Bluejays Falter in Servais' Final Regular Season Home Game

Omaha, Neb. -- Having secured the series win on with victories in the first two games, the Bluejays suffered a 4-2 loss in the series finale with Xavier as head coach Ed Servais was honored before and after the contest during his final regular season home game for Creighton. The Jays head coach for the last 22 seasons, Servais announced his retirement last summer.

The loss moved Creighton to 34-14 on the season and 14-4 in BIG EAST action, while Xavier climbed to 30-23 overall and 14-7 in conference contests.

Both squads pushed across a run in the first as Xavier got a leadoff walk and a stolen base from Jake Lamdin, then a pair of productive outs. Creighton countered with a leadoff single from Tate Gillen, a steal of second and two errors allowed Gilllen to race in to score.

The game remained dead locked at 1-1 until the seventh when the Musketeers roughed up Bluejay reliever Ian Koosman for three runs on three hits. Carter Hendrickson put Xavier up 2-1 with an RBI single up the middle, then Clay Burdette laced the big blow with a two-run double to left-center. 

Creighton drew closer with an RBI double from Nolan Sailors in the bottom of the seventh, but left two runners in scoring position in the frame.

Koosman took the loss (6-4), allowing three runs on three hits. Meanwhile Xavier starter Ryan Piech earned the win (4-1) as he limited Creighton to one run on three hits and four walks in six innings. Xavier reliever Jake Hooker worked the final three innings for his third save of the season.

Creighton closes out its non-conference schedule with a midweek game against Omaha on Tuesday at 6:00 pm.