creighton has outscored foes 7-0 in the first inning of the 12 games at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha, and 25-6 in the seventh inning and later. Creighton is 9-0 when scoring three or more runs, but 0-3 when scoring two runs or less.
On the Loose
Creighton's third baseman Chance Ross was cut loose on the base-paths at Evansville, stealing two bases on Friday and two more on Saturday. It marks the second time this season the junior has picked up two stolen bases in three games, stealing a pair against both North Dakota State and Portland. He has 11 stolen bases on the season, tied with Trever Adams for the most on the team.
Stranded
Before stringing together four consecutive two-out singles to score twice in the ninth inning of Tuesday, May 17th 4-2 win at Iowa, Creighton had not scored in the ninth inning since April 23rd, a span of 13 games. By comparison, Creighton was 2-for-27 in two-out situations against Evansville last weekend.
Rough Outings
The Creighton baseball team has been pretty solid behind the arms of Friday and Saturday starters Ty Blach and Jonas Dufek. Sunday's have seen a handful of starters and even more of CU's bullpen staff. The Sunday numbers for opponents are considerably higher, but have spiked in the last three Sunday's (vs. SIU, Wichita State and Evansville). In all of the Sunday games this season, Creighton pitchers have given up 94 hits, 65 runs and allowed 40 free passes. In the last three Sunday's combined, the pitching staff has given up 33 hits, 28 runs and issued 15 free passes.
Walking Woes
The Creighton pitching staff walked a combined 10 batters on Sunday, May 8 at Wichita State and seven batters against Nebraska on Tuesday, May 10. Six of the 10 batter walked scored in the 12-3 Shocker win, while just 2-of-the-7 scored in the Husker game. 10-of-the-13 combined Bluejay pitchers used in the two games had at least one walk.
One of a Kind
Trever Adams is the only player with two seasons of 12 or more homers under Ed Servais. He's also the only player under Servais with multiple seasons of 74 or more hits, to hit over .350 in two different seasons and to own more than 120 total bases more than once. He is also the first player with two seasons of 53 or more RBI as well.
Our Own Rick Vaughn
Kurt Spomer owns a 2.13 ERA in 42.1 innings of work this season. He is currently the fourth reliever under Ed Seravis to own 40 or more innings and a ERA of 2.25 or better. Each of the other three times it has happened (Brandon Bird in 2005 and both Pat Venditte and Andy Masten in 2007), the Jays have reached the NCAA Tournament and won either the MVC regular-season or tournament title. Along those same lines, Spomer's 10 saves are the most by a Bluejay since Masten had a school-record 16 saves in 2007. Bird added 11 saves in 2005.
D-D-D-DFENCE
There's an old adage that championships are won with pitching and defense, and those are two characteristics associated with Creighton baseball under Ed Servais. In the eight years under Servais, Creighton owns the nation's fewest errors with just 414 miscues, far ahead of second-place San Jose State's 456 errors in that same span.
Additionally, Creighton's .977 fielding percentage under Servais also leads the nation, ahead of second-place South Carolina (.9748.)
Creighton also ranks 20th nationally with a 4.00 ERA in the eight years under Servais. Of the teams on that top-20 list, 19 of the 20 have advanced to the Super Regionals since 2004, and 13 of the 20 have advanced to the College World Series (garnering five titles) in those years.
CPR
Creighton has found a closer in walk-on Kurt Spomer. The junior from Honey Creek, Iowa leads the team with seven saves this season, nearly perfect in 10-12 save opportunities. The right-hander holds a 1.79 ERA when coming out of the bullpen this season, working 40.1 innings in 28 appearances. 27 of the 28 appearances have been at least 1.0 innings of work.
Just Another Day's Work
Bluejay outfielder Trever Adams has now reached safely in 36 consecutive games, a streak that leads the MVC. He has also gotten a hit in 43 of his last 47 games, including 22 multi hit games in that stretch. He is hitting .415 with 14 home runs 49RBI in the last 48 games. Below is a list of the longest consecutive games reached streaks by a Bluejay since 1999.
38 Vince Pietro - March 6 - April 26, 2000
(snapped by Illinois State)
38 Darin Ruf - Feb. 24 - May 4, 2007
(snapped by SIU)
36 Trever Adams - March 16, 2011 - Present
33 Robbie Knight - March 11-May 3, 2009
(snapped by Missouri State)
30 Tony Roth - April 23, 2004 - March 7, 2005 (snapped by Texas A&M-Corpus Christi)
Worth Noting
Creighton has put together an impressive 39-13 record this season, with four wins over New Mexico, two wins over Illinois State and a victory over Kansas State, all of which were NCAA Tournament teams following the 2010 season. Creighton also has a 15-6 record in Valley play this season, winning the MVC regular season. The Jays had moved up in RPI to a season high 38 following the weekend sweep at Indina State. Creighton is still the highest in the Missouri Valley Conference. Below is where the MVC teams sit as of 5/22/11.
Creighton 40
Illinois State 55
Missouri State 66
Wichita State 74
Evansville 122
Southern Illinois 160 Indiana State 175
Bradley 213
Through the Order
Creighton's eight and nine-hole hitters in the Saturday, April 30 game, Scott Thornburg and Joey Bowens, combined for five hits on the night, each scoring two runs and knocking in at least one RBI (Bowens with two). It marked the first time those two spots in the line-up have both had two hits since March 16, when they Jays played at Air Force.
Take 'em to the Casino
Bluejay pitchers Jonas Dufek and Ty Blach each picked up their seventh win of the season in the weekend sweep of Bradley. It marks the first time since 2008 that Creighton has had two pitchers aith 7+ wins in a season. Pat Venditte (9-3) and Jeremy Hauer (8-2) both did it that season. Dufek also won again at Wichita State on May 7, becoming the first Bluejay this season to reach eight wins. Blach picked up his eighth win in a pre-determined 2.0 innings on Tuesday, May 10 against Nebraska.
Doctor, Doctor
Creighton's future med-school student, Joey Bowens, went a perfect 3-for-3 in the 10-1 win over Bradley on April 30. The junior has played in 34 games, starting 18 in the outfield. Bowens has a career high of four hits in a single game (earlieer this season against SDSU), but this was the first time the Libertyville, Ill., native had exactly three on the night.
A Little Fun
The Bluejays had a little fun at the expense of sophomore Jordan Makovicka following the 5-3 win over Kansas on April 26. After Makovicka knocked a two-RBI single in the eighth to give the Jays the win, his Bluejay teammates gave him a shaving cream pie in the face while he was talking to reporters. The two RBI were just the second and third for Makovicka on the season, and the single came in his 16th at-bat of the year. Less than a week later, Makovicka returned the favor, pie-ing Joey Bowens after his 3-for-3 night at the plate and stellar defense in the 10-1 win over Bradley on April 30.
Anniversary
The 1991 season marks the 20-year anniversary of Creighton's 1991 College World Series team. The group was honored by Creighton April 22-24 and will be honored again in June during the 2011 College World Series. Top names on that squad include head coach Jim Hendry (current GM Of the Chicago Cubs), and future first-round draft picks Scott Stahoviak, Chad McConnell and Alan Benes. The Bluejays went 2-2 in 1991, becoming the first school from Nebraska to reach as well as win games in the CWS. Creighton's two wins are twice as many as all other schools from the state of Nebraska combined in CWS action.
In the Polls
The Bluejays have put together one of the best starts in school history and cracked the top-30 poll on April 18, 2011. The Jays were ranked at #28 in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper's magazine, released on Monday, April 18. The last time the Jays were ranked in the poll was May 28, 2007, when the Jays won the MVC Tournament and jumped into the #22 spot after not previously being ranked. Creighton was #29 in the Baseball Writers Poll and receiving votes in the USA Today/ESPN poll. After a 1-3 week the following week, Creighton dropped out of both polls. They are now receiving votes in both the NCBWA and USA Today/ESPN Poll. Revolving Door
Jordan Makovicka put his name in a hat for the starting left fielder on Tuesday against Kansas on April 26 and made a pretty good case for himself. The sophomore drove in the game winning run on a single in the eighth. He now is hitting .167 when patrolling left field. Seven different Bluejays have seen time in left field this season, as Creighton continues to try and find the best lineup. Taking most of the games has been Joey Bowens, who has played 40 games in left, hitting .226 when in the outfield. No other Jay has played in more than 18 games in left, with Brad McKewon (.185) and Michael Blatchford (.220) leading the way with 18 games in left. Creighton has also thrown catcher Anthony Bemboom in left field to keep his bat in the order, but the junior is hitting .222 when in left and .237 when catching.
Cutting it Close
Creighton has played in 22 one-run games this season, tallying an impressive 16-6 record in those contests. Four of the Bluejays' 13 losses has been by more than three runs (the 11-4 BYU loss on March 22, and at Wichita State, 8-0 on May 6, 12-3 on May 8 and 10-1 at Evansville on May 15.)
Under the Stars
The Bluejays are 7-3 when playing at night this season. Three of Creighton's wins have been come from behind, as the Bluejays had a come from behind win against SIU on Friday, 4/22 and put up two runs in the eighth to defeat Kansas on April 26. and two runs in the ninth to down Iowa 5-3 on May 17 The three losses, 6:30 and later start times, have been at the hands of Nebraska and Wichita State. The Jays lost game one 8-5 and gave up two unearned runs in the second to fall 2-1against the Huskers earlier this season and were shut out 8-0 against Wichita State on Friday, May 6. With the new facility, Creighton will play three more regular season games this season with a start time after 6:00 pm central time (just one more at home). The Jays were 10-7 in night games last season.
Decades
With 14 homers and 11 stolen bases this year, Trever Adams is the only player in the MVC this season with 10 or more homers and 10 or more stolen bases. In the past three seasons, the only other Valley players with at least 13 homers and 11 steals in the same season was Evansville's Cody Fick (19 HR/12 SB) in 2010.
Home or Away
The Jays are one of four Missouri Valley teams that holds a winning record both at home and on the road. Creighton is 18-4 at home and 18-8 on the road this season. The Jays also hold the distinction of having a winning record at home and on the road in Valley play, going 7-2 at home and 8-4 on the road. The road record is a figure that no doube contributed to Creighton's RPI finish of 37 at the end of Saturday.
• The 18 road wins were the most by any team in the nation with an RBI of 37 or better and the 26 true road games tied Cal State Fullerton for most in the country by any top-37 club.
Pitching Machine
Jack VanLeur has 109 career appearances entering this weekend and has become just the third player in Creighton history to pitch in 100 games with his appearance against SIU on April 24, joining the ranks of Pat Venditte (110) and Scott Reese (123).
Fanning Figures
Going into the series with Southern Illinois, the Bluejays had struck out 213 times as a team. In the highest total in three games all season, Creighton batters struck out 32 times on the weekend, just under a sixth of the previous season total. The starting three Saluki pitchers all had career high strike out numbers against the Jays, as they struck out 11 times both Friday and Saturday and 10 on Sunday.
If You Build It... They Will Come
Creighton's new home, TD Ameritrade Park Omaha, has boosted the average attendance of the Jays this season considerably (and the winning ways of the Jays doesn't hurt either!) Creighton now sits in 7th in home attendance, averaging 4,984 per game. Below is the top 20 home averages this season:
1 LSU 400,295 38 10,534
2 Mississippi 261,006 32 8,156
3 Arkansas 245,907 31 7,932
4 S. Carolina 258,651 35 7,390
5 Texas 222,270 34 6,537
6 Mississippi St. 189,218 31 6,103
7 Creighton 109,665 22 4,984
8 Florida St. 152,096 32 4,753
9 Clemson 137,837 32 4,307
10 TCU 139,170 33 4,217
11 Alabama 128,854 33 3,904
12 Texas A&M 136,148 35 3,889
13 Florida 134,582 35 3,845
14 Rice 112,544 32 3,517
15 Southern Miss. 90,884 26 3,495
16 Wichita State 110,723 32 3,460
17 Louisiana 92,784 28 3,313
18 Arizona St. 86,522 27 3,204 19 Hawaii 111,343 35 3,181
20 Virginia 95,356 32 2,980
Major League Numbers
There were 12 Major League Baseball games the night of April 19. The Creighton-Nebraska crowd of 22,197 was larger than six of them, and also larger than the MLB average crowd of 22,072.
45,408 Milwaukee at Philadelphia
41,596 Atlanta at Los Angeles (NL)
30,320 San Francisco at Colorado
27,032 Houston at New York (NL)
25,250 New York (AL) at Toronto
22,450 Los Angeles (AL) at Texas
-- 22,197 Nebraska at Creighton --
13,731 Chicago (AL) at Tampa Bay
12,994 Arizona at Cincinnati
12,411 Detroit at Seattle
12,045 Minnesota at Baltimore
11,118 Pittsburgh at Florida
10,506 Cleveland at Kansas City
Record Setting
Creighton's record after 33 games was 26-7, matching the best record after 33 games in school history. Also starting 26-7 after 33 games were both the 2000 and 2005 teams that eventually would qualify for the NCAA Regionals. The 2000 team lost its 34th game (also against Nebraska), while the 2005 club is the program's only squad to start 27-7.
A New Place to Call Home
Tuesday, April 19th's opening game against Nebraska was the first for the Bluejays in TD Ameritrade Park Omaha, their new home for games. Creighton had a great deal of success playing at the CU Sports Complex, racking up a .770 winning percentage under Ed Servais in his tenure. When opening the CU Sports Complex, the Jays won the first 14 games at the stadium, including defeating Mount Marty 8-7 in the opener and 16-3 in game two. That season, the Jays finished 23-6 overall at home, losing the last six straight. Creighton fell to Nebraska 2-1 in the TD Ameritrade Park Omaha opener, starting 0-1 in the new complex. The Jays won just one-of-three against SIU, but defeated Kansas State on April 26 and swept Bradley the last weekend of May to move their current record in TD Ameritrade Park Omaha to 9-3 with the win over Nebraska.
Two-for-Two
The Bluejays swept the MVC Player/Pitcher of the Week honors for the week of April 18, with Trever Adams and Kurt Spomer earning the honors. Adams continued to lead the Bluejay offense, going 7-for-14 from the plate during that week. The senior right fielder improved his overall batting average to .397, driving out two doubles and two home runs on the week, both in the sweep at Indiana State. Adams finished the week hitting .500, with a slugging percentage of 1.071 and an on-base percentage of .611. Adams was intentionally walked twice on the week, both against Big 12 power Kansas State. He was also walked twice in the 6-5 win on Sunday over Indiana State, both after his solo home run and one on four pitches. Adams finished the day on Saturday (the 9-5 win) going 3-for-4 from the plate, driving in four and scoring once. He finished the week with five runs scored, scoring in every game last week and twice in the 6-5 Sunday win. In Kurt Spomer's last eight appearances to that date, the junior from Honey Creek, Iowa, has some sort of a decision in each, picking up three wins, four saves and one loss. In action last week, Spomer picked up a win over Kansas State, a win over Indiana State (4/17) and a save at Indiana State (4/16). In 4.1 innings of work, the right hander gave up just two hits, no runs, walked two and struck out four. Spomer got out of a jam in the eighth inning of Sunday's win, coming in with a tie ball game, getting two outs and then striking out two and forcing a ground ball in the ninth to earn the win.
Going Streaking
Trever Adams entered the weekend series with SIU with an 18-game hitting streak. In that time, he was 32-for-70 (.457) with seven homers and 32 RBI. Adams owned at least one hit in 28 of the last 29 games, and during those 29 games he was 52-for-112 (.464) with 10 homers and 40 RBI. Here are Creighton's longest hitting streaks under Ed Servais:
28 – Tony Roth, April 23, 2004 - March 1, 2005
23 – Elliot Soto, March 24 - April 29, 2009
19 – Zach Daeges, May 8, 2004 - March 1, 2005
18 - Trever Adams, March 16, 2011 - April 24, 2011
16 - Trever Adams, April 23 - May 20, 2011
16 – Robbie Knight, March 11 - April 5, 2009
15 – Darin Ruf, April 12 - May 3, 2008
15 – Chris Gradoville, April 20 - May 15, 2007
Walk-Off Winners
Creighton won in “walk-off” fashion in three of the four home games from April 3-April 22. Creighton beat Kansas State 7-6 on a walk-off walk by Joey Bowens in the final game at the CU Sports Complex. Before that, Trever Adams had a walk-off single to score Michael Mutcheson and give the Jays a 4-3 win over Portland on April 3rd. The Jays also defeated SIU on April 22 in the bottom of the 10th, putting up a run to win the game on a Chance Ross blooper over the short stop's head, scoring Staehely from third base.
Touch Em All
The Bluejays hit eight home runs in the series sweep at Indiana State on April 15-17, getting two each from Nick Judkins, Trever Adams and Anthony Bemboom, with Jimmy Swift and Mike Gerber each adding solo shots on the weekend. The Jays improved their slugging percentage 15 points on the weekend, moving from .410 as a team to .425. The Jays added four doubles to the eight home runs to help improve the percentage. Creighton moved from a tie for 5th in the Valley in slugging percentage to second over the weekend. Adams is now the sole leader in the slugging percentage in the Valley, holding a .763 percentage, nearly 100 points higher than Cody Fick of Evansville, who has a .676 average and is in second place.
Running Rampant
Ed Servais has turned Creighton loose on the basepaths so far this season. Creighton has stolen 59 bases, eclipsing its entire stolen base total from 2010 and exceeding the 38 swipes in 2009. Creighton's 73.1 success rate on the basepaths this season (49-67 )is the best mark in any season so far under Servais.
A First for Everything
Creighton had eight homers in the series sweep at Indiana State, hitting three each on Friday and Sunday and two dingers on Saturday. The Jays entered the weekend with multiple homers in just two of its first 29 games, and hadn't had two or more homers in three straight games since March 7-8, 2009. Creighton has never had four straight games with two or more homers under Ed Servais.
Finding a Gap
With 20 doubles on the season, Alex Staehely currently leads the MVC in the category in the MVC, and leads the Bluejays this season. Staehely's double output has been slowed a little, as he has went ten games without a double dating from April 3 to April 23. He did hit a double in the April 24 loss to Southern Illinois. The sophomore had seven hits in the span, accompanied by four sacrifice bunts. Staehely did pick up his second home run of the season in the 5-3 win over Kansas, marking back-to-back games with extra base hits. He had a double and home run in the 7-5 win over Wichita State on May 7.
Catch Ya Later
Creighton left 10 runners on base in the rubber match between CU and Illinois State on Sunday, April 10 in Normal, Ill., 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.
Check Him Out
• Trever Adams' 81 hits are the most by a Bluejay since 2007, when Darin Ruf had 86 and Chris Gradoville had 81 hits.
• Trever Adams enters the MVC Tournament hitting .399. The last Creighton player to hit better than .395 with 125 or more at-bats was Chad McConnell, who hit .400 in 1992.
• Trever Adams' 14 homers lead the MVC and are the most by a Bluejay in one season since Ryan Gripp (25) and Peyton Lewis (19) in 1999.
• Trever Adams is hitting .377 in his career entering the MVC Tournament, fifth-best in school history. The last player to finish a career better than .360 was Scott Stahoviak, who hit a school-record .418 from 1989-91 en route to National Player of the Year accolades in his junior campaign.
• Through games of May 15th, Trever Adams was one of five players to rank in the top-50 nationally in batting average, home runs and RBI. He was also the only player in the country hitting .380 or better with at least 12 homers, 52 RBI and 10 stolen bases. With numbers like these, Adams seems likely to become the first Bluejay outfielder to be named first-team all-MVC since Chris Hinrichs in 2000.
More on the 'Pen
• Reese McGraw is 2-0 with a save and has not allowed a run in eight career appearances at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha. In 11.2 innings of work, he's allowed just five hits, holding foes to a .135 average. Jack VanLeur has appeared in seven games and also owns a perfect 0.00 ERA in 6.2 innings of work, despite allowing 12 baserunners in that span.
• Kurt Spomer's 10 saves are the most by a Bluejay since Andy Masten had 16 in 2007 for the Jays. His 10 saves are the most by a junior in Creighton history for one season.
• Jack VanLeur is third in Creighton history and fifth in Valley history with 109 career appearances, one behind Pat Venditte for a share of second in CU history.
• Creighton has earned a save in all four victories last weekend, giving them a Valley-best 18 saves this season, which also is tied for ninth-most nationally. Each of the previous 14 teams in league history with 18 saves or more in a season would advance to the NCAA Tournament.
• One big reason that Creighton went 4-0 last week is the work of its bullpen. The Bluejay relief corps went 2-0 with a save in all four games, throwing 13.2 scoreless innings. In Creighton's last six games, the Bluejay bullpen is 3-0 with five saves and a miniscule 0.40 ERA in 22.1 innings of work.
• Creighton's bullpen has allowed just 42-of-132 (31.2 percent) men to score this season. Kurt Spomer (3-of-18, 16.7 percent) leads that group, with Mark Winkelman ( 4-of-22, 18.2 percent) and Reese McGraw (13-of-39, 33.3 percent) aren't far behind. In last week's four wins, Creighton's bullpen allowed just 2-of-14 men to score. McGraw has stranded seven straight inherited runners, while each of Chase Webb's last three relief outings have seen him inherit bases-loaded situations. Impressively for Webb, only one of those nine men scored.
• Reese McGraw owns an ERA of 0.73 (1 ER in 12.1 IP) when pitching in the ninth inning or later, while Kurt Spomer owns an ERA of 0.64 (2 ER in 28.0 IP) in the eighth inning or later. As a team, Creighton owns a 1.65 ERA in the 9th inning or later this season.
Starter's Success
• In Creighton's series-clinching victory over Missouri State last Friday, Ty Blach earned his 10th win while Kurt Spomer earned his 10th save. It marked the first time since a June 5, 2005 win over North Carolina State that Creighton had where someone with 10 or more wins (Scott Reese, 12-0) and someone else with 10 or more saves (Brandon Bird, 1th save) each factored in the decision in the same game.
• Ty Blach is 10-1 this season, good for a .909 win percentage that is tied for second-best in school history. Only Scott Reese (12-0 in 2005) has been better.
• Ty Blach's 2.73 ERA is the second-best in school history by a pitcher who has pitched for two or more years and thrown 100 or more career innings. Only Rick Heiserman (2.68 from 1992-94) has a better mark.
• Ty Blach has not allowed a second-inning run this year in 15 starts.
•Ty Blach hasn't started every game at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha, it just seems that way. The southpaw has started five of the 12 games played at the park (including five of the seven night games), owning a 3-0 record and 1.90 ERA in 23.2 innings of work in which he's struck out 29 men. In the seven night games at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha, Creighton's starting pitchers are 4-0 with a 1.78 ERA in 35.1 innings.
• The Valley leader in victories, Ty Blach (10-1) is the first Creighton pitcher with 10 or more wins in a season since Ben Mancuso was named MVC Pitcher of the Year after going 10-3 in 2007. Only five men in Creighton history (including Alan Benes, twice), have won 11 or more games in a season, most recently Scott Reese (12) in 2005.
• Jonas Dufek enters the MVC Tournament having struck out 105 batters this season, sixth-most in CU's single-season history. Dufek, who owns four or more K's in each of his 14 starts this season, is five punchouts away from moving past former first-round draft picks Dan Smith (108 in 1989) and Alan Benes (110 in 1992) for fourth-most in CU single-season history.
• Despite not recording a win in his true freshman campaign of 2008, senior Jonas Dufek ranks tied for fifth in Creighton history with 21 career wins. A victory on Tuesday would give him the most by any Bluejay since Drue Councill had 24 from 1995-98.
• Greg Hellhake has started 14 games and thrown 56.0 innings this year, but has yet to allow a home run. In fact, in his last 26 appearances (which includes 23 starts), he has allowed a homer in just one of those games.
Players Mentioned
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/ 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
