Series Details
- Saturday @ 3:30 p.m. // Live Stats // Live Video // KZOT 1180 AM
- Sunday @ 12:30 p.m. (DH) // Live Stats // Live Video // KZOT 1180 AM
The Mother Nature Report
This series was originally slated to be one game each on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, but because of “thawing concerns” the Friday game was pushed back.
So, that’s why it will be weird that the Jays aren’t playing on a night when Accuweather forecasts 49 degrees but sunny at 6 p.m.
The good news? Warmer temps are supposed to continue Saturday or Sunday. And with no precipitation in the plans, it looks like smooth sailing for getting the three-game series in somehow, someway.
100 Words About Minnesota
Talk about scheduling up. The Golden Gophers’ first seven games of the 2015 season came against top 10 teams Houston and Texas. The Gophers lost all of those games, failing to crack the win column until sweeping three games from Florida Gulf Coast last weekend. Their reward for a hot streak? A scrimmage against the MINNESOTA TWINS. The Gophers lost that, too, not that it counts in the 3-7 record they bring to Omaha this weekend. It’ll be Minnesota’s first trip to Omaha to play Creighton since Jack Dahm’s Bluejays swept a three-game series from the Gophers in March 2000.
The Bluejays, by the Numbers
- Record: 5-3 (5-3 non-conference; 0-0 Big East)
- RPI: 4 (c/o warrennolan.com)
Last Time Out
Creighton traveled to Louisiana, visiting the Tulane Green Wave for a three-game series. The Jays dropped Friday’s opener 8-2 before bouncing back with a 7-2 win behind Matt Warren. In the series rubber match, Creighton took a 2-1 lead into the ninth inning only to see the Green Wave plate two in their final at-bat for a walk-off 3-2 win.
On the Mound
Projected Starters
- CU’s Jeff Albrecht (1-1, 1.23) vs. UM’s Ben Meyer (0-2, 4.26)
- CU’s Matt Warren (1-1, 3.60) vs. UM’s Dalton Sawyer (1-2, 5.87)
- CU’s Rollie Lacy (1-0, 1.35) vs. UM’s Tim Shannon (1-1, 3.68)
Jack Rogalla started the first two series openers for the Bluejays, but didn’t appear against Tulane. Without the senior transfer ace in his pocket, Ed Servais put Jeff Albrecht out against the Green Wave for three innings. He departed with a 1-0 deficit, surrendering 2 hits and 3 walks while striking out 4. Albrecht was on the hook for the loss, even though the bulk of Tulane’s offense came against Keith Rogalla (4 R in 2 IP) and Will Bamesberger (2 R in 1.2 IP).
Ben Meyer will get the ball for Minnesota in the first game of the weekend, but don’t let his early season 4.26 ERA fool you – he’s had a sub-3.00 ERA each of the past three seasons, he just managed to draw No. 3 Houston and No. 8 Texas in his first two starts, both away from home.
At the Plate
Creighton
- .235 batting average
- .299 slugging percentage
- .307 on-base percentage
- 6 runs per game
Minnesota
- .208 batting average
- .252 slugging percentage
- .271 on-base percentage
- 3 runs per game
The Bluejays have seven regulars with 20 or more at-bats so far in 2015. Five of those guys are hitting .250 or better so far, led by CU newcomer Harrison Crawford (.407) and reigning Big East Player of the Year Reagan Fowler (.303).
The Gophers have eight guys who hit the same 20-AB threshold, and just three – Matt Fielder, .324; Toby Hanson, .320; Jordan Smith, .278 – are hitting better than .250.