Friday, April 9
Omaha, Neb.
6:30 PM
Creighton University
vs
Villanova
Photo by: Mark Kuhlmann
Baseball Set to Open BIG EAST Play Against Villanova
4/8/2021 5:24:00 PM | Baseball
Omaha, Neb. -- Battling through its second weekend cancellation due to an opponent's positive Covid-19 Test, the Creighton Baseball team returns to play on Friday, April 9. This weekend the Bluejays host Villanova for a shortened three-game series beginning at 6:30 pm. Friday's contest will be broadcast throughout the state on Nebraska Educational Television (NET).Â
Download the complete preview (PDF).
Probable Pitching Matchups (2021 Stats)
Friday   ERA   W-L   App   GS   CG   SHO   IP   H   R   ER   BB   SO
VU - Gordon Graceffo (So.-RHP)Â Â Â 1.17Â Â Â 3-0Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 1Â Â Â 1Â Â Â 30.2Â Â Â 24Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 5Â Â Â 28
CU - Dylan Tebrake (So.-RHP)Â Â Â 5.66Â Â Â 2-0Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 20.2Â Â Â 22Â Â Â 14Â Â Â 13Â Â Â 8Â Â Â 23
Saturday   ERA   W-L   App   GS   CG   SHO   IP   H   R   ER   BB   SO
VU - Jimmy Kingsbury (Jr.-RHP)Â Â Â 3.22Â Â Â 4-1Â Â Â 6Â Â Â 6Â Â Â 1Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 36.1Â Â Â 21Â Â Â 15Â Â Â 13Â Â Â 22Â Â Â 44
CU - Jonah Smith (Sr.-RHP)Â Â Â 7.23Â Â Â 1-2Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 18.2Â Â Â 27Â Â Â 15Â Â Â 15Â Â Â 10Â Â Â 23
Sunday   ERA   W-L   App   GS   CG   SHO   IP   H   R   ER   BB   SO
VU - Tyler Arella (Sr.-LHP)Â Â Â 2.42Â Â Â 1-0Â Â Â 5Â Â Â 3Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 22.1Â Â Â 20Â Â Â 7Â Â Â 6Â Â Â 7Â Â Â 28
CU - Cade Lommel (Fr.-LHP)Â Â Â 6.57Â Â Â 1-1Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 12.1Â Â Â 15Â Â Â 9Â Â Â 9Â Â Â 8Â Â Â 8
Series with Wildcats:
Creighton leads Villanova, 18-1
Creighton owns an 18-1 edge on the Wildcats, claiming the last 17 meetings. Villanova tripped up the Bluejays in the first matchup as BIG EAST foes in 2014, but Creighton has not lost since.
Villanova (18-1)
Day       Team                   Result
3/10/84   $ vs. Villanova   W   5-4
4/17/14   * at Villanova   L   3-6
4/18/14   * at Villanova   W   12-6
4/19/14   * at Villanova   W   4-0
5/14/15   * Villanova   W   13-5
5/15/15   * Villanova   W   4-2
5/16/15   * Villanova   W   4-3
4/29/16   * at Villanova    W   9-3
4/30/16   * at Villanova    W   10-4
4/30/16   * at Villanova    W   6-5
4/21/17   * Villanova   W   6-5
4/22/17   * Villanova   W    11-2
4/23/17   * Villanova   W   2-1
5/11/18   * at Villanova   W   4-0
5/12/18   * at Villanova   W   6-1
5/12/18   * at Villanova   W   3-2
5/16/19   * Villanova   W   10-1
5/17/19   * Villanova   W   4-1
5/18/19   * Villanova   W   8-2
$ - Neutral games in Miami, Fla.
* - BIG EAST Regular Season Game
Scouting the Wildcats (2021: 12-2, 0-0 BIG EAST)
The Wildcats were one of two BIG EAST teams to have a winning record last season, ending 2020 with a mark of 9-5. That winning attitude carried into 2021 as the Wildcats have won 12 in a row. Villanova dropped its first two contests of the season at Radford, but have not been on the losing end of a contest since Feb. 28.
Villanova head coach Kevin Mulvey is in his fifth season at the helm. He has a 47-117 combined record at Villanova, but is 21-7 over the last two seasons.
Villanova enters the series hitting .246 as a team, led by Ryan Toohers' .385 mark.
On the mound the Wildcats have a team ERA of 3.19. The three named starters have a combined ERA of 2.32 over 89.1 innings.
Scouting the Bluejays (2021: 6-7, 0-0 BIG EAST)
Coming off an open weekend for the second time in a month, Creighton opens BIG EAST play at 6-7 having taken both games from Bradley at the close of March.
At the plate the Bluejays are hitting .277 as a team, led by four regulars over .300. Leading the way for the regulars are sophomore Andrew Meggs (.412), junior David Webel (.308), freshman Alan Roden (.308) and senior Parker Upton (.300).
On the mound Creighton has a 5.59 ERA as a team. The Bluejays' trio of starters have a combined ERA of 6.44 over 51.2 innings.
Baseball's BIG EAST Opening Series with Villanova Shortened to Three Games
Creighton and Villanova Baseball as well as the BIG EAST Conference have mutually agreed to reduce the opening series this weekend from four games to three.
The change comes as a result of an abundance of caution relative to guidance regarding the minimum number of available players recommended to compete due to Covid-19 protocols.
The series will now feature single contests each day
Bluejays' Series with Sacramento State Cancelled
The Creighton Baseball weekend series scheduled for April 2-4 with Sacramento State has been cancelled due to positive COVID-19 test results within the Hornet program.
Â
Weekend Series with South Dakota State Cancelled
The Creighton Baseball weekend series scheduled for March 12-13 with South Dakota State has been canceled due to positive COVID-19 test results within the Jackrabbit program.
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Bluejays in the BIG EAST and Conference Openers
Since joining the BIG EAST, Creighton has a gaudy 73-30 record in conference play. The Bluejays own three of six regular season championships (2020 was not played).
Despite the impressive mark in BIG EAST action, Creighton is just 3-3 in the opening game of conference play since joining the BIG EAST in 2014.
Overall Creighton is 20-17 in first game of the conference season, including 9-7 under Servais.
Veteran Bats Shaking Off Kinks
In the two-game sweep over Bradley (March 27-28), the Bluejay offense seemed to find its stroke. As a team Creighton hit .328, but three veterans that started the season slower appeared to get going.
Seniors Ryan Mantle, Parker Upton and junior David Vilches combined to hit 7-of-15 (.467) with seven RBI and three runs scored in the two contests.
Â
Bluejay Youth Offer Spark At the Plate
Freshman Alan Roden and sophomore Andrew Meggs have been more than a nice surprise at the dish this season for head coach Ed Servais.
Coming into 2021 the duo had a combined 21 hits in 84 at-bats (.250).
Already this season Meggs has 21 hits alone to lead Creighton with a .412 average (21-for-51).
Roden, meanwhile, leads the squad with 19 RBI in 13 games. He has eight extra-base hits (five doubles and three home runs) and is hitting .308 on the season.
Meggs and Roden's production have moved the duo from the bottom of the order to the second and fourth slots in the batting order.
Download the complete preview (PDF).
Villanova at Creighton
April 9 @ 6:30 pm
April 10 @ 1:00 pm
April 11 @ 12:00 pm
Live Stats: http://creighton.statbroadcast.com
TV: NET (Friday only)
Video Stream: YouTube
Saturday: https://youtu.be/qSMwU7EftEs
Sunday: https://youtu.be/RYbV0jZFOOk
April 9 @ 6:30 pm
April 10 @ 1:00 pm
April 11 @ 12:00 pm
Live Stats: http://creighton.statbroadcast.com
TV: NET (Friday only)
Video Stream: YouTube
Saturday: https://youtu.be/qSMwU7EftEs
Sunday: https://youtu.be/RYbV0jZFOOk
Probable Pitching Matchups (2021 Stats)
Friday   ERA   W-L   App   GS   CG   SHO   IP   H   R   ER   BB   SO
VU - Gordon Graceffo (So.-RHP)Â Â Â 1.17Â Â Â 3-0Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 1Â Â Â 1Â Â Â 30.2Â Â Â 24Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 5Â Â Â 28
CU - Dylan Tebrake (So.-RHP)Â Â Â 5.66Â Â Â 2-0Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 20.2Â Â Â 22Â Â Â 14Â Â Â 13Â Â Â 8Â Â Â 23
Saturday   ERA   W-L   App   GS   CG   SHO   IP   H   R   ER   BB   SO
VU - Jimmy Kingsbury (Jr.-RHP)Â Â Â 3.22Â Â Â 4-1Â Â Â 6Â Â Â 6Â Â Â 1Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 36.1Â Â Â 21Â Â Â 15Â Â Â 13Â Â Â 22Â Â Â 44
CU - Jonah Smith (Sr.-RHP)Â Â Â 7.23Â Â Â 1-2Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 18.2Â Â Â 27Â Â Â 15Â Â Â 15Â Â Â 10Â Â Â 23
Sunday   ERA   W-L   App   GS   CG   SHO   IP   H   R   ER   BB   SO
VU - Tyler Arella (Sr.-LHP)Â Â Â 2.42Â Â Â 1-0Â Â Â 5Â Â Â 3Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 22.1Â Â Â 20Â Â Â 7Â Â Â 6Â Â Â 7Â Â Â 28
CU - Cade Lommel (Fr.-LHP)Â Â Â 6.57Â Â Â 1-1Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 12.1Â Â Â 15Â Â Â 9Â Â Â 9Â Â Â 8Â Â Â 8
Series with Wildcats:
Creighton leads Villanova, 18-1
Creighton owns an 18-1 edge on the Wildcats, claiming the last 17 meetings. Villanova tripped up the Bluejays in the first matchup as BIG EAST foes in 2014, but Creighton has not lost since.
Villanova (18-1)
Day       Team                   Result
3/10/84   $ vs. Villanova   W   5-4
4/17/14   * at Villanova   L   3-6
4/18/14   * at Villanova   W   12-6
4/19/14   * at Villanova   W   4-0
5/14/15   * Villanova   W   13-5
5/15/15   * Villanova   W   4-2
5/16/15   * Villanova   W   4-3
4/29/16   * at Villanova    W   9-3
4/30/16   * at Villanova    W   10-4
4/30/16   * at Villanova    W   6-5
4/21/17   * Villanova   W   6-5
4/22/17   * Villanova   W    11-2
4/23/17   * Villanova   W   2-1
5/11/18   * at Villanova   W   4-0
5/12/18   * at Villanova   W   6-1
5/12/18   * at Villanova   W   3-2
5/16/19   * Villanova   W   10-1
5/17/19   * Villanova   W   4-1
5/18/19   * Villanova   W   8-2
$ - Neutral games in Miami, Fla.
* - BIG EAST Regular Season Game
Scouting the Wildcats (2021: 12-2, 0-0 BIG EAST)
The Wildcats were one of two BIG EAST teams to have a winning record last season, ending 2020 with a mark of 9-5. That winning attitude carried into 2021 as the Wildcats have won 12 in a row. Villanova dropped its first two contests of the season at Radford, but have not been on the losing end of a contest since Feb. 28.
Villanova head coach Kevin Mulvey is in his fifth season at the helm. He has a 47-117 combined record at Villanova, but is 21-7 over the last two seasons.
Villanova enters the series hitting .246 as a team, led by Ryan Toohers' .385 mark.
On the mound the Wildcats have a team ERA of 3.19. The three named starters have a combined ERA of 2.32 over 89.1 innings.
Scouting the Bluejays (2021: 6-7, 0-0 BIG EAST)
Coming off an open weekend for the second time in a month, Creighton opens BIG EAST play at 6-7 having taken both games from Bradley at the close of March.
At the plate the Bluejays are hitting .277 as a team, led by four regulars over .300. Leading the way for the regulars are sophomore Andrew Meggs (.412), junior David Webel (.308), freshman Alan Roden (.308) and senior Parker Upton (.300).
On the mound Creighton has a 5.59 ERA as a team. The Bluejays' trio of starters have a combined ERA of 6.44 over 51.2 innings.
Baseball's BIG EAST Opening Series with Villanova Shortened to Three Games
Creighton and Villanova Baseball as well as the BIG EAST Conference have mutually agreed to reduce the opening series this weekend from four games to three.
The change comes as a result of an abundance of caution relative to guidance regarding the minimum number of available players recommended to compete due to Covid-19 protocols.
The series will now feature single contests each day
Bluejays' Series with Sacramento State Cancelled
The Creighton Baseball weekend series scheduled for April 2-4 with Sacramento State has been cancelled due to positive COVID-19 test results within the Hornet program.
Â
Weekend Series with South Dakota State Cancelled
The Creighton Baseball weekend series scheduled for March 12-13 with South Dakota State has been canceled due to positive COVID-19 test results within the Jackrabbit program.
Â
Bluejays in the BIG EAST and Conference Openers
Since joining the BIG EAST, Creighton has a gaudy 73-30 record in conference play. The Bluejays own three of six regular season championships (2020 was not played).
Despite the impressive mark in BIG EAST action, Creighton is just 3-3 in the opening game of conference play since joining the BIG EAST in 2014.
Overall Creighton is 20-17 in first game of the conference season, including 9-7 under Servais.
Veteran Bats Shaking Off Kinks
In the two-game sweep over Bradley (March 27-28), the Bluejay offense seemed to find its stroke. As a team Creighton hit .328, but three veterans that started the season slower appeared to get going.
Seniors Ryan Mantle, Parker Upton and junior David Vilches combined to hit 7-of-15 (.467) with seven RBI and three runs scored in the two contests.
Â
Bluejay Youth Offer Spark At the Plate
Freshman Alan Roden and sophomore Andrew Meggs have been more than a nice surprise at the dish this season for head coach Ed Servais.
Coming into 2021 the duo had a combined 21 hits in 84 at-bats (.250).
Already this season Meggs has 21 hits alone to lead Creighton with a .412 average (21-for-51).
Roden, meanwhile, leads the squad with 19 RBI in 13 games. He has eight extra-base hits (five doubles and three home runs) and is hitting .308 on the season.
Meggs and Roden's production have moved the duo from the bottom of the order to the second and fourth slots in the batting order.
Players Mentioned
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