Creighton and Southern Illinois get their shot Saturday night at a prize few thought was attainable for either team. The Bluejays and Salukis meet in the championship game of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament at Hammons Field. The league's automatic berth in the NCAA tournament will go to the winner of the 7 p.m. game.

Also:

• Notes: CU eyes better result vs....
• Video: CU's Servais, Blach,...

| 1 Comments

Expect Creighton to change its approach Saturday night when it faces Southern Illinois left-hander Cody Forsythe for the second time this season. Forsythe, who will start the tournament championship game for the Salukis, limited the Bluejays to five hits in a 4-0 win April 21. Eighteen of Creighton's 27 outs in that game came on either fly balls or popouts. Another came on a line drive.

Also:

• » Bluejays, Salukis matched in...

The Bluejays rode a 13-hit attack Thursday to a 10-3 victory that eliminated Illinois State and advanced CU to the championship game of the Missouri Valley tournament for the second straight year. Creighton hit .361 in its three Bracket A wins, totaling 10 hits or more in each game.

Also:

• » Notes: Bluejay ace Blach to start...
• » Box Score: Creighton 10, Illinois...

Creighton should have its ace on the mound Saturday when the Bluejays try to secure a return trip to the NCAA tournament. Left-hander Ty Blach said after Creighton clinched its spot in the Valley tournament championship game Thursday with a 10-3 win over Illinois State that he'll be ready to start the 7 p.m. game at Hammons Field.

Also:

• » Jays earn shot at Valley title with...

Illinois State coach Mark Kingston had a simple answer Wednesday for the surge that has carried last-seeded Creighton to within one win of a return to the Missouri Valley tournament championship game. “That's baseball,'' Kingston said after watching the Bluejays maul his team for 16 hits in an 11-5 victory. “That's why they have these tournaments. If everything was done on paper, it would be very predictable.

Also:

• » Notes: Bluejay bats come alive just...
• » Box Score: Creighton 11, Illinois...

Creighton came into the Missouri Valley tournament with offensive numbers that would make a hitting coach cringe. The Bluejays ranked 283rd out of 291 Division I teams in batting average (.239), 276th in hits (331), 267th in runs scored (213), 269th in slugging percentage (.331) and 244th in homers (13).

Also:

• » Gerber, Ross power Bluejays past...

Tuesday's Missouri Valley Conference tournament game provided Creighton with some long-awaited redemption. The Bluejays dusted aside the frustration of finishing last in the regular season by dusting off top-seeded against Indiana State 5-0 at Hammons Field. Creighton (23-28) got a dominating performance from Ty Blach, gold-glove defense from its fielders and 10 hits from its lightweight offense in moving into Wednesday's Bracket A winners game against Illinois State.

Also:

• » Box Score: Creighton 5, Indiana St. 0

Ty Blach will put on a Creighton baseball uniform Tuesday and try to pitch the Bluejays to an upset of Indiana State in the Missouri Valley tournament.

Also:

• Bluejays, Salukis matched in...
• No. 1 Iowa Western sent to losers...

Former Creighton pitcher Pat Venditte, professional baseball’s only ambidextrous pitcher, has a torn labrum in his right shoulder.

Also:

• Bluejays, Salukis matched in...
• No. 1 Iowa Western sent to losers...

Ed Servais welcomed the opportunity last season for Creighton to host the Missouri Valley Conference tournament at Omaha’s new downtown ballpark. This season, Servais can’t wait to get his Bluejays out of town.

Also:

• Bluejays, Salukis matched in...
• No. 1 Iowa Western sent to losers...

It's easy for Gregory Echenique to find his motivation. In the weight room, he's more intense. On the gym floor, he's focused. His desire to polish his body and game is almost palpable. “He's finally gotten to the point where he knows how hard he has to work,” said Steve Merfeld, the assistant who works with Creighton's big men. “He's approached every workout in a more intense, urgent manner.''

Also:

• » Lawson still has a hunger for hoops
• » How can CU hoops build to stay in...
• » Chatelain: Bite the bullet, add a...
• » Infographic: The mid-major hierarchy

| 1 Comments