Friday, April 26
6:30 pm
Creighton University
vs
Xavier
Photo by: Steve Branscombe
Baseball Begins Pivotal BIG EAST Series With Xavier on Friday
4/25/2019 6:01:00 PM | Baseball
Omaha, Neb. -- The top two teams in the BIG EAST clash in a pivotal series this weekend, the team that takes the series will control its own destiny as Xavier enters Friday's contest 7-1 in BIG EAST play, while the Bluejays are 5-1.
Download the complete preview (PDF).
Download the complete preview (PDF).
Xavier at Creighton
@ TD Ameritrade
April 26 @ 6:30 pm
April 27 @ 2:00 pm
April 28 @ 12:00 pm
How to Follow the Weekend Series
Live Stats: http://creighton.statbroadcast.com
Watch Online:
Friday - BIG EAST Digital Network (BEDN) - www.foxsportsgo.com
Saturday & Sunday: Jays Video - www.gocreighton.com/watch
Audio Broadcast:
Saturday - (1180 AM) - http://player.listenlive.co/52381
Saturday - (1620 AM) - http://player.listenlive.co/52371
@ TD Ameritrade
April 26 @ 6:30 pm
April 27 @ 2:00 pm
April 28 @ 12:00 pm
How to Follow the Weekend Series
Live Stats: http://creighton.statbroadcast.com
Watch Online:
Friday - BIG EAST Digital Network (BEDN) - www.foxsportsgo.com
Saturday & Sunday: Jays Video - www.gocreighton.com/watch
Audio Broadcast:
Saturday - (1180 AM) - http://player.listenlive.co/52381
Saturday - (1620 AM) - http://player.listenlive.co/52371
Series History: Creighton leads Xavier, 11-9
Creighton holds a slim edge on the Musketeers, claiming 11 of the 20 meetings. Last season the Bluejays took two of three meetings with Xavier in Cincinnati. Under Servais the Bluejays are 9-9 against Xavier. Creighton holds a 3-2 edge on Xavier in Omaha since the two squads joined the BIG EAST in 2013. Creighton swept the series at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha in 2014, while rain shortened the series in 2016 to just one game. The other meeting came at TDAPO in the BIG EAST Tournament of 2016.
Scouting the Musketeers
The Musketeers come to Omaha playing some of their best baseball thus far as Xavier leads the BIG EAST with a 7-1 record. On the season the Musketeers are just 17-23.
Xavier is led by a potent offense that carries a .271 team batting average, including four regulars hitting .290 or higher. Connor Grammes leads Xavier with a .316 clip and doubles as one of the weekend starters. Just a step back are Jake Sehpski (.304), Chris Givin (.294) and Allbry Major (.293).
On the bump the Musketeers have a 6.68 ERA, though the hitter friendly home ballpark inflates those numbers.
Series History with BIG EAST Foes since 2013
Butler:Â Â Â 12-4
Georgetown:Â Â Â 11-4
Seton Hall:Â Â Â 17-6
St. John's:Â Â Â 8-10
Villanova:Â Â Â 14-1
Xavier: Â Â Â 9-9
Pitchers Rounding Into Form
While the offense carried the Bluejays through the first half of the season, the pitching staff have begun to step forward. Over Creighton's last 10 games the pitchers have posted an impressive 2.50 ERA, leading to an 9-2 record.
In the three-game sweep over Seton Hall last weekend Creighton pitchers held the Pirates to three combined runs, one in each game. The Bluejays followed that effort by holding Nebraska to just one run Tuesday and limited Kansas to five on Wednesday.
Stretch of Four Games with One Run or Less
The series against Seton Hall (April 18-20) and Tuesday's battle with Nebraska, marked the first time since 2016 that Creighton pitchers held the opposition to one run or less in four straight games.
The last time it happened was April 2-3 versus Jacksonville and April 8-9 against Seton Hall. Prior to the 2016 season, the last time a Bluejay pitching staff accomplished this feat came during the 1990 season.
2019:
April 18Â Â Â Â Â Â W, 5-1 at Seton Hall
April 19Â Â Â Â Â Â W, 11-1 at Seton Hall
April 20Â Â Â Â Â Â W, 3-1 at Seton Hall
April 23Â Â Â W, 2-1 vs. Nebraska
2019:
April 2Â Â Â Â Â Â W, 4-0 vs. Jacksonville
April 3Â Â Â Â Â Â W, 2-1 vs. Jacksonville
April 8Â Â Â Â Â Â W, 3-1 vs. Seton Hall
April 9Â Â Â Â Â Â W, 7-1 vs. Seton Hall
1990:
Feb. 28Â Â Â Â Â Â W, 8-1 vs. Wayne State
March 1Â Â Â W, 8-1 vs. Doane
March 1Â Â Â W, 20-1 vs. Doane
March 3Â Â Â W, 3-0 vs. Northern Iowa
Ragan Claims BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week, Robertson Earns BIG EAST Honor Roll Slot
Senior ace Mitch Ragan's dominant complete game performance against Seton Hall on Thursday, April 18th was rewarded as the Omaha native earned the BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week honor on Monday, April 22nd. From the Bluejays' offense Will Robertson's team leading six RBI against the Pirates, fueled by a pair of home runs on Friday, April 19th, earned Creighton's outfielder a spot on the BIG EAST Honor Roll
Ragan went the distance in a 5-1 victory against Seton Hall on Friday. Ragan pitched a nine-inning two-hitter, holding the Pirates scoreless until a solo homer in the ninth, notching seven strikeouts along the way. Just four Seton Hall batters reached base in the game as Ragan needed 102 pitches to record the complete game victory.
The Bluejays Have Some Buzz
Many baseball publications have started putting out predictions for the field of 64. Both D1Baseball (April 23) and Baseball America (April 23) have Creighton as a #2 seed,
In addition, the Bluejays #28 in the latest NCBWA Poll and receiving votes in the USA Today Coaches.
RPI Watch
A look at how the BIG EAST conference ranks in RPI and schedule strength (WarrenNolan.com).
Team    Schedule Strength   RPI
Creighton   66   15
Xavier   24   59
St. John's   150   82
Seton Hall   237   200
Butler   276   243
Georgetown   238   268
Villanova   251   286
Creighton holds a slim edge on the Musketeers, claiming 11 of the 20 meetings. Last season the Bluejays took two of three meetings with Xavier in Cincinnati. Under Servais the Bluejays are 9-9 against Xavier. Creighton holds a 3-2 edge on Xavier in Omaha since the two squads joined the BIG EAST in 2013. Creighton swept the series at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha in 2014, while rain shortened the series in 2016 to just one game. The other meeting came at TDAPO in the BIG EAST Tournament of 2016.
Scouting the Musketeers
The Musketeers come to Omaha playing some of their best baseball thus far as Xavier leads the BIG EAST with a 7-1 record. On the season the Musketeers are just 17-23.
Xavier is led by a potent offense that carries a .271 team batting average, including four regulars hitting .290 or higher. Connor Grammes leads Xavier with a .316 clip and doubles as one of the weekend starters. Just a step back are Jake Sehpski (.304), Chris Givin (.294) and Allbry Major (.293).
On the bump the Musketeers have a 6.68 ERA, though the hitter friendly home ballpark inflates those numbers.
Series History with BIG EAST Foes since 2013
Butler:Â Â Â 12-4
Georgetown:Â Â Â 11-4
Seton Hall:Â Â Â 17-6
St. John's:Â Â Â 8-10
Villanova:Â Â Â 14-1
Xavier: Â Â Â 9-9
Pitchers Rounding Into Form
While the offense carried the Bluejays through the first half of the season, the pitching staff have begun to step forward. Over Creighton's last 10 games the pitchers have posted an impressive 2.50 ERA, leading to an 9-2 record.
In the three-game sweep over Seton Hall last weekend Creighton pitchers held the Pirates to three combined runs, one in each game. The Bluejays followed that effort by holding Nebraska to just one run Tuesday and limited Kansas to five on Wednesday.
Stretch of Four Games with One Run or Less
The series against Seton Hall (April 18-20) and Tuesday's battle with Nebraska, marked the first time since 2016 that Creighton pitchers held the opposition to one run or less in four straight games.
The last time it happened was April 2-3 versus Jacksonville and April 8-9 against Seton Hall. Prior to the 2016 season, the last time a Bluejay pitching staff accomplished this feat came during the 1990 season.
2019:
April 18Â Â Â Â Â Â W, 5-1 at Seton Hall
April 19Â Â Â Â Â Â W, 11-1 at Seton Hall
April 20Â Â Â Â Â Â W, 3-1 at Seton Hall
April 23Â Â Â W, 2-1 vs. Nebraska
2019:
April 2Â Â Â Â Â Â W, 4-0 vs. Jacksonville
April 3Â Â Â Â Â Â W, 2-1 vs. Jacksonville
April 8Â Â Â Â Â Â W, 3-1 vs. Seton Hall
April 9Â Â Â Â Â Â W, 7-1 vs. Seton Hall
1990:
Feb. 28Â Â Â Â Â Â W, 8-1 vs. Wayne State
March 1Â Â Â W, 8-1 vs. Doane
March 1Â Â Â W, 20-1 vs. Doane
March 3Â Â Â W, 3-0 vs. Northern Iowa
Ragan Claims BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week, Robertson Earns BIG EAST Honor Roll Slot
Senior ace Mitch Ragan's dominant complete game performance against Seton Hall on Thursday, April 18th was rewarded as the Omaha native earned the BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week honor on Monday, April 22nd. From the Bluejays' offense Will Robertson's team leading six RBI against the Pirates, fueled by a pair of home runs on Friday, April 19th, earned Creighton's outfielder a spot on the BIG EAST Honor Roll
Ragan went the distance in a 5-1 victory against Seton Hall on Friday. Ragan pitched a nine-inning two-hitter, holding the Pirates scoreless until a solo homer in the ninth, notching seven strikeouts along the way. Just four Seton Hall batters reached base in the game as Ragan needed 102 pitches to record the complete game victory.
The Bluejays Have Some Buzz
Many baseball publications have started putting out predictions for the field of 64. Both D1Baseball (April 23) and Baseball America (April 23) have Creighton as a #2 seed,
In addition, the Bluejays #28 in the latest NCBWA Poll and receiving votes in the USA Today Coaches.
RPI Watch
A look at how the BIG EAST conference ranks in RPI and schedule strength (WarrenNolan.com).
Team    Schedule Strength   RPI
Creighton   66   15
Xavier   24   59
St. John's   150   82
Seton Hall   237   200
Butler   276   243
Georgetown   238   268
Villanova   251   286
Players Mentioned
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