Friday, March 3
Northridge, Calif.
4:00 PM
Creighton University
at
Cal State Northridge
Photo by: Lara Zuk
Baseball Faces Cal State Northridge in Three-Game Set This Weekend
3/2/2023 7:17:00 PM | Baseball
Northridge, Calif. -- Creighton Baseball rolls into its third state of the 2023 season as the Bluejays begin a three-game series with Cal State Northridge on Friday at 4:00 p.m. (CT).
Probable Pitching Matchups (2023 Stats)
Game 1   ERA   W-L   App   GS   CG   SHO   IP   H   R   ER   BB   SO
CU - Ryan Windam (Sr.-RHP)Â Â Â 1.80Â Â Â 0-1Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 10.0Â Â Â 12Â Â Â 6Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 6Â Â Â
CSUN - Lucas Braun (So.-RHP)Â Â Â 7.00Â Â Â 1-1Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 9.0Â Â Â 13Â Â Â 10Â Â Â 7Â Â Â 5Â Â Â 14
Game 2   ERA   W-L   App   GS   CG   SHO   IP   H   R   ER   BB   SO
CU - Justin Kleinsorge (Gr.-RHP)Â Â Â 3.60Â Â Â 1-0Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 10.0Â Â Â 10Â Â Â 5Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 10
CSUN - Thomas Bainton (Fr. - RHP)Â Â Â 2.25Â Â Â 1-0Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 1Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 12.0Â Â Â 10Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 3Â Â Â 1Â Â Â 8
Game 3   ERA   W-L   App   GS   CG   SHO   IP   H   R   ER   BB   SO
CU - Anthony Watts (Fr.-RHP)Â Â Â 5.62Â Â Â 0-0Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 1Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 8.0Â Â Â 8Â Â Â 5Â Â Â 5Â Â Â 1Â Â Â 7
CSUN - Kenji Pallares (So. - RHP)Â Â Â 8.10Â Â Â 1-0Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 10.0Â Â Â 9Â Â Â 9Â Â Â 9Â Â Â 3Â Â Â 7
Series History with Cal State Northridge
Creighton is 1-2 against Cal State Northridge, facing the Matadors twice in 1991 and once in 1992. All three meetings came in the Best of the West Classic at Fresno State.
Game-by-Game (Home Games in Bold)
3/13/91 Â Â Â Â Â Â Cal State Northridge 9, Creighton 5
3/16/91 Â Â Â Â Â Â Creighton 3, Cal State Northridge 1
3/18/92 Â Â Â Â Â Â Cal State Northridge 12, Creighton 2
Scouting the Bluejays (2023: 3-3, 0-0 BIG EAST)
In the first two weeks of the road season, Creighton played a series built on pitching against McNeese. The first game was a 1-0 loss to the Cowboys, while Creighton took a 1-0 lead into the ninth inning of the finale.
By contrast the Bluejays scored 27 runs in three games with Coastal Carolina in the three-game series with the
Chanticleers.
Both portions of the Bluejay squad have seen early surprises and slow starts.
On the bump grad transfer Justin Kleinsorge and freshman Anthony Watts have emerged with strong starts. Meanwhile BIG EAST Preseason selections Cade Lommel and Dominic Cancellieri have struggled.
Offensively the Bluejays have gotten more than they expected from grad transfer Tyler Lozano, junior Nolan Clifford and senior Sterling Hayes. Conversely catcher Hogan Helligso, third baseman Ben North and grad transfer Ben Gbur have struggled.
Having played just six games the ups and downs of a couple of weekends are to be expected.
Scouting the Matadors (2023: 5-1, 0-0 Big West)
Similar to the Bluejays, Cal State Northridge has six games under its belt entering the weekend series. The Matadors, however, are not used to facing the weather challenges they encountered last weekend.
Cal State Northridge was scheduled to face San Francisco in a home series last week. The series was cancelled, yet the Matadors scramble to play Pepperdine at home on Sunday and Tuesday. Yet a Wednesday contest was also washed away by poor field conditions.
When the Matadors have gotten onto the field the have been very successful, Cal State Northridge opened the 2023 season with a four-game sweep of Stony Brook, then split two games with Pepperdine.
As a team Cal State Northridge is hitting .308, led by Graysen Tarlow's gaudy .545 average. Over six games Tarlow has 12 hits and 14 RBI. Jakob Simons is a step back at .391, but leads the team with two home runs.
On the mound the Matadors have a team ERA of 3.50 with 14 walks and 57 strikeouts in 54 innings.
Sterling Hayes Off to a Sterling Start
Senior Sterling Hayes made a statement in the first two weeks of the 2023 season. After not starting the season opener, Hayes simply continued to grind. Once Hayes got his chance the California native has gone 7-for-14 (.500) with three doubles, three RBI and seven walks.
Hayes' .682 on-base percentage leads the NCAA.
Bergstrom Dominates to Secure Finale Against Coastal
Senior Paul Bergstrom seemed to find his groove in the series finale with Coastal Carolina on Sunday, February 26 as the southpaw closed out the Bluejays 10-5 win with 3.1 innings of scoreless relief. Trailing 5-2 with the bases loaded, Bergstrom needed just one pitch to extricate the Bluejays in the bottom of the sixth. The moment of limiting the damage inflicted by Coastal Carolina spurred on Creighton's offense as the Bluejays scored four in the top of the seventh. Bergstrom returned to the mound with a shutdown frame in the seventh and went on to close out the game needing just 42 pitches.
Shortstop Nolan Clifford Nabbed BIG EAST Honor Roll
Bluejay shortstop Nolan Clifford picked up Creighton's third BIG EAST Honor Roll slot of the season on Monday, February 27.
Clifford guided the Creighton offense in a tough series at Coastal Carolina, hitting .455 with three runs scored and six RBI. Clifford had a hit in each game, including a game-tying grand slam in Friday's battle. Nolan also drew three walks, posted a slugging
percentage of .818 with two doubles and a .571 on-base percentage.
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Creighton at Cal State Northridge
March 3 @ 4:00 p.m.
March 4 @ 4:00 p.m.
March 5 @ 3:00 p.m.
Live Stats: https://gomatadors.com/sidearmstats/baseball/summary
Video: ESPN+
March 3 @ 4:00 p.m.
March 4 @ 4:00 p.m.
March 5 @ 3:00 p.m.
Live Stats: https://gomatadors.com/sidearmstats/baseball/summary
Video: ESPN+
Probable Pitching Matchups (2023 Stats)
Game 1   ERA   W-L   App   GS   CG   SHO   IP   H   R   ER   BB   SO
CU - Ryan Windam (Sr.-RHP)Â Â Â 1.80Â Â Â 0-1Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 10.0Â Â Â 12Â Â Â 6Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 6Â Â Â
CSUN - Lucas Braun (So.-RHP)Â Â Â 7.00Â Â Â 1-1Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 9.0Â Â Â 13Â Â Â 10Â Â Â 7Â Â Â 5Â Â Â 14
Game 2   ERA   W-L   App   GS   CG   SHO   IP   H   R   ER   BB   SO
CU - Justin Kleinsorge (Gr.-RHP)Â Â Â 3.60Â Â Â 1-0Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 10.0Â Â Â 10Â Â Â 5Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 10
CSUN - Thomas Bainton (Fr. - RHP)Â Â Â 2.25Â Â Â 1-0Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 1Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 12.0Â Â Â 10Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 3Â Â Â 1Â Â Â 8
Game 3   ERA   W-L   App   GS   CG   SHO   IP   H   R   ER   BB   SO
CU - Anthony Watts (Fr.-RHP)Â Â Â 5.62Â Â Â 0-0Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 1Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 8.0Â Â Â 8Â Â Â 5Â Â Â 5Â Â Â 1Â Â Â 7
CSUN - Kenji Pallares (So. - RHP)Â Â Â 8.10Â Â Â 1-0Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 10.0Â Â Â 9Â Â Â 9Â Â Â 9Â Â Â 3Â Â Â 7
Series History with Cal State Northridge
Creighton is 1-2 against Cal State Northridge, facing the Matadors twice in 1991 and once in 1992. All three meetings came in the Best of the West Classic at Fresno State.
Game-by-Game (Home Games in Bold)
3/13/91 Â Â Â Â Â Â Cal State Northridge 9, Creighton 5
3/16/91 Â Â Â Â Â Â Creighton 3, Cal State Northridge 1
3/18/92 Â Â Â Â Â Â Cal State Northridge 12, Creighton 2
Scouting the Bluejays (2023: 3-3, 0-0 BIG EAST)
In the first two weeks of the road season, Creighton played a series built on pitching against McNeese. The first game was a 1-0 loss to the Cowboys, while Creighton took a 1-0 lead into the ninth inning of the finale.
By contrast the Bluejays scored 27 runs in three games with Coastal Carolina in the three-game series with the
Chanticleers.
Both portions of the Bluejay squad have seen early surprises and slow starts.
On the bump grad transfer Justin Kleinsorge and freshman Anthony Watts have emerged with strong starts. Meanwhile BIG EAST Preseason selections Cade Lommel and Dominic Cancellieri have struggled.
Offensively the Bluejays have gotten more than they expected from grad transfer Tyler Lozano, junior Nolan Clifford and senior Sterling Hayes. Conversely catcher Hogan Helligso, third baseman Ben North and grad transfer Ben Gbur have struggled.
Having played just six games the ups and downs of a couple of weekends are to be expected.
Scouting the Matadors (2023: 5-1, 0-0 Big West)
Similar to the Bluejays, Cal State Northridge has six games under its belt entering the weekend series. The Matadors, however, are not used to facing the weather challenges they encountered last weekend.
Cal State Northridge was scheduled to face San Francisco in a home series last week. The series was cancelled, yet the Matadors scramble to play Pepperdine at home on Sunday and Tuesday. Yet a Wednesday contest was also washed away by poor field conditions.
When the Matadors have gotten onto the field the have been very successful, Cal State Northridge opened the 2023 season with a four-game sweep of Stony Brook, then split two games with Pepperdine.
As a team Cal State Northridge is hitting .308, led by Graysen Tarlow's gaudy .545 average. Over six games Tarlow has 12 hits and 14 RBI. Jakob Simons is a step back at .391, but leads the team with two home runs.
On the mound the Matadors have a team ERA of 3.50 with 14 walks and 57 strikeouts in 54 innings.
Sterling Hayes Off to a Sterling Start
Senior Sterling Hayes made a statement in the first two weeks of the 2023 season. After not starting the season opener, Hayes simply continued to grind. Once Hayes got his chance the California native has gone 7-for-14 (.500) with three doubles, three RBI and seven walks.
Hayes' .682 on-base percentage leads the NCAA.
Bergstrom Dominates to Secure Finale Against Coastal
Senior Paul Bergstrom seemed to find his groove in the series finale with Coastal Carolina on Sunday, February 26 as the southpaw closed out the Bluejays 10-5 win with 3.1 innings of scoreless relief. Trailing 5-2 with the bases loaded, Bergstrom needed just one pitch to extricate the Bluejays in the bottom of the sixth. The moment of limiting the damage inflicted by Coastal Carolina spurred on Creighton's offense as the Bluejays scored four in the top of the seventh. Bergstrom returned to the mound with a shutdown frame in the seventh and went on to close out the game needing just 42 pitches.
Shortstop Nolan Clifford Nabbed BIG EAST Honor Roll
Bluejay shortstop Nolan Clifford picked up Creighton's third BIG EAST Honor Roll slot of the season on Monday, February 27.
Clifford guided the Creighton offense in a tough series at Coastal Carolina, hitting .455 with three runs scored and six RBI. Clifford had a hit in each game, including a game-tying grand slam in Friday's battle. Nolan also drew three walks, posted a slugging
percentage of .818 with two doubles and a .571 on-base percentage.
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Players Mentioned
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