SEATTLE — The Seattle U Redhawks open the 2020 campaign with a three-game set against the Creighton Bluejays. The series is scheduled for Feb. 14-16 at Bannerwood Park in Bellevue, Wash. First pitch for the season opener on Friday is set for 4 pm. Saturday will be game two, slated for 2 pm, with the series finale penciled for 10 am on Sunday. All game details are subject to change, updates regarding any schedule changes will be posted on Twitter at @SeattleUBase.
FOLLOW ALONG /// All home games at Bannerwood Park and WAC matchups will be seemed for free online on the WAC Digital Network. For Redhawk home broadcasts, TJ Phillips will do play-by-play and commentary. Be sure to also follow @SeattleUBase on Twitter and Instagram for updates and more.
OPENING DAY /// This the Redhawks' 11th opening day since the program returned in 2010. Under head coach Donny Harrel, the team is 5-5 in the first game of the season and hold a 3-1 mark when beginning the year at home. The largest margin of victory for Seattle U in the season's first game is 10 runs, set on Feb. 13, 2015 vs Saint Mary's. The largest defeat meanwhile is a five-run difference, which has occurred twice, most recently on Feb. 19, 2016 at Saint Mary's.
LOVE OF THE GAME /// Since returning in 2010, the Redhawks have played just three games on Valentine's Day, going 1-2 during that time. The lone victory came in the 2014 season opener at UC Davis. The other two decisions came the second day of the season in 2015, as the Redhawks both ends of a doubleheader with Saint Mary's.
ABOUT CREIGHTON /// The Bluejays were 41-13 overall last season, winning the BIG EAST regular season and tournament titles and appearing in the Corvallis Regional of the NCAA Tournament. In 2019, Creighton led the BIG EAST in all major offensive categories including team batting (.291), hits (541), doubles (118), slugging (.478), runs batted in (345) and home runs (67). The Blue Jay pitchers were fourth overall in ERA (4.39) and fifth in total strikeouts (426), while being among a three-team tie for saves (14). Located in Omaha, Neb., the Bluejays are led by Ed Servais who is in 16th season with the program. Servais is the uncle of major league catcher and current manager of the Seattle Mariners, Scott Servais.
PRESEASON POLL /// The WAC Preseason Coaches Poll had Seattle U picked to finish seventh. Grand Canyon was the overall favorite, followed by Sacramento State, NM State, UTRGV and California Baptist making up the top five.
WEEKEND ROTATION /// Junior left-hander Jarrod Billig is scheduled to get the opening day start for the Redhawks, with sophomores Ethan Christianson (LHP) and Josh Thompson (RHP) are slated for games two and three respectively. Of the trio, Billig started the most games (9) and worked the most innings (61.0) in 2019, while posting a 4-4 record and 4.43 ERA. Christianson went 0-3 last season with 17 appearances and 24.2 innings. Thomspon made 18 appearances in 2019 and rung up a team-best 50 strikeout in 40.0 innings.
SHER-HIT /// Sophomore Kyle Sherick looks to build on a solid first season that saw him among the Redhawks' career top 10 in hitting (6th, .310), slugging (6th, .450)and fielding (7th, .991). As a result, Sherick begins the year as the top offensive threat after he also notched team-bests in hits (62) and stolen bases (10), while was second on the team with 21 RBI.
IN THE ZONE /// Junior catcher Justin Mazzone looks to be the top backstop to start the year for Seattle U. Mazzone had a nice year at the plate in 2019 as he batted .230 with 44 hits and was a co-leader in home runs (5) and second-overall in RBI (36). Defensively, he threw eight runners out as last season and fielded at a .984-clip.
#PROREDHAWKS /// During the 2019 season, Seattle U had five former Redhawks finish the year on a MLB or MiLB roster. After a great season at Erie (AA), Tarik Skubal will join the Detroit in Spring Training later this month and is beginning the 2020 season as the club's fourth-overall prospect. On Aug. 21, Eric Yardley took the mound for the San Diego, becoming the first Seattle U alum since Johnny O'Brien (July 1959) to appear in the Majors in 60 years. Yardley begins this season as a member of Milwaukee. Following a solid career in Cap Hill, Jake Prizina was selected by Baltimore in the 31st round of 2019 MLB Amateur Draft, making him the 11th Redhawk to be chosen since the program's return. Other alums among the MiLB system last season included pitchers Janson Junk (NYY) and Zack Wolf (MIA).