Friday, April 12
Indianapolis, Ind.
3:00 PM
Creighton University
at
Butler
Photo by: Mark Kuhlmann
Baseball Opens BIG EAST Play at Butler This Weekend
4/11/2019 11:44:00 AM | Baseball
Omaha, Neb. -- Coming off an impressive win over in-state rival Nebraska on Tuesday, Creighton Baseball opens BIG EAST play this weekend as the Bluejays travel to Indianapolis for a three game series with Butler.
Download the complete preview (PDF).
Series History: Creighton leads Butler, 10-3
The Bluejays and Bulldogs have battled 13 times since the two squads joined the BIG EAST in 2014. Creighton split two neutral site games with Butler last season and two in 2017 in Indianapolis.
Overall Creighton is 3-2 against the Bulldogs at Butler.
Scouting the Bulldogs
While the Bluejays had their open week, Butler kicked off BIG EAST play at home against St. John's last weekend. Butler had a 4-2 lead in the rubber game, but were unable to close the series win, falling 5-4 in 12-innings.
Butler enters the week with a team batting average of .262, led by Harrison Freed at .383. On the mound Butler has a 2.97 ERA, including a 1.70 mark from starter Connor Schultz.
Bluejays Open BIG EAST Play Versus Butler for Second Straight Season
After moving a home series with the Bulldogs to a neutral site due to weather last season in the opening weekend of conference play, Creighton opens BIG EAST play against Butler once more in 2019. This year the two squads meet in Indianapolis.
Since joining the BIG EAST Creighton has a gaudy 59-26 record in conference play, claiming two of five regular season championships. The Bluejays, however, are just 2-3 in the
opening game of BIG EAST action. In addition the Jays are 2-3 in road opening conference contests.
Old Friends in New Places
Butler head coach Dave Schrage is in his third season with the Bulldogs, but he was also a Bluejay many moons ago. Schrage was an assistant coach at Creighton in 1985-86 and played for the Bluejays from 1979-83.
Schrage's Creighton connections helped bring former Bluejay Nick Ortega to Butler this season. Ortega played at Creighton in 2017, appearing in 18 games as a reserve outfielder. Nick's father, Eddie, played with Schrage at Creighton in 1983.
The Bluejays will face another familiar face later this season as former pitching coach Brian Furlong (at Creighton from 2013-16)
is in his first year in the same role at Xavier.
Bluejays Deliver Strong Effort in 10-2 Win at Nebraska
Head coach Ed Servais referred to the Bluejays' 10-2 win at Nebraska on April 9 as Creighton's best effort of the season. The offense delivered 10 runs in the first seven frame, while five hurlers kept the Huskers off balance until Nebraska pushed across two runs in the seventh.
Junior Jake Holton got the Bluejays rolling with a two-run blast in the first, his ninth of the season. In addition senior Jack Strunc was 2-for-4 with four RBI. Holton closed the contest 2-for-3 with three RBI and three runs scored.
It's Early, Yet The Bluejays Have Some Buzz
While it is merely the second week of April, many baseball publications have started putting out predictions for the field of 64. Two of the top in the field have the Bluejays returning to the regional field or on the cusp. D1Baseball put Creighton in the field in its projections, while Baseball America has Creighton as one of the first four out.
RPI Watch
As the Bluejay enter BIG EAST play, below is a look at how the conference ranks in RPI (NCAA) and schedule strength (WarrenNolan.com).
Team    Schedule Strength   RPI
Creighton   61   22
St. John's   113   47
Xavier   29   90
Seton Hall   287   228
Butler   289   242
Georgetown   233   276
Villanova   254   288
Download the complete preview (PDF).
Creighton at Butler
@ Bulldog Park
April 12 @ 3:00 pm
April 13 @ 1:00 pm
April 14 @ 12:00 pm
How to Follow the Weekend Series
Live Stats: http://www.statbroadcast.com/events/statmonitr.php?gid=crei
Video Broadcast (Facebook Live: Friday and Sunday):
https://www.facebook.com/ButlerBulldogs/
@ Bulldog Park
April 12 @ 3:00 pm
April 13 @ 1:00 pm
April 14 @ 12:00 pm
How to Follow the Weekend Series
Live Stats: http://www.statbroadcast.com/events/statmonitr.php?gid=crei
Video Broadcast (Facebook Live: Friday and Sunday):
https://www.facebook.com/ButlerBulldogs/
Series History: Creighton leads Butler, 10-3
The Bluejays and Bulldogs have battled 13 times since the two squads joined the BIG EAST in 2014. Creighton split two neutral site games with Butler last season and two in 2017 in Indianapolis.
Overall Creighton is 3-2 against the Bulldogs at Butler.
Scouting the Bulldogs
While the Bluejays had their open week, Butler kicked off BIG EAST play at home against St. John's last weekend. Butler had a 4-2 lead in the rubber game, but were unable to close the series win, falling 5-4 in 12-innings.
Butler enters the week with a team batting average of .262, led by Harrison Freed at .383. On the mound Butler has a 2.97 ERA, including a 1.70 mark from starter Connor Schultz.
Bluejays Open BIG EAST Play Versus Butler for Second Straight Season
After moving a home series with the Bulldogs to a neutral site due to weather last season in the opening weekend of conference play, Creighton opens BIG EAST play against Butler once more in 2019. This year the two squads meet in Indianapolis.
Since joining the BIG EAST Creighton has a gaudy 59-26 record in conference play, claiming two of five regular season championships. The Bluejays, however, are just 2-3 in the
opening game of BIG EAST action. In addition the Jays are 2-3 in road opening conference contests.
Old Friends in New Places
Butler head coach Dave Schrage is in his third season with the Bulldogs, but he was also a Bluejay many moons ago. Schrage was an assistant coach at Creighton in 1985-86 and played for the Bluejays from 1979-83.
Schrage's Creighton connections helped bring former Bluejay Nick Ortega to Butler this season. Ortega played at Creighton in 2017, appearing in 18 games as a reserve outfielder. Nick's father, Eddie, played with Schrage at Creighton in 1983.
The Bluejays will face another familiar face later this season as former pitching coach Brian Furlong (at Creighton from 2013-16)
is in his first year in the same role at Xavier.
Bluejays Deliver Strong Effort in 10-2 Win at Nebraska
Head coach Ed Servais referred to the Bluejays' 10-2 win at Nebraska on April 9 as Creighton's best effort of the season. The offense delivered 10 runs in the first seven frame, while five hurlers kept the Huskers off balance until Nebraska pushed across two runs in the seventh.
Junior Jake Holton got the Bluejays rolling with a two-run blast in the first, his ninth of the season. In addition senior Jack Strunc was 2-for-4 with four RBI. Holton closed the contest 2-for-3 with three RBI and three runs scored.
It's Early, Yet The Bluejays Have Some Buzz
While it is merely the second week of April, many baseball publications have started putting out predictions for the field of 64. Two of the top in the field have the Bluejays returning to the regional field or on the cusp. D1Baseball put Creighton in the field in its projections, while Baseball America has Creighton as one of the first four out.
RPI Watch
As the Bluejay enter BIG EAST play, below is a look at how the conference ranks in RPI (NCAA) and schedule strength (WarrenNolan.com).
Team    Schedule Strength   RPI
Creighton   61   22
St. John's   113   47
Xavier   29   90
Seton Hall   287   228
Butler   289   242
Georgetown   233   276
Villanova   254   288
Players Mentioned
2013 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
