Baseball Battles Wolf Pack in Weekend Tilt
5/7/2015 11:12:00 AM | Baseball
OMAHA, Neb. - The Creighton Baseball team battles Nevada in a non-conference series over the weekend. Saturday will highlight the week as the Bluejays host the fourth annual Military and First Responders game.
Webstream (Saturday & Sunday only): http://www.nmnathletics.com/liveEvents/liveEvents.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=1000&DB_OEM_ID=1000
Audio: 1620 AM - http://v6.player.abacast.net/2758
Stats: http://creighton.statbroadcast.com
Friday ERA W-L App GS CG SHO IP H R ER BB SO
NEV - Trenton Brooks (LHP) 2.45 4-1 11 4 0 0 22.2 29 16 14 14 13
CU - Rollie Lacy (RHP) 2.05 5-0 15 9 1 1 57.0 43 14 13 16 36
Saturday ERA W-L App GS CG SHO IP H R ER BB SO
NEV - Christian Stolo (LHP) 2.95 6-1 13 10 1 0 64.0 52 25 21 28 59
CU - Keith Rogalla (RHP) 4.03 3-1 11 7 1 0 44.2 38 20 20 15 31
Sunday ERA W-L App GS CG SHO IP H R ER BB SO
NEV - Cameron Roland (LHP) 5.02 4-3 17 7 0 0 52.0 49 31 29 26 49
CU - Matt Warren (RHP) 2.84 5-2 11 11 0 0 50.2 40 18 16 7 25
The Bluejays and Wolf Pack have played once, before most if not all the players on the field this weekend were born, on March 17, 1992. That game was part of the Best of the West Classic in Fresno, Calif. The teams played to a 7-7 tie.
Creighton vs. Nevada Series:
1992: ^March 17 vs. Nevada T, 7-7
^ = Best of the West Classic (Fresno, Calif.)
About Nevada
- Located in Reno, Nev.
- Nevada has an enrollment of 19,000.
- Known as the Wolf Pack (two words).
- Nevada finished 2014 with an 31-27 record and an 15-15 mark in the Mountain West.
- Nevada was picked to finish third (a tie with UNLV to be precise)in the Mountain West preseason poll, behind New Mexico and San Diego State.
Nevada Head Coach: Jay Johnson
- In his second season as the Wolf Pack head coach, Johnson has 69-39 record at Nevada.
- Johnson was the head coach Point Loma Nazarene (NAIA) in 2005, leading the Sea Lions to a 37-16 mark
- Prior to taking over at Nevada, Johnson spent eight seasons as the associate head coach at the University of San Diego.
- While at San Diego Johnson helped the Toreros make six trips to NCAA postseason (2006-08, 2010, 2012-13).
Scouting Nevada (38-12, 21-6 Mountain West)
Nevada enters the weekend matchup following a rare loss to Saint Mary's on Monday (13-6). The Wolf Pack have claimed seven of their last nine game and have not lost a series since dropping two of three at Fresno State (April 10-12).
The calling card for the Wolf Pack is their bats. Nevada has scored 10 or more runs in 16 games this season. Twice the Wolf Pack have topped 20 runs in a game, including a 27-2 thumping of San Jose State on April 25.
Seven different Nevada regulars sport an average over .300, led by sophomore Trenton Brooks and his team-high .358. Also a member of the Wolf Pack rotation, Brooks is an LHP and outfielder.
To find the thumpers in Nevada's order you'll need to scroll down to the fifth and sixth highest averages, held by Ryan Howell (.337) and Austin Byler (.326). Howell has a team leading 15 home runs and 62 RBI this season, while Byler has smashed 13 bombs and has 49 RBI.
As a team the Wolf Pack are hitting .316 and average 8.32 runs per game.
On the mound Nevada is not quite as dominant, the Wolf Pack have a team ERA of 3.89. The projected rotation will begin with Brooks (2.45 ERA, 4-1). Just a step back are Christian Stolo (2.95 ERA, 6-1) & Cameron Rowland (5.02 ERA, 4-3).
Nevada's closer, Adam Whitt, has been impressive this season with 13 saves and a 1.97 ERA in 32.0 innings. Whitt has walked just four batters this season, while striking out 40.
Scouting Creighton (27-14, 10-4 BIG EAST)
Having clinched a spot in the BIG EAST Tournament over the weekend, Creighton enters its off weekend (seven BIG EAST teams) knowing the Bluejays will have a chance to reach the NCAA Tournament on their home field.
Improving to 10-4 in BIG EAST play, the Bluejays extended their run in conference play as the Bluejays are 10-0-1 over the last two season in BIG EAST series.
This weekend's battle with Nevada begins a four game stretch of non-conference games that are likely the Bluejays last chance to push for at-large consideration.
At the plate, junior Reagan Fowler is heating up for Creighton. Fowler reached base in all six trips to the plate in Saturday's 10-7 win over Seton Hall.
Creighton has relied heavily on starting pitching this season, boasting a 3.22 ERA. Last weekend, however, the Bluejay offense needed to step up as Creighton battled back from a 6-1 deficit to win on Saturday.
During Saturday's win the Bluejays turned closing duties over to senior Jack Rogalla. The experienced righty handled the role without hesitation to wrap up the comeback win.
Opposites Attract?
Nevada's Offense & TD Ameritrade Park
This weekend will offer an interesting comparison in styles for Nevada. Playing in Peccole Park the Wolf Pack are used to the ball flying out with ease. Nevada has hit 52 home runs this season, while Creighton has not allowed a home run since March 7
Highberger Becomes Creighton's Career ERA Leader
Allowing just one run in 8.2 innings of work last week, junior Nick Highberger surpassed the 100 inning mark as a Bluejay. In doing so he became eligible for the career ERA mark. In his 77 career appearances, ninth-most in Creighton history. Highberger owns the best career ERA in Creighton history among those with at least 100 innings of work with a 2.32 career ERA, far ahead of the previous best mark in school history of 2.68 by Rick Heiserman (1992-94).
Bluejays Checking off Goals
Having mentioned Creighton's first goal of 2015, lets move on to #2. Winning the BIG EAST regular season title. Followed by #3, winning the BIG EAST Tournament.
The Bluejays will need a little help as St. John's has a one game lead entering its final weekend against Xavier. Creighton, meanwhile, will face Villanova next weekend.
Creighton could have everything to play for, or nothing, pending the outcome of the action this weekend.
Creighton Came Up Clutch at Seton Hall
Down 6-1 on Saturday to Seton Hall, Creighton mounted an improbably in one of the most unlikely fashions. Each of the Bluejays' 10 runs crossed the plate after two men were out. Over the weekend Creighton scored 18 runs, 14 of them came with two out including 11 via two-rbi.
Bluejays Welcome Restful Weekend
You'll forgive the Bluejays if last week was a bit of blur. Starting with the emotional battle with Nebraska, Creighton went to Sioux City, Iowa to face South Dakota State on Wednesday. Returning to campus at about 11:30 pm and headed to the airport for a 7 am flight to New Jersey on Thursday.
All of this while the student athletes were going through dead week. This week the Bluejays
are taking finals prior to the series with Nevada.
