Friday, April 5
6:30 pm
Creighton University
vs
Kansas State
Photo by: Steve Branscombe
Baseball Hosts Kansas State in Final Non-Conference Weekend Series
4/3/2019 8:08:00 PM | Baseball
Omaha, Neb. -- After watching their 13th game altered by weather on Wednesday with the postponed contest with UNO, the Creighton baseball team hosts Kansas State this weekend in the final non-conference three-game series.
Download the complete preview (PDF).
Scouting the Bluejays (2019: 14-6, 0-0 BIG EAST)
Creighton enters the first week of April with seven wins in its last eight games, including a weekend sweep of Illinois State in the Bluejays' first weekend at home. The Bluejay offense has shouldered the bulk of the load for Creighton through much of the first half of the year. Despite playing in the spacious home of TD Ameritrade Park Omaha, the bats didn't stop for Creighton. The Bluejays hammered three home runs on Saturday against Illinois State, with junior Jake Holton hitting one into the seats in each of Creighton's weekend battles with the Redbirds.
Holton leads Creighton at the plate with a .372 average, eight home runs and 28 RBI. Two-hole hitter Parker Upton is a step back at .347, while leadoff man Isaac Collins enters the week hitting .333.
On the mound closer Bobby Kametas has been strong in nine appearances with a 1.93 ERA, while reliever John Sakowski was stellar in two appearances last week. Sakowski authored 6.2 innings of scoreless ball, earning the win over the Redbirds in the opening game of a twin bill on Sunday.
Series History: Creighton trails Kasnas State, 52-41-1
Creighton's weekend series with the Wildcats continues an annual matchup with Kansas State, but this is the first time the two squads will play a weekend series since Servais has led the Bluejays. Creighton and Kansas State have typically played a home-and-home midweek game. Under Servais Creighton is 12-8 against the Wildcats, taking the last three meetings.
Scouting the Wildcats (2019: 12-18, 1-5 Big 12)
Kansas State enters the weekend having dropped eight of their last nine.
The Wildcats are hitting .265 as a team, led by Zach Kokoska at .333 and Will Brennan at .313.
On the bump Kansas State has a 5.59 team ERA, yet their closer Mitch Zubradt has a 0.00 ERA in 13 appearances.
Bluejays Continue to Battle the Weather Â
The 2019 season has brought a unique wrinkle for most Midwest teams, taking away games or forcing new locations.
Entering the series with Kansas State on April 5th, the Bluejays have played 20 games and altered 13 games. Creighton has been forced to cancel seven games, move its three-game series with Maryland and postponed three others (South Dakota State, Illinois State opening game and the first meeting with UNO).
Bluejays Have Enjoyed Free Baseball, Specifically the 11th
With three extra-inning games alreadys this season the Bluejays are a perfect 3-0. Going back to 2018, Creighton took the lone extra-inning contest, claiming the game on Feb. 25 at UC Davis.
The Bluejays also took the last two extra-inning affairs in 2017, giving Creighton six consecutive wins during free baseball. The last time the Bluejays lost in extra-innings was on April 7, 2017 to St. John's in 14 frames.
Recent Games Offering Free Baseball
3/31/19 vs. Illinois State   W, 8-7 (11)
3/12/19 at Saint Louis    W, 12-11 (11)
2/17/19 at Little Rock   W, 12-10 (11)
2/25/18 at UC Davis   W, 10-7 (11)
4/26/17 vs. Wichita State   W, 4-3 (10)
4/11/17 vs. South Dakota State   W, 6-5 (11)
4/7/18 vs. #14 St. John's    L, 3-2 (14)
Nuggets Through 20 Games, Since 1999
In 2018, Will Robertson had 25 hits, three home runs and 21 RBI after 20 games for a 14-6 Creighton team. He went on to be named First Team All-BIG EAST.
This year Will Robertson has 25 hits, three home runs and 21 RBI after 20 games for a 14-6 Creighton team.
Most Home Runs through first 20
8, Jake Holton, 2019
7, Ryan Gripp, 1999
7, Michael Emodi, 2018
Most Runs through first 20
29, Robbie Knight, 2008
29, Ryan Gripp, 1999
25, Clark Brinkman, 2018
25, Parker Upton, 2019
24, Dan Norquist, 2005
24, Isaac Collins, 2019
Most Home Runs through first 20
25, 2019
22, 2010
21, 2002
19, 2009
19, 2008
Most Doubles through first 20
12, Alex Staehely, 2011
11, Ryan Gripp, 1999
10, Will Robertson, 2019
9, Dan Norquist, 2004
9, Tony Roth, 2005
9, TJ Roemmich, 2010
9, Jack Strunc, 2019
Most Victories through first 20
18, 2000
16, 2011
16, 2016
15, 2005
14, 2019
14, 2013
14, 2008
14, 1999
Most Stolen Bases through first 20
55, 2002
37, 2019
35, 2016
33, 2000
33, 2001
Download the complete preview (PDF).
Kansas State at Creighton
@ TD Ameritrade
Park Omaha
April 5 @ 6:30 pm
April 6 @ 2:00 pm
April 7 @ 12:00 pm
How to Follow the Weekend Series
Live Stats: http://www.statbroadcast.com/events/statmonitr.php?gid=crei
Audio Broadcast (1180 AM - Friday and Saturday): http://player.listenlive.co/52381
Audio Broadcast (1620 AM - Sunday): http://player.listenlive.co/52371
Video Broadcast (Jays Video): https://gocreighton.com/watch
@ TD Ameritrade
Park Omaha
April 5 @ 6:30 pm
April 6 @ 2:00 pm
April 7 @ 12:00 pm
How to Follow the Weekend Series
Live Stats: http://www.statbroadcast.com/events/statmonitr.php?gid=crei
Audio Broadcast (1180 AM - Friday and Saturday): http://player.listenlive.co/52381
Audio Broadcast (1620 AM - Sunday): http://player.listenlive.co/52371
Video Broadcast (Jays Video): https://gocreighton.com/watch
Scouting the Bluejays (2019: 14-6, 0-0 BIG EAST)
Creighton enters the first week of April with seven wins in its last eight games, including a weekend sweep of Illinois State in the Bluejays' first weekend at home. The Bluejay offense has shouldered the bulk of the load for Creighton through much of the first half of the year. Despite playing in the spacious home of TD Ameritrade Park Omaha, the bats didn't stop for Creighton. The Bluejays hammered three home runs on Saturday against Illinois State, with junior Jake Holton hitting one into the seats in each of Creighton's weekend battles with the Redbirds.
Holton leads Creighton at the plate with a .372 average, eight home runs and 28 RBI. Two-hole hitter Parker Upton is a step back at .347, while leadoff man Isaac Collins enters the week hitting .333.
On the mound closer Bobby Kametas has been strong in nine appearances with a 1.93 ERA, while reliever John Sakowski was stellar in two appearances last week. Sakowski authored 6.2 innings of scoreless ball, earning the win over the Redbirds in the opening game of a twin bill on Sunday.
Series History: Creighton trails Kasnas State, 52-41-1
Creighton's weekend series with the Wildcats continues an annual matchup with Kansas State, but this is the first time the two squads will play a weekend series since Servais has led the Bluejays. Creighton and Kansas State have typically played a home-and-home midweek game. Under Servais Creighton is 12-8 against the Wildcats, taking the last three meetings.
Scouting the Wildcats (2019: 12-18, 1-5 Big 12)
Kansas State enters the weekend having dropped eight of their last nine.
The Wildcats are hitting .265 as a team, led by Zach Kokoska at .333 and Will Brennan at .313.
On the bump Kansas State has a 5.59 team ERA, yet their closer Mitch Zubradt has a 0.00 ERA in 13 appearances.
Bluejays Continue to Battle the Weather Â
The 2019 season has brought a unique wrinkle for most Midwest teams, taking away games or forcing new locations.
Entering the series with Kansas State on April 5th, the Bluejays have played 20 games and altered 13 games. Creighton has been forced to cancel seven games, move its three-game series with Maryland and postponed three others (South Dakota State, Illinois State opening game and the first meeting with UNO).
Bluejays Have Enjoyed Free Baseball, Specifically the 11th
With three extra-inning games alreadys this season the Bluejays are a perfect 3-0. Going back to 2018, Creighton took the lone extra-inning contest, claiming the game on Feb. 25 at UC Davis.
The Bluejays also took the last two extra-inning affairs in 2017, giving Creighton six consecutive wins during free baseball. The last time the Bluejays lost in extra-innings was on April 7, 2017 to St. John's in 14 frames.
Recent Games Offering Free Baseball
3/31/19 vs. Illinois State   W, 8-7 (11)
3/12/19 at Saint Louis    W, 12-11 (11)
2/17/19 at Little Rock   W, 12-10 (11)
2/25/18 at UC Davis   W, 10-7 (11)
4/26/17 vs. Wichita State   W, 4-3 (10)
4/11/17 vs. South Dakota State   W, 6-5 (11)
4/7/18 vs. #14 St. John's    L, 3-2 (14)
Nuggets Through 20 Games, Since 1999
In 2018, Will Robertson had 25 hits, three home runs and 21 RBI after 20 games for a 14-6 Creighton team. He went on to be named First Team All-BIG EAST.
This year Will Robertson has 25 hits, three home runs and 21 RBI after 20 games for a 14-6 Creighton team.
Most Home Runs through first 20
8, Jake Holton, 2019
7, Ryan Gripp, 1999
7, Michael Emodi, 2018
Most Runs through first 20
29, Robbie Knight, 2008
29, Ryan Gripp, 1999
25, Clark Brinkman, 2018
25, Parker Upton, 2019
24, Dan Norquist, 2005
24, Isaac Collins, 2019
Most Home Runs through first 20
25, 2019
22, 2010
21, 2002
19, 2009
19, 2008
Most Doubles through first 20
12, Alex Staehely, 2011
11, Ryan Gripp, 1999
10, Will Robertson, 2019
9, Dan Norquist, 2004
9, Tony Roth, 2005
9, TJ Roemmich, 2010
9, Jack Strunc, 2019
Most Victories through first 20
18, 2000
16, 2011
16, 2016
15, 2005
14, 2019
14, 2013
14, 2008
14, 1999
Most Stolen Bases through first 20
55, 2002
37, 2019
35, 2016
33, 2000
33, 2001
Players Mentioned
OF
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INF
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C
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INF
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RHP
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OF
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RHP
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INF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball2013 Creighton Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee Dan Smith
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