INDIANAPOLIS – Butler will travel to Omaha for the first time since 2016 to face the Creighton Bluejays this weekend. Friday's game on FloSports has been moved up to a 12 PM start due to Kid's Day at Charles Schwab Field. Saturday's 7:30 first pitch will come under the lights in Omaha and stream on the Nebraska Public Media Network. Sunday's getaway game will move back to FloSports and start at 1 PM.
 
Weekend Schedule
Friday, May 13 – 12 PM (Kid's Day)
Saturday, May 14 – 7:30 PM (Military Day)
Sunday, May 15 – 1 PM (CU Senior Day)
All games played at Charles Schwab Field
 
Probable Starters
RHP Adrian Vega vs. RHP Dylan Tebrake
LHP Cole McDaniel vs. RHP Dominic Cancellieri
LHP Cory Bosecker vs. LHP Cade Lommel
 
Scouting Creighton
The Bluejays are 25-16 overall with a 10-5 record in BIG EAST action. They are 14-4 at home this season, but head into the weekend on a five-game losing streak. Omaha topped Creighton 5-3 on Tuesday night and the Bluejays were swept by #15 UConn last weekend. CU also took a 9-3 setback at Xavier on May 1.
 
2022 BIG EAST Preseason Pitcher of the Year Dylan Tebrake will try to get Creighton back on the right path. The right-hander is 6-2 on the mound this year with a 2.82 ERA. Alan Roden is another high profile player on the Creighton roster. The Preseason Player of the Year honoree is batting .392 in 2022 with 40 runs scored and 37 RBI. Second baseman Andrew Meggs Jr. and Paul Bergstrom also earned preseason honors for CU. Meggs is batting .324 and leads the club with 42 runs scored. Bergstrom has made 21 appearances out of the bullpen and holds a 4.71 ERA to go along with a 3-2 record.
 
First Time in a Long Time
The Bulldogs have not played a series in Omaha since 2016! Butler hosted the action in 2021, 2019 and 2017. The 2020 series was canceled due to COVID-19 and the 2018 series was moved to Roy E. Field in Edwardsville, Ill. due to weather.

Last Series vs. Creighton
Butler and Creighton were slated to play four games last year but heavy rain in the Indianapolis area knocked out the final two contests of the weekend series. The first game of the series was by far the best with Creighton edging Butler 11-10 in seven innings. CU would sweep a doubleheader on May 8 with an 8-2 win over the Bulldogs in game two.
 
BIG EAST Standings
UConn 14-1, 40-9
Creighton 10-5, 25-16
Xavier 9-6, 26-23
Georgetown 7-8, 28-19
Villanova 7-8, 17-24-1
St. John's 5-8-1, 19-27-1
Seton Hall 4-10, 15-32
Butler 2-12-1, 18-30-1
 
Tournament Talk
The top four teams in the BIG EAST standings make up the tournament field in Mason, Ohio. The double elimination tournament will start on Thursday, May 26 at Prasco Park.
 
Grand Slam at Alexander Field
Aaron Steinhart hit a go-ahead grand slam at Purdue in the top of the third inning. Steinhart leads Butler with eight home runs this year. He is also tied for the team lead with seven multi-RBI games.
 
First One was a Good One
Adrian Vega's first start of his collegiate career came last weekend at home against Xavier on May 7. The true freshman threw a season-high 98 pitches, covering 5.1 innings against the Musketeers. He stuck out seven and only issued one walk. Over his last three appearances, Vega as 14 strikeouts and just one walk (11.1 IP).
 
Hitting Streak
BU shortstop Travis Holt will take a six-game hitting streak into Nebraska this weekend. Holt led-off for Butler at Purdue and responded with a 2-for-4 game. He had a single in the third and a double in the fourth. Tuesday night was Holt's 19th multi-hit game this year.
 
Pepiot Makes MLB Debut
Former Butler pitcher Ryan Pepiot made his MLB debut on Wednesday for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Pepiot started against the Pirates and threw 77 pitches over three scoreless innings. Pepiot struck out the first batter he faced with a changeup and opened his big league career with a 94 MPH fastball down the middle of the plate.
 
Up Next
Butler's final non-conference game of the 2022 season will be played on Tuesday, May 17 when the Bulldogs travel to Fort Wayne to play the Mastodons. First pitch is set for 3 PM.