Thursday, May 16
6:30 pm
Creighton University
vs
Villanova
Photo by: Steve Branscombe
Bluejay Baseball Has One Final Regular Season Goal, Claim a Title
5/15/2019 10:59:00 PM | Baseball
Creighton Claims the #1 Seed and a BIG EAST Championship with a Sweep of Villanova
Omaha, Neb. -- As the 2019 regular season comes to a close, the Creighton Baseball team have clinched a spot in the BIG EAST Tournament. That was the first goal. The Bluejays have put themselves in position to possibly get an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament. Another goal. Creighton's final regular-season task on the checklist is to claim a BIG EAST title and the top seed. To check this one off the Bluejays need to sweep the final series from Villanova beginning on Thursday, May 16th at 6:30 pm.
Download the complete preview (PDF).
Creighton has held a decided advantage over the Wildcats in the last five season, taking 14 of 15 meetings since the two became BIG EAST foes. The lone Villanova win was in the first meeting as conference counterparts in 2014. Creighton has won all six battles in Omaha. Â
BIG EAST History Since Realignment
Since Creighton joined the BIG EAST in 2014 the Bluejays have the chance to claim their third conference regular season
championship.
BIG EAST Champions
Year   Regular Season   BIG EAST Tournament
2014   Creighton   Xavier
2015   St. John's   St. John's
2016   Xavier   Xavier
2017   Creighton   Xavier
2018   St. John's   St. John's
2019Â Â Â
Series History with BIG EAST Foes since 2013
Butler:Â Â Â 12-4
Georgetown:Â Â Â 14-4
Seton Hall:Â Â Â 17-6
St. John's:Â Â Â 10-11
Villanova:Â Â Â 14-1
Xavier: Â Â Â 10-11
Scouting the Wildcats (2019: 13-35, 4-10 BIG EAST)
The Wildcats have been an up and down team, opening the season with just one win in the first 11 games. After beginning to play better in the middle of the season to move to 10-24, Villanova has dropped 11 of its last 14.
Offensively the Wildcats are led by Nick Lorusso team-leading batting average of .305. Villanova is hitting .235 as a team, including .198 during BIG EAST action. During the 14 games of BIG EAST play, Lorusso is hitting .300.
Villanova enters the weekend with a team ERA of 6.26, guided by a 4.10 ERA of Jimmy Kingsbury (the Wildcats opening game starter). In BIG EAST play, the team has a 5.50 ERA, but game two starter Gordon Graceffo has an impressive 2.43 ERA in five starts.
Both Bluejays and Wildcats Have Reasons to Fight
In the final weekend of the season the Bluejays will be trying to claim the BIG EAST regular season title, while Villanova can still reach the BIG EAST tournament. To accomplish each goal the likely need is a sweep by either Creighton or Villanova.
The Bluejays enter the final series at 11-4 in BIG EAST play, just a step behind Xavier who closed BIG EAST play at 12-4. Although the Musketeers took the series with Creighton (2-1), the Bluejays have an opening as Xavier cancelled a pair of conference games. If Creighton sweeps the series from Villanova, either two or three games, the Bluejays claim the regular season title.
At 4-10 in BIG EAST action entering the series, Villanova is two games out of fourth place. The Wildcats, however, would need to leap St. John's, Georgetown and Butler to earn the fourth spot and claim the final spot in the BIG EAST tournament.
Five Former Bluejays Reach "The Show" in a Two-Week Period
After a trio of former Bluejays (Ty Blach, Mike Gerber & Pat Venditte) each saw action for the San Francisco Giant from April 30 - May 4, Â
two more former Bluejay got the call from May 10-14. Anthony Bemboom received his first call to the Tampa Bay Rays on May 10, then Nicky Lopez joined the Kansas City Royals on May 14. Â
Name (Years)   MLB Team   Call Up Date
Ty Blach (2010-12)   San Francisco Giants   April 30
Mike Gerber (2011-14)   San Francisco Giants   May 3
Pat Venditte (2005-08)   San Francisco Giants   May 4
Anthony Bemboom (2011-12)   Tampa Bay Rays   May 10
Nicky Lopez (2014-16)   Kansas City Royals   May 14
Â
Download the complete preview (PDF).
Villanova at Creighton
@ TD Ameritrade
May 16 @ 6:00 pm
May 17 @ 6:30 pm
May 18 @ 12:00 pm
How to Follow the Weekend Series
Live Stats: http://creighton.statbroadcast.com
Watch Online:
Thursday & Friday - Jays Video - http://gocreighton.com/watch
Saturday -Â - BEDN (BIG EAST Digital Network) -
https://gocreighton.com/www.caffeine.tv/BEDN
Audio Broadcast:
Thursday and Friday Only - 1620 AM
http://player.listenlive.co/52371
Series History: Creighton leads Villanova, 15-1@ TD Ameritrade
May 16 @ 6:00 pm
May 17 @ 6:30 pm
May 18 @ 12:00 pm
How to Follow the Weekend Series
Live Stats: http://creighton.statbroadcast.com
Watch Online:
Thursday & Friday - Jays Video - http://gocreighton.com/watch
Saturday -Â - BEDN (BIG EAST Digital Network) -
https://gocreighton.com/www.caffeine.tv/BEDN
Audio Broadcast:
Thursday and Friday Only - 1620 AM
http://player.listenlive.co/52371
Creighton has held a decided advantage over the Wildcats in the last five season, taking 14 of 15 meetings since the two became BIG EAST foes. The lone Villanova win was in the first meeting as conference counterparts in 2014. Creighton has won all six battles in Omaha. Â
BIG EAST History Since Realignment
Since Creighton joined the BIG EAST in 2014 the Bluejays have the chance to claim their third conference regular season
championship.
BIG EAST Champions
Year   Regular Season   BIG EAST Tournament
2014   Creighton   Xavier
2015   St. John's   St. John's
2016   Xavier   Xavier
2017   Creighton   Xavier
2018   St. John's   St. John's
2019Â Â Â
Series History with BIG EAST Foes since 2013
Butler:Â Â Â 12-4
Georgetown:Â Â Â 14-4
Seton Hall:Â Â Â 17-6
St. John's:Â Â Â 10-11
Villanova:Â Â Â 14-1
Xavier: Â Â Â 10-11
Scouting the Wildcats (2019: 13-35, 4-10 BIG EAST)
The Wildcats have been an up and down team, opening the season with just one win in the first 11 games. After beginning to play better in the middle of the season to move to 10-24, Villanova has dropped 11 of its last 14.
Offensively the Wildcats are led by Nick Lorusso team-leading batting average of .305. Villanova is hitting .235 as a team, including .198 during BIG EAST action. During the 14 games of BIG EAST play, Lorusso is hitting .300.
Villanova enters the weekend with a team ERA of 6.26, guided by a 4.10 ERA of Jimmy Kingsbury (the Wildcats opening game starter). In BIG EAST play, the team has a 5.50 ERA, but game two starter Gordon Graceffo has an impressive 2.43 ERA in five starts.
Both Bluejays and Wildcats Have Reasons to Fight
In the final weekend of the season the Bluejays will be trying to claim the BIG EAST regular season title, while Villanova can still reach the BIG EAST tournament. To accomplish each goal the likely need is a sweep by either Creighton or Villanova.
The Bluejays enter the final series at 11-4 in BIG EAST play, just a step behind Xavier who closed BIG EAST play at 12-4. Although the Musketeers took the series with Creighton (2-1), the Bluejays have an opening as Xavier cancelled a pair of conference games. If Creighton sweeps the series from Villanova, either two or three games, the Bluejays claim the regular season title.
At 4-10 in BIG EAST action entering the series, Villanova is two games out of fourth place. The Wildcats, however, would need to leap St. John's, Georgetown and Butler to earn the fourth spot and claim the final spot in the BIG EAST tournament.
Five Former Bluejays Reach "The Show" in a Two-Week Period
After a trio of former Bluejays (Ty Blach, Mike Gerber & Pat Venditte) each saw action for the San Francisco Giant from April 30 - May 4, Â
two more former Bluejay got the call from May 10-14. Anthony Bemboom received his first call to the Tampa Bay Rays on May 10, then Nicky Lopez joined the Kansas City Royals on May 14. Â
Name (Years)   MLB Team   Call Up Date
Ty Blach (2010-12)   San Francisco Giants   April 30
Mike Gerber (2011-14)   San Francisco Giants   May 3
Pat Venditte (2005-08)   San Francisco Giants   May 4
Anthony Bemboom (2011-12)   Tampa Bay Rays   May 10
Nicky Lopez (2014-16)   Kansas City Royals   May 14
Â
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
