Creighton University
Apr 22 | 06:00 PM
4 - 13
Brigham Young University
Miller Park

400 E University Parkway Provo UT 84604

mperry | Posted: 22 Apr 2016 | Updated: 8 Nov 2020
mperry

Rucker leads No. 20 BYU in 13-4 win over No. 25 Creighton

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PHOTO GALLERY
BOX SCORE: BYU vs. Creighton

PROVO, Utah – Junior righthander Michael Rucker kept No. 25 Creighton Bluejays flightless as No. 20 BYU cruised to a 13-4 win Friday night at Miller Park.

Rucker took a no-hitter 7.1 innings against the Bluejays to set the tone in the first game of the series. He improved to 8-0 on the season, recording four strikeouts and giving up four earned runs.

“Mike (Rucker) did exactly what he's done all year for us,” BYU head coach Mike Littlewood said. “He came in and set the tone. He wasn't his sharpest tonight but he battled his tail off. I would have loved to see him get a no-hitter. I was a little tentative to send someone down to the pen because I didn't want to jinx it. Then we saw him getting kind of tired so we had (Bo) Burrup walk down slowly, but then we had to rush a little. I'm really proud of Mike.”

The Cougars (28-7) bolted out to the early lead and never looked back with 13 runs on 16 hits as Creighton (25-9) used six pitchers, going to the bullpen after the first 1.1 innings of game.

“We took it as a personal challenge to have really good at-bats and to build the pitch count,” Littlewood said. “From the first inning to the second, it was a tremendous adjustment for us to play because the guys came in, talked about it and made adjustments to get the ball in the zone. Those guys made the changes immediately. We didn't swing at the shin-high pitches and we made them bring the pitches up. Our hitters did a great job tonight.”

Third baseman Jackson Cluff went a perfect 4 for 4 to lead BYU at the plate. Fueling the team with three RBI apiece were centerfielder Brennon Lund with three hits and shortstop Hayden Nielsen with two. Left fielder Eric Urry, right fielder Keaton Kringlen and second baseman Daniel Schneemann each had two hits in the win.

The Cougars retired six of the first seven batters to begin the game.

After putting the first batter on base in the second with a hit-by-pitch, Rucker got the next three Bluejays out with a strikeout, a pickoff at first and a fly-out.

Urry led off the bottom of the second with a double down the left-field line. Kringlen wasted no time getting the first RBI of the game with a single to right-center field to score Urry.

Later in the inning Schneemann walked to load the bases before Lund drew a walk with the bases juiced for the 2-0 lead with one out.

The Cougars went on to score two more on bases-loaded walks by Nielsen and Shaver to lead 4-0 after the first two innings.

BYU retired the side again in the third and continued to put runs on the board with three more.

Kringlen and Cluff walked and singled. Then with one out, Schneemann had an RBI-single. A subsequent throwing error by the right fielder advanced runners to second and third.

After a Creighton pitching change, Lund singled to right field to plate Cluff. Nielsen followed with a groundout to short, scoring Schneemann for the 7-0 advantage.

In the fourth inning BYU held Creighton scoreless before adding two more runs in the bottom half of the frame.

Colton Shaver scored on Bronson Larsen’s bases-loaded sacrifice fly to deep centerfield after leading off the frame with a double. Kringlen then scored on a wild pitch for the 9-0 lead.

Another 1-2-3 inning for the BYU defense sent the game to the bottom of the fifth where the Cougars tacked on another run. Tanner Chauncey’s sacrifice fly allowed Lund to score for the 10th run of the game.

BYU added three more runs to its total in the bottom of the seventh. Lund’s triple to center scored Schneemann who singled up the middle. Nielsen came up with another RBI on a groundout to the shortstop to plate Lund.

Brock Hale’s substitution for Chauncey as designated hitter paid off as he homered to center to give the Cougars the 13-0 lead after seven.

In the top of the eighth, the Bluejays broke on to the scoreboard after Rucker’s no-hit bid ended. Back-to-back one-out walks preceded Creighton’s first hit of the game—an RBI-single through the right side.

Two more runs scored on a triple to left-center, bringing Rucker’s outing to a close. One more run scored for the Blue Jays for the eventual 13-4 final tally.

“The main way they were going to score runs is if they took advantage of mistakes, which they did in the 8th inning, and if they used their speed,” the pitcher Rucker said. “The biggest thing is trying to get the leadoff guy out, and for the most part, we did a good job of that. It shut down their running game when they couldn't get anyone on base. That'll be key for Hayden Rogers and Jordan Wood Saturday in the doubleheader. They'll just need to minimize baserunners and mistakes. We've got a great defense and we've just got to use (it).”

BYU and Creighton resume their series with a doubleheader on Saturday with game times slated for noon and 3 p.m. MDT. Both of the games will be available for live streaming on TheW.tv and fans can listen to the radio broadcast on ESPN 960 AM.

 

 
Ralph R. Zobell | Posted: 19 Apr 2016 | Updated: 8 Nov 2020
Ralph R. Zobell

No. 25 Creighton vs. No. 20 BYU baseball

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No. 25 Creighton plays a three-game series this weekend hosted by No. 20 BYU baseball.

The Bluejays bring a 25-8 record into the series and are ranked only in the Collegiate Baseball poll where BYU is No. 30. The Cougars, 27-7, are ranked in four polls, as high as No. 20 by Perfect Game. This is the first game for BYU against a ranked team this season.

The non-conference series starts Friday night at 6 p.m., followed by a noon doubleheader on Saturday at Larry H. Miller Field.

“It’s a huge, huge series for us as far as RPI goes,” BYU coach Mike Littlewood said. “They (Creighton) really play defense and pitch it well. They are really aggressive on offense and put the pressure on you.”

Creighton is in first place in the Big East Conference with a 5-1 record, while the Cougars are in a three-way tie for first with Saint Mary’s and Gonzaga with 10-5 records in the West Coast Conference.

“We are playing really well right now,” Littlewood said. “This is a nice week to not have a mid-week game, to get some guys healed up and mentally refresh ourselves.”

Senior Eric Urry is graduating in psychology this week from BYU, but will be in the lineup.

Mike Rucker (7-0, 2.21) will start on the mound for the Cougars in Friday night’s game televised live on BYUtv. Sophomore lefthander Hayden Rogers (4-0, 3.21) is scheduled to start the first game on Saturday, followed by Jordan Wood (0-0, 6.45) on the hill in the nightcap.

Both of Saturday’s games will be streamed by TheW.tv. All of the Creighton series will be broadcast live by ESPN 960 AM Radio and streamed live on its site as well as on BYU Radio and available on Sirius Satellite 143.

Following the Creighton series, BYU has another non-conference game, at Utah Valley University on Tuesday, before returning to league action when it hosts Gonzaga next week.

For more detailed information, see multi-page PDF below

File Attachments
 

 
Location: Provo, Utah
Time: Date: 4/22/2016
Attendance: 2,445

Box Score

Linescore 123456789 R H E LOB
CU 000000040 4 3 1 3
BYU 04321030X 13 17 0 8

Creighton 25-9

Batting/Fielding AB Runs Hits 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS SF SH HBP AVG SLG OBP PO A E FLD
Daniel Woodrowcf 4 1 1 0 1 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.250 0.750 0.250 4 0 0 1.000
Nicky Lopezss 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0.333 0.333 0.500 2 4 0 1.000
Ryan Fitzgerald2b 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0.000 0.250 4 5 0 1.000
Reagan Fowler1b 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0.000 0.000 0.250 12 0 0 1.000
Matt Gandydh 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0.000 0.000 0 0 0 N/A
Riley Landuytdh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 N/A N/A 1.000 0 0 0 N/A
Harrison Crawford3b 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0.000 0.000 0 2 0 1.000
Brett Murraylf 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0.000 0.333 0 0 0 N/A
Michael Emodic 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0.000 0.000 0 0 0 N/A
Kevin Connollyrf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0.000 0.000 0 0 1 0.000
Brennan Hammerrf 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0.000 0.500 0 0 0 N/A
Keith Orenc 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0.000 0.500 2 0 0 1.000
Bryce Onlyph/lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.000 1.000 1.000 0 0 0 N/A
Batting Totals 27 4 3 0 1 0 4 5 4 0 0 0 0 2 0.111 0.185 0.294 24 12 1 0.973
Pitcher IP H R ER BB SO 2B 3B HR BF AB WP HBP BK SFA SHA AVG ERA
Rollie Lacyp 1.1 4 4 4 3 2 1 0 0 11 8 1 0 0 0 0 0.500 27.000
Connor Millerp 1.0 2 3 3 2 0 0 0 0 7 5 0 0 0 0 0 0.400 27.000
Nick Highbergerp 1.2 2 2 2 1 0 1 0 0 9 6 2 1 0 1 0 0.333 10.800
Ethan DeCasterp 2.0 4 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 8 7 0 0 0 1 0 0.571 4.500
Will Bamesbergerp 0.2 3 3 3 0 0 0 1 1 5 5 0 0 0 0 0 0.600 40.500
Sam Normanp 1.1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 5 0 0 0 0 0 0.400 0.000
Pitching Totals 8.0 17 13 13 6 2 3 1 1 45 36 3 1 0 2 0 0.472 14.625

Brigham Young Univ. 28-7

Batting/Fielding AB Runs Hits 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS SF SH HBP AVG SLG OBP PO A E FLD
LUND, Brennoncf 4 2 3 0 1 0 3 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0.750 1.250 0.800 5 0 0 1.000
NIELSEN, Haydenss 4 0 2 0 0 0 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.500 0.500 0.600 1 4 0 1.000
CHAUNCEY, Tannerdh 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0.000 0.000 0.000 0 0 0 N/A
HALE, Brockdh 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.000 4.000 1.000 0 0 0 N/A
SHAVER, Colton1b 4 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.250 0.500 0.400 9 0 0 1.000
FAVERO, Nate1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 N/A N/A N/A 3 0 0 1.000
URRY, Ericlf 5 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.400 0.600 0.400 1 0 0 1.000
KRINGLEN, Keatonrf 3 3 2 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.667 0.667 0.800 3 0 0 1.000
CLUFF, Jackson3b 4 2 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1.000 1.250 1.000 0 0 0 N/A
LARSEN, Bronsonc 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0.000 0.000 0.000 4 0 0 1.000
SCHNEEMANN, Daniel2b 4 3 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.500 0.500 0.600 1 4 0 1.000
Batting Totals 36 13 17 3 1 1 12 6 2 1 0 2 0 1 0.472 0.694 0.533 27 12 0 1.000
Pitcher IP H R ER BB SO 2B 3B HR BF AB WP HBP BK SFA SHA AVG ERA
RUCKER, Michaelp 7.1 2 4 4 4 4 0 1 0 28 22 1 2 0 0 0 0.091 4.909
BURRUP, Bop 1.2 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 6 5 0 0 0 0 0 0.200 0.000
Pitching Totals 9.0 3 4 4 5 4 0 1 0 34 27 1 2 0 0 0 0.111 4.000

Play By Play

Inning 1

Play Outs CU BYU
WOODROW flied out to cf (2-1 BBK). 0 - -
LOPEZ grounded out to ss (0-1 K). 1 - -
FITZGERALD struck out looking (3-2 BBBKSK). 2 - -
LUND grounded out to 2b (2-0 BB). 0 - -
NIELSEN singled to center field (2-2 KKBFB). 1 - -
CHAUNCEY struck out looking (0-2 KFK). 1 - -
SHAVER popped up to 2b (2-2 KBBSF). 2 - -

Inning 2

Play Outs CU BYU
FOWLER hit by pitch (0-1 F). 0 - -
GANDY struck out swinging (2-2 BBKSS). 0 - -
FOWLER out at first p to 1b, picked off. 1 - -
CRAWFORD flied out to rf. 2 - -
URRY doubled down the lf line (2-0 BB). 0 - -
KRINGLEN singled to right center, RBI; URRY scored. 0 0 1
CLUFF singled to shortstop; KRINGLEN advanced to second. 0 - -
LARSEN struck out swinging (1-2 BFKK). 0 - -
CLUFF advanced to second on a wild pitch; KRINGLEN advanced to third. 1 - -
SCHNEEMANN walked (3-2 KFFBBBB). 1 - -
LUND walked, RBI (3-1 BFBBB); SCHNEEMANN advanced to second; CLUFF advanced to third; KRINGLEN scored. 1 0 2
NIELSEN walked, RBI (3-2 BBFKBB); LUND advanced to second; SCHNEEMANN advanced to third; CLUFF scored. 1 0 3
MILLER to p for LACY. 1 - -
CHAUNCEY infield fly to 1b. 1 - -
SHAVER walked, RBI (3-0 BBBB); NIELSEN advanced to second; LUND advanced to third; SCHNEEMANN scored. 2 0 4
URRY lined out to ss (2-2 BKFB). 2 - -

Inning 3

Play Outs CU BYU
MURRAY grounded out to p. 0 - -
CONNOLLY grounded out to p. 1 - -
OREN lined out to 1b (2-2 KSBB). 2 - -
KRINGLEN walked (3-2 FKFBBBB). 0 - -
CLUFF singled through the right side; KRINGLEN advanced to second. 0 - -
LARSEN infield fly to ss (2-1 BKB). 0 - -
SCHNEEMANN singled, advanced to second on an error by rf, RBI (2-2 FFBB); CLUFF advanced to third; KRINGLEN scored. 1 0 5
HIGHBERGER to p for MILLER. 1 - -
LUND singled to right field, RBI (2-0 BB); SCHNEEMANN advanced to third; CLUFF scored. 1 0 6
LUND advanced to second on a wild pitch. 1 - -
NIELSEN grounded out to ss, RBI; LUND advanced to third; SCHNEEMANN scored. 1 0 7
CHAUNCEY flied out to cf (3-2 BKBBF). 2 - -

Inning 4

Play Outs CU BYU
WOODROW flied out to rf (0-2 KSF). 0 - -
LOPEZ hit by pitch. 1 - -
FITZGERALD flied out to lf. 1 - -
LOPEZ advanced to second on a wild pitch. 2 - -
FOWLER grounded out to 1b unassisted. 2 - -
No play. 0 - -
HAMMER to rf for CONNOLLY. 0 - -
SHAVER doubled to left field (2-1 BKB). 0 - -
URRY grounded out to 2b; SHAVER advanced to third. 0 - -
KRINGLEN walked (3-1 FBBBB). 1 - -
CLUFF hit by pitch; KRINGLEN advanced to second. 1 - -
LARSEN flied out to cf, SAC, RBI (1-0 B); CLUFF advanced to second; KRINGLEN advanced to third; SHAVER scored. 1 0 8
CLUFF advanced to third on a wild pitch; KRINGLEN scored. 2 0 9
SCHNEEMANN flied out to cf. 2 - -

Inning 5

Play Outs CU BYU
GANDY grounded out to 2b (2-0 BB). 0 - -
CRAWFORD struck out swinging (1-2 KBKS). 1 - -
MURRAY flied out to cf (2-2 FFBB). 2 - -
DECASTER to p for HIGHBERGER. 0 - -
LUND singled up the middle (1-0 B). 0 - -
LUND stole second. 0 - -
NIELSEN singled to center field (2-2 FKBFBF); LUND advanced to third. 0 - -
CHAUNCEY flied out to cf, SAC, RBI (1-1 KB); LUND scored. 0 0 10
SHAVER grounded into double play 3b to 2b to 1b (1-0 B); NIELSEN out on the play. 1 - -

Inning 6

Play Outs CU BYU
HAMMER flied out to cf. 0 - -
OREN walked (3-1 BBBKB). 1 - -
WOODROW struck out swinging (1-2 SFBFS). 1 - -
LOPEZ flied out to cf (2-2 KBFB). 2 - -
URRY singled to right center (0-2 FF). 0 - -
KRINGLEN grounded into double play ss to 2b to 1b; URRY out on the play. 0 - -
CLUFF doubled to left center. 2 - -
LARSEN grounded out to 3b (3-2 KBBFB). 2 - -

Inning 7

Play Outs CU BYU
FITZGERALD walked (3-2 BBBKKB). 0 - -
FOWLER grounded into double play p to ss to 1b; FITZGERALD out on the play. 0 - -
GANDY grounded out to 2b. 2 - -
BAMESBERGER to p for DECASTER. 0 - -
SCHNEEMANN singled up the middle (1-1 SB). 0 - -
LUND tripled to right center, RBI (0-1 K); SCHNEEMANN scored. 0 0 11
NIELSEN grounded out to ss, RBI (2-1 BBF); LUND scored. 0 0 12
HALE to dh for CHAUNCEY. 1 - -
HALE homered to center field, RBI (2-1 BFB). 1 0 13
SHAVER popped up to 1b (3-2 BKBBS). 1 - -
NORMAN to p for BAMESBERGER. 2 - -
URRY grounded out to p (1-1 BK). 2 - -

Inning 8

Play Outs CU BYU
FAVERO to 1b for SHAVER. 0 - -
CRAWFORD flied out to cf (1-1 SB). 0 - -
MURRAY walked (3-2 BKFBBB). 1 - -
HAMMER walked (3-1 BBBKB); MURRAY advanced to second. 1 - -
ONLY pinch hit for OREN. 1 - -
ONLY singled through the right side, RBI (3-2 BSBBF); HAMMER advanced to second; MURRAY scored. 1 1 13
WOODROW tripled to left center, 2 RBI (3-2 BSBFFB); ONLY scored; HAMMER scored. 1 3 13
BURRUP to p for RUCKER. 1 - -
LOPEZ singled up the middle, RBI; WOODROW scored. 1 4 13
FITZGERALD grounded out to 2b (1-0 B); LOPEZ advanced to second. 1 - -
FOWLER flied out to rf. 2 - -
EMODI to c for MURRAY. 0 - -
ONLY to lf. 0 - -
KRINGLEN singled to left center (2-0 BB). 0 - -
CLUFF singled up the middle (0-1 F); KRINGLEN advanced to second. 0 - -
LARSEN grounded into double play ss to 2b to 1b (1-0 B); CLUFF out on the play; KRINGLEN advanced to third. 0 - -
SCHNEEMANN grounded out to 1b unassisted (1-1 KB). 2 - -

Inning 9

Play Outs CU BYU
LANDUYT to dh for GANDY. 0
LANDUYT walked (3-2 BBFFBB). 0
CRAWFORD grounded into double play ss to 2b to 1b; LANDUYT out on the play. 0
EMODI grounded out to ss (0-2 FK). 2