Thursday, May 19
Queens, N.Y.
6:00 pm
Creighton University
at
St. John's
Photo by: Mark Kuhlmann
Baseball Looks to Tame Red Storm During Final Weekend of Regular Season
5/18/2016 5:19:00 PM | Baseball
New York, N.Y. -- The Creighton Baseball team has a chance to prevent the St. John's Red Storm from reaching the BIG EAST Tournament as the two rivals face off in the final weekend series of the 2016 regular season beginning Thursday night.
Creighton at St. John's
May 19 @ 6:00 pm
May 20 @ 12:00 pm
May 21 @ 11:00 am
Download the complete series preview
Media Coverage
Thursday:Â TV: CBS Sports Network
Stats: http://creighton.statbroadcast.com/
Friday:Â ESPN3
Online:Â http://es.pn/1sidERp
Stats: http://creighton.statbroadcast.com/
Saturday:Â TV: Fox Sports 2
Online: http://foxsportsgo.com
Stats: http://creighton.statbroadcast.com/
May 19 @ 6:00 pm
May 20 @ 12:00 pm
May 21 @ 11:00 am
Download the complete series preview
Media Coverage
Thursday:Â TV: CBS Sports Network
Stats: http://creighton.statbroadcast.com/
Friday:Â ESPN3
Online:Â http://es.pn/1sidERp
Stats: http://creighton.statbroadcast.com/
Saturday:Â TV: Fox Sports 2
Online: http://foxsportsgo.com
Stats: http://creighton.statbroadcast.com/
Probable Pitching Matchups
Thursday                                   ERA   W-L   App   GS   CG   SHO   IP   H   R   ER   BB   SO
CU - Rollie Lacy (RHP)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2.55Â Â Â 9-2Â Â Â 13Â Â Â 13Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 77.2Â Â Â 68Â Â Â 25Â Â Â 22Â Â Â 19Â Â Â 55
STJ - Kevin Torres (RHP)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 3.40Â Â Â 3-2Â Â Â 16Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 39.2Â Â Â 43Â Â Â 18Â Â Â 15Â Â Â 9Â Â Â 19
Friday                                        ERA   W-L   App   GS   CG   SHO   IP   H   R   ER   BB   SO
CU - Jeff Albrecht (LHP)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2.11Â Â Â 6-0Â Â Â 15Â Â Â 8Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 55.1Â Â Â 29Â Â Â 14Â Â Â 13Â Â Â 23Â Â Â 40
STJ - Ryan McAuliffe (RHP)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 4.62Â Â Â 4-1Â Â Â 13Â Â Â 13Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 64.1Â Â Â 68Â Â Â 34Â Â Â 33Â Â Â 18Â Â Â 35
Saturday                                   ERA   W-L   App   GS   CG   SHO   IP   H   R   ER   BB   SO
CU - Keith Rogalla (RHP)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 3.25Â Â Â 5-2Â Â Â 13Â Â Â 13Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 61.0Â Â Â 44Â Â Â 27Â Â Â 22Â Â Â 29Â Â Â 50
STJ - Kevin Magee (LHP)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 4.99Â Â Â 1-5Â Â Â 9Â Â Â 8Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 30.2Â Â Â 45Â Â Â 27Â Â Â 17Â Â Â 11Â Â Â 28
Â
Thursday                                   ERA   W-L   App   GS   CG   SHO   IP   H   R   ER   BB   SO
CU - Rollie Lacy (RHP)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2.55Â Â Â 9-2Â Â Â 13Â Â Â 13Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 77.2Â Â Â 68Â Â Â 25Â Â Â 22Â Â Â 19Â Â Â 55
STJ - Kevin Torres (RHP)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 3.40Â Â Â 3-2Â Â Â 16Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 39.2Â Â Â 43Â Â Â 18Â Â Â 15Â Â Â 9Â Â Â 19
Friday                                        ERA   W-L   App   GS   CG   SHO   IP   H   R   ER   BB   SO
CU - Jeff Albrecht (LHP)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2.11Â Â Â 6-0Â Â Â 15Â Â Â 8Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 55.1Â Â Â 29Â Â Â 14Â Â Â 13Â Â Â 23Â Â Â 40
STJ - Ryan McAuliffe (RHP)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 4.62Â Â Â 4-1Â Â Â 13Â Â Â 13Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 64.1Â Â Â 68Â Â Â 34Â Â Â 33Â Â Â 18Â Â Â 35
Saturday                                   ERA   W-L   App   GS   CG   SHO   IP   H   R   ER   BB   SO
CU - Keith Rogalla (RHP)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 3.25Â Â Â 5-2Â Â Â 13Â Â Â 13Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 61.0Â Â Â 44Â Â Â 27Â Â Â 22Â Â Â 29Â Â Â 50
STJ - Kevin Magee (LHP)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 4.99Â Â Â 1-5Â Â Â 9Â Â Â 8Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 30.2Â Â Â 45Â Â Â 27Â Â Â 17Â Â Â 11Â Â Â 28
Â
Bluejays not Blue Jays:
The Creighton mascot is Bluejay or Bluejays, one word
The Creighton mascot is Bluejay or Bluejays, one word
Creighton vs. St. John's Series, Tied 4-4
The Red Storm and Bluejays have split the eight meetings the two teams have had, but St. John's has taken the last three. Among those contests the squads faced off twice in the 2015 BIG EAST Tournament, with both going St. John's way.
The last time the Bluejays came to St. John's, Creighton took two of three from the Red Storm.
Scouting the Red Storm (2016: 26-22-1, 8-7 BIG EAST)
The preseason favorite to repeat in the BIG EAST, St. John's has struggled on the mound this season. As a team the Red Storm enter the weekend with a team ERA of 4.78.
St. John's has one noteable exception who has simply been dominant on the bump, Thomas Hackimer. The Red Storm closer has an unthinkable 0.19 ERA, allowing just one earned run in 47.2 innings.
At the dish, the Red Storm lead the BIG EAST with a team average of .287. Leading the way for St. John's are the trio of Michael Donadio, Alex Caruso and Josh Shaw. Each player enters the weekend hitting above .300.
Austin Groth Dominates Mavericks
Entering Tuesday with just 4.2 innings on the season, junior Austin Groth more than doubled his output against
Nebraska-Omaha on Tuesday, May 17.
Starting the opening game of a day/night doublheader, the Bluejays needed Groth to eat some innings. Head coach Ed Servais got everything he could have asked for as Groth held UNO to one unearned run on two hits to earn his first win since the 2014 season.
A weekend starter as a freshman in 2013, Groth was sidelined for the entire 2015
season as he recovered from Tommy John surgery.
Tuesday's five-inning performance tied the longest outing of his career.
What's at Stake
Entering the final weekend of BIG EAST play, two teams have secured a spot in the BIG EAST Tournament (Creighton, Xavier and St. John's).
Creighton enters the weekend in a first-place tie with Xavier. If Creighton can earn the sweep over the Red Storm the Bluejays will claim at least a share of their second regular season BIG EAST crown in their three seasons in the league.
St. John's, meanwhile, could secure a spot in the BIG EAST Tournament with one win and could move as high as the No. 2 seed with a sweep of the Bluejays.
If Today Was the Last Day
Two years ago Creighton found themselves closing the 2014 season against Xavier, then battled the Musketeers in the opening round of the BIG EAST Tournament in the opening round.
It is quite possible that the Bluejays close the regular season against the team it will face in the opening round as Creighton and St. John's battle this weekend.
If the BIG EAST Conference ended today, Creighton would be the No. 2 seed and St. John's would be the No. 3.
Chink In Hackimer's Dominance
With a 0.19 ERA this season, St. John's Thomas Hackimer would become the NCAA single-season record holder if he can throw 1.0 inning per Red Storm game this year (he's at 47.2 IP in 49 games currently).
As a point of comparison, former Bluejay Bob Gibson owns the MLB record at 1.12 in 1968?
Despite Hackimer's dominance this season, he may face his toughest test this weekend. Over the last two seasons Hackimer has a combined 22.50 ERA against the Bluejays.
Below are his totals against Creighton.
     Â
DATEÂ Â Â IPÂ Â Â HÂ Â Â RÂ Â Â ERÂ Â Â BBÂ Â Â SO
5/11/2014Â Â Â 1.1Â Â Â 5Â Â Â 5Â Â Â 5Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 2
5/11/2014Â Â Â 0.1Â Â Â 1Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 0
4/18/2015Â Â Â 1.2Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 1
5/24/2015Â Â Â 0.2Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 3Â Â Â 3Â Â Â 1Â Â Â 1
Totals   4   8   10   10   3   4      22.50 ERA
Â
The Red Storm and Bluejays have split the eight meetings the two teams have had, but St. John's has taken the last three. Among those contests the squads faced off twice in the 2015 BIG EAST Tournament, with both going St. John's way.
The last time the Bluejays came to St. John's, Creighton took two of three from the Red Storm.
Scouting the Red Storm (2016: 26-22-1, 8-7 BIG EAST)
The preseason favorite to repeat in the BIG EAST, St. John's has struggled on the mound this season. As a team the Red Storm enter the weekend with a team ERA of 4.78.
St. John's has one noteable exception who has simply been dominant on the bump, Thomas Hackimer. The Red Storm closer has an unthinkable 0.19 ERA, allowing just one earned run in 47.2 innings.
At the dish, the Red Storm lead the BIG EAST with a team average of .287. Leading the way for St. John's are the trio of Michael Donadio, Alex Caruso and Josh Shaw. Each player enters the weekend hitting above .300.
Austin Groth Dominates Mavericks
Entering Tuesday with just 4.2 innings on the season, junior Austin Groth more than doubled his output against
Nebraska-Omaha on Tuesday, May 17.
Starting the opening game of a day/night doublheader, the Bluejays needed Groth to eat some innings. Head coach Ed Servais got everything he could have asked for as Groth held UNO to one unearned run on two hits to earn his first win since the 2014 season.
A weekend starter as a freshman in 2013, Groth was sidelined for the entire 2015
season as he recovered from Tommy John surgery.
Tuesday's five-inning performance tied the longest outing of his career.
What's at Stake
Entering the final weekend of BIG EAST play, two teams have secured a spot in the BIG EAST Tournament (Creighton, Xavier and St. John's).
Creighton enters the weekend in a first-place tie with Xavier. If Creighton can earn the sweep over the Red Storm the Bluejays will claim at least a share of their second regular season BIG EAST crown in their three seasons in the league.
St. John's, meanwhile, could secure a spot in the BIG EAST Tournament with one win and could move as high as the No. 2 seed with a sweep of the Bluejays.
If Today Was the Last Day
Two years ago Creighton found themselves closing the 2014 season against Xavier, then battled the Musketeers in the opening round of the BIG EAST Tournament in the opening round.
It is quite possible that the Bluejays close the regular season against the team it will face in the opening round as Creighton and St. John's battle this weekend.
If the BIG EAST Conference ended today, Creighton would be the No. 2 seed and St. John's would be the No. 3.
Chink In Hackimer's Dominance
With a 0.19 ERA this season, St. John's Thomas Hackimer would become the NCAA single-season record holder if he can throw 1.0 inning per Red Storm game this year (he's at 47.2 IP in 49 games currently).
As a point of comparison, former Bluejay Bob Gibson owns the MLB record at 1.12 in 1968?
Despite Hackimer's dominance this season, he may face his toughest test this weekend. Over the last two seasons Hackimer has a combined 22.50 ERA against the Bluejays.
Below are his totals against Creighton.
     Â
DATEÂ Â Â IPÂ Â Â HÂ Â Â RÂ Â Â ERÂ Â Â BBÂ Â Â SO
5/11/2014Â Â Â 1.1Â Â Â 5Â Â Â 5Â Â Â 5Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 2
5/11/2014Â Â Â 0.1Â Â Â 1Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 0
4/18/2015Â Â Â 1.2Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 1
5/24/2015Â Â Â 0.2Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 3Â Â Â 3Â Â Â 1Â Â Â 1
Totals   4   8   10   10   3   4      22.50 ERA
Â
Players Mentioned
LHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
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