Baseball Opens 2017 at UAB this Weekend

Omaha, Neb. -- The Creighton Baseball team opens the 2017 season with a three-game series at UAB beginning on Friday at 4:00 pm (CT). The Bluejays swept a three-game series from the Blazers last season, taking all three contests by just one run.

Download the complete series preview (PDF).

Creighton at UAB
Feb. 17 @ 4:00 pm
ERA   W-L   App   GS   CG   SHO   IP   H   R   ER   BB   SO
CU - Rollie Lacy (Jr.-RHP)                3.15   9-2   16   16   -   -   91.1   87   37   32   24   58
UAB - Garrett Whitlock (So.-RHP)   3.00   4-5   25   1   -   -   51.0   58   28   17   21   46

Feb. 18 @ 1:00 pm
ERA   W-L   App   GS   CG   SHO   IP   H   R   ER   BB   SO
CU - Keith Rogalla (Jr.-RHP)            3.21   5-3   15   15   -   -   73.0   55   33   26   35   59
UAB - Ryan Ruggles (Jr.-LHP)         4.18   6-4   17   15   -   -   71.0   59   39   33   36   44

Feb. 19 @ 1:00 pm

ERA W-L App GS CG SHO IP H R ER BB SO
CU - Jeff Albrecht (Sr.-LHP) 2.39 7-1 17 10 - - 64.0 39 19 17 28 48
UAB - TBA

Video: http://www.uabsports.com/collegesportslive/?media=548236

Live Stats: creighton.statbroadcast.com

Opening Day
In the 48 recorded openers, Creighton is 24-24, including a 2-1 loss at Fresno State last season.

The Bluejays have won eight of the 13 season openers under Ed Servais, including five of the last seven.

Bluejays vs. UAB Series
Creighton holds a 3-0 seris edge on UAB, sweeping the series from the Blazers last season in Omaha.

Scouting the Bluejays (2016: 28-17, 13-5 BIG EAST)
Creighton enters the 2017 season with a strong and experienced rotation as well as its closer and setup man back in the fold. The Bluejays, however, have a number of questions in their lineup.

Sophomore backstop Michael Emodi and senior third baseman Bryce Only will be asked to provide leadership to the group. Only and Emodi saw limited time last season, but have taken over the locker room this fall.

About UAB

Located in Birmingham, Ala.
UAB's mascot is the Blazers
The Blazers were picked to finish ninth in the 2017 Preseason Poll.
UAB finished the 2016 season with a 21-34 record.

UAB Head Coach Brian Shoop

In his 10th season, Shoop has a 283-292 record with the Blazers.
Shoop has a career record of 982-592-1 in his 26 seasons.
Prior to his tenure at UAB, Shoop coached at Birmingham-Southern.

Scouting the Blazers (2016: 21-34, 12-18 Conference USA)
Like the Bluejays, UAB will feature several new faces in the field this season. Also similar to Creighton, UAB's strength is their returning pitching staff.

UAB sophomore Garrett Whitlock impressed scouts this summer in the Cape Cod League and has climbed to the opening night starter for the Blazers.

Starter Ryan Ruggles, who led the team with six wins last season, also returns as does UAB closer Thomas Lowery (2.82 ERA with eight saves last season).

Ed Servais Baseball (ESB) = Defense
Since taking over as Creighton's head coach in 2004, Ed Servais' teams have committed the fewest errors in the nation (626).

The Jays also hold the top overall fielding percentage during that stretch, .977.

ESB Over the Years
The 2014 Jays were the nation's best team in fielding percentage. Last year the Bluejays were fourth overall with at .981. Creighton has not finished lower than 25th in the NCAA since 2007.

Year   NCAA Rank   Fielding Percentage
2004   1   .982
2005   17   .972
2006   87   .965
2007   8   .974
2008   3   .976
2009   1   .984
2010   2   .980
2011   4   .980
2012   8   .978
2013   12   .979
2014   1   .984
2015   25   .976
2016   4   .981

Bluejays and Blazers to Play on the Field Made Famous by Michael Jordan
Creighton's series with UAB will face off this weekend on the home field of the Birmingham Barons. It is the same field that Michael Jordan spent the majority of his time on during his brief stint as a baseball player.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Jeff Albrecht

Michael Emodi

Rollie Lacy

Bryce Only

Keith Rogalla