BYU baseball faces Creighton in huge weekend series

In a storybook season, BYU is currently in the chapter where the script writer builds up the adversity.

The Cougar baseball team finally lost a weekend series. They dropped two of three games in Moraga against co-WCC leaders St. Mary's last weekend. BYU's bats finally slowed down against the Gaels. As a team, the Y hit .267 for the series -- they entered the series hitting .336 (4th best in the nation).

As a result, scoring runs came more difficult. As a team, they manufactured four, four, and five runs in each game. Four across home plate ties the mark for the lowest run output in a game this season. BYU has been lethal at putting tallies up on the scoreboard. They still sit as the 4th best scoring team in the nation with 8.8 runs per game.

With a young bullpen, BYU must give the run support they typically have if they are going to keep piling on the wins.

BYU (27-7, 10-5 WCC) has run into a three-way tie for 1st place in the conference with both St. Mary's and Gonzaga.

The Cougars are 4-4 over their past eight games overall.  When put in perspective, it is extremely nice that the rough patch of a season is playing .500 baseball.

Adding to the difficulty going forward are injuries.

Maverik Buffo (6-2, 3.63 ERA) was taken out of the game after 0.2 innings last Friday due to a setback with his arm. No report of his condition or the severity although he isn't scheduled to get a start this weekend against Creighton. It was announced today that Buffo sustained a season-ending ulnar collateral ligament injury. The right-handed Buffo was BYU's #2 in the rotation and was giving BYU a chance to win most every time he stepped on the mound.

2B Brennon Anderson has missed several games now due to a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb. He is reported to be out for two weeks. Anderson is on week two of his injury recovery and will miss the Creighton series. Anderson's .330 BA, three HRs, 33 RBIs have been missed at the plate by the Cougars.

Brennon Anderson out of #BYUbaseball starting lineup with thumb injury; Coach Littlewood has him help in other ways pic.twitter.com/ZbScV6nnZG

— Ralph Zobell (@RalphZobell) April 12, 2016

Freshman RF Kyle Dean has been out for nearly a month now recovering from a stress reaction in his back. It was estimated that Dean would be out for six weeks. It'll be mid-May before BYU may add the exciting freshman back into the lineup.

Of course, BYU was going to drop a series at some point and deal with some injuries. It is a long season. The depth at both 2B and RF, Noah Hill, Daniel Schneemann, and Keaton Kringlen, have done well in covering for the injured.

How will the starting pitching depth and bullpen hold up losing an inning eating arm like Buffo's?

BYU will find out against the talented Big East Conference leaders #25 Creighton Bluejays. Creighton has a 25-8 record and represent the first ranked opponent that the Cougars play in 2016. As such, this home series is particularly critical for BYU's NCAA Tournament resume.

Creighton's strength is in their pitching. The Bluejays lead the nation in team ERA with 2.29. Finding a good pitch to hit will be difficult against their starting duo of Rollie Lacy and Jeff Albrecht.

The 6-foot-3 185-pound righty Lacy has controlled his pitches all season. He has 38 strikeouts with eight walks in 54.1 innings with 50 hits allowed. All of this has resulted in a 1.99 ERA and a 6-1 record.

Standing at 5-foot-10 220-pound lefty Albrecht has been just as difficult for batters to solve. At 4-0 with a 1.34 ERA, Albrecht has been lights out allowing 18 hits and 10 walks with 21 K's  in 33.2 innings pitched.

If the starters pitch count gets high, the bullpen is talented enough to keep posting zeros on the scoreboard.

Part of the success of the pitcher comes from the Bluejays excellent team fielding percentage of .980.

Creighton manufactures runs through aggression on the base paths as they average two stolen base steal attempts per game. They draw walks and put together singles. They won't overwhelm anybody with their plate power as they only have five HRs as a team. (BYU's Colton Shaver has nine on his own.)

The Bluejays stars at the plate are Daniel Woodrow and Reagan Fowler. Woodrow hits .373 and is a menace on the base paths with 20 steals in 24 attempts. Fowler leads Creighton in RBIs with 24 while hitting .274.

BYU ace Michael Rucker (7-0, 2.55) will get the Cougars start to open the series. For Saturday's doubleheader, lefty Hayden Rogers will fill in for Buffo in the two spot and in the 2nd game freshman Jordan Wood will get his first start of his college career.

All the games will be broadcast on the radio on ESPN 960 AM. Friday's contest will be on BYUtv. Saturday's doubleheader will be available on theW.tv.

BYU rankings:

BYU's starters:

Creighton starters:

Vanquish The Foe's projected starting lineup: