Baseball

On Deck: Creighton Bluejays Baseball vs. Xavier Musketeers

Series Details

The Mother Nature Report

Welp, it snowed yesterday. So, that’s a thing. But the white stuff won’t stick around for long, giving way to rising temperatures all weekend. Should be chilly but playable as the sun goes down Friday night, then beautiful for Saturday’s game. Sunday? Maybe some rain. God only knows, I suppose.

  • Low 60s at first pitch Friday night
  • High 60s at first pitch Saturday afternoon
  • Mid 60s at first pitch Sunday afternoon, with thunderstorms in the area

100-ish Words About Xavier

Xavier’s not very good this year. They own just 8 wins, but one of those came against top-10 Louisville.

Last year? They were good enough to swipe Creighton’s spot in the NCAA Tournament, thanks to a 5-0 win in the “Championship Game” of the 2014 Big East Tournament. The Jays actually beat XU 9-2 earlier in the tournament, but the janky format of last year’s event left CU with one loss but runner-up after winning the league’s regular season championship. Good for Xavier, I guess. They won the game that mattered most then went 1-2 in the Nashville Regional.

The Bluejays, by the Numbers

  • Record: 17-9 (2-1 Big East)
  • RPI: 58 (c/o com)

Last Time Out

Creighton spent last weekend in D.C., starting Big East play against Georgetown. The Hoyas proved frustrating hosts for the Bluejays, taking the first game of the series and proving tough outs in two losses on Sunday. Still, Ed Servais’ team flew back to Omaha with a 2-1 series win and eager to begin an 8-game home stand.

There were plenty of exceptional performances by the Jays in D.C. Leadoff man Daniel Woodrow collected 7 hits in 12 at-bats against the Hoyas, setting the table for the Creighton offense. With his brother Joe shelved due to injury, Keith Rogalla gave Servais 6 solid innings in the first of two games on Sunday, cruising to his second win of the season. Then in the second of the twin bill, six Bluejays combined on the mound to keep the Hoyas from pulling out the series win. It took some especially stressful heroics by Nick Highberger in the ninth inning to keep Georgetown from walking off with a win.

On the Mound

Projected Starters

  • CU’s Rollie Lacy (2-0, 2.77 ERA) vs. XU’s Brad Kirschner (2-5, 3.64 ERA)
  • CU’s Keith Rogalla (2-0, 4.37 ERA) vs. XU’s Adam Hall (1-2, 3.82 ERA)
  • CU’s Jeff Albrecht (1-2, 2.66 ERA) vs. XU’s Trent Astle (1-5, 4.46 ERA)

Creighton

3.40 earned run average (54 nationally)

1.59 strikeout-to-walk ratio (210 nationally)

0.973 fielding percentage (45 nationally)

0.96 double plays per game (49 nationally)

Xavier

4.79 earned run average (176 nationally)

1.49 strikeout-to-walk ratio (230 nationally)

0.961 fielding percentage (204 nationally)

0.71 double plays per game (T-166 nationally)

All stats according to stats.ncaa.org 

At the Plate

Creighton

.257 batting average (205 nationally)

.354 slugging percentage (198 nationally)

.346 on-base percentage (197 nationally)

4.9 runs per game (198 nationally)

Xavier

.240 batting average (269 nationally)

.316 slugging percentage (273 nationally)

.323 on-base percentage (275 nationally)

3.8 runs per game (279 nationally)

All stats according to stats.ncaa.org

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