The Bluejays are the 2019 Big East Regular Season Champions, defeating Villanova 8-2 Saturday afternoon in Omaha.
Creighton capitalized early on a series of miscues by Villanova to win 8-2. Two wild pitches in the first inning led to a two-run double by Jack Strunc, who picked up a 3rd RBI later in the game on a sac fly. Strunc now has 26 RBI on the year.
Forced to go to their bullpen, Creighton then took advantage of Villanova's weak pitching staff, which has a team ERA of 6.52 this year. The Jays drew a walk, hit three singles, a double, and a triple in the 7th inning to push the game out of reach for the Wildcats, who finish the year 13-38.
Defensive Struggles
Villanova's year-long fielding woes reared their ugly head one last time. The Wildcats committed 4 fielding errors, bringing their season total to 72. Going into the day, Villanova ranked next-to-last in the Big East in fielding, and 211th nationally.
Compounding those fielding issues were 3 wild pitches in the first two innings, and a play in which a Creighton runner was caught dead in no-mans-land but squirted free thanks to back-to-back errant throws by the Villanova infield.
Bats Wake Up
Despite the sluggish play by the Villanova defense, the Wildcats stayed within range until the bottom of the 7th, trailing just 4-1. Creighton was finally able to string hits together in the 7th, where the Jays recorded a single, single, reached on fielder's choice, doubled, tripled, walked, and recorded one last single, dinging the Wildcat staff with 4 runs to put the game away.
Top Players
Creighton's Jake Holton reached base four times, recording two hits and walking twice, scoring two runs and pushing his batting average up to .409.
The Jays' Evan Johnson pitched 6 innings, allowing zero runs on 3 hits, striking out 7.
Up Next
Villanova failed to qualify for the postseason. Creighton will head to Mason, Ohio for the Big East Tournament May 23-26.
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