- Tuesday: Creighton Bluejays (5-3) vs. #25 California Bears (8-2) 3:30 p.m. CT
- Wednesday: Creighton Bluejays vs. Sacramento State Hornets (4-7) 4:00 p.m. CT
Lost in the weekend of celebrating Creighton men’s basketball’s run to an Arch Madness championship, the CU baseball team took two out of three games against the UC Davis Aggies. The games marked the start of the Bluejays’ spring break travels through the state of California, which continue today and Wednesday in Berkeley and Sacramento respectively.
Media Menu
Follow Creighton’s game Tuesday against Cal via live stats online. Online audio/video is available for Wednesday’s game at Sacramento State, as are live stats.
Last Weekend…
The Bluejays began their California trip with a wild 7-6 win over UC Davis Friday afternoon. Creighton overcame an uncharacteristic slow start by Ty Blach, who surrendered three runs in the first inning. It took the Jays six innings to pull even, when Brad McKewon collected a two-out RBI to score Erik Mattingly. Meanwhile Blach kept the Aggies in check through the seventh inning, and he had a chance to pick up the win thanks to three straight singles from Chance Ross, Nick Judkins, and Alex Staehely that gave CU a 4-3 lead ahead of the seventh inning stretch. Chase Webb couldn’t hold Blach’s one-run lead, giving up two runs as UC Davis went to the eighth inning up 6-4. But McKewon and Jake Peter both reached base with one out and then Ross brought them both home with an RBI double, tying the game at 6-6. Judkins then brought Ross home for the go-ahead run, and Reese McGraw pitched two scoreless innings to earn the save.
Brad McKewon had some clutch plays against UC Davis (Spomer/WBR)
The Bluejays couldn’t win another back and forth game Saturday, though, losing 6-3. Brandon Koenigstein lasted just 3.1 innings and gave up five runs, dropping to 0-2 on the season. Mattingly, Mark Winkelman, and Shane Liska held the Aggies to just four hits and one run the rest of the way, but the CU bats couldn’t do much against UC Davis pitchers Anthony Kupbens and Chris Levy. Judkins, Mattingly, and Peter each had two hits, but the rest of the lineup contributed only one other knock (by Ross) and couldn’t take full advantage of three Aggie errors.
Sunday’s rubber match went to the Bluejays, 4-3, thanks to the top of the Creighton batting order and the backend of the CU bullpen. Ross had two more hits, including his first home run of the season, Peter and Judkins also had two hits apiece, as Ed Servais’ first three hitters combined to knock in all four Creighton runs. Newcomer Andrew Urban gave up just one run in four innings, before Webb surrendered two runs and the CU lead in the UC Davis half of the sixth inning. But McGraw and closer Kurt Spomer combined to hold the Aggies scoreless over the final few frames. Peter’s RBI single in the seventh proved the difference.
As for Creighton’s midweek opponents, Cal spent last weekend sweeping Lehigh while Sacramento State lost all three of its games against #24 UCLA.
Historically…
Creighton’s never played Cal or Sacramento State. The Bluejays hadn’t faced UC Davis before, either, entering last weekend’s games.
On the Mound
Creighton will face Cal left-hander Michael Theofanopoulos (0-1, 2.25 ERA) Tuesday. The Bluejays will counter with right-hander Nick Musec (1-0, 2.70).
As a team, the Golden Bears have a 2.33 ERA. Cal pitchers have surrendered 66 hits in 89 innings pitched, striking out 56 batters and issuing just 21 walks. The Hornets, on the other hand, have a 5.78 team ERA and have given up 107 hits in 95 innings. Sacramento State pitchers have 58 strikeouts and 49 walks.
Creighton’s staff has combined for a 3.64 ERA in 71.2 innings of work. Bluejays pitchers have surrendered 62 hits and 25 walks, while striking out 45.
At the Plate
Cal, a 2011 College World Series participant, returns seven starters from last season’s surprise entrant to the CWS. That includes 2011 Pac-10 Player of the Year Tony Renda, who leads the Bears with a .400 average and 11 runs scored. As a team Cal is hitting .299 and outscoring opponents 73-26 in 10 games.
Tony Renda came to Omaha with the Cal Bears for the 2011 CWS (Streur/WBR)
Sacramento State is led by Will Soto (.297 in 37 at bats, 8 RBI) and Rhys Hoskins (.429 in 28 at bats, team-high 2 home runs). As a team the Hornets hit .262 and have been outscored 71-50 in 11 games.
Creighton’s bats continue to warm up on their West coast trip. Peter, a freshman, leads the team with a .474 average and 4 doubles in 19 at bats. Judkins (.364) and Ross (.313) pace the regular starters, while Staehely’s struggled to start the season (.194) and preseason All-MVC pick Mike Gerber (.172) has yet to find his stroke.
As a team the Jays are outhitting opponents .259 to .247 and outscoring them 35-30 in 8 games.
Facts, Figures, and Fodder
Peter leads the Bluejays in slugging percentage and on-base percentage in addition to average and doubles… After starting every game in 2011, Judkins has started each of Creighton’s 8 games so far in 2012… Brennan Murphy leads CU with 4 steals, and is perfect in 4 attempts.
Weather Forecast
It’s forecast to be warmer in Omaha than Berkeley today; Accuweather.com calls for 54 degrees and windy conditions in the NorCal burb. Tomorrow’s forecast for Sacramento is a few degrees warmer.