AP Sports Preview: Creighton vs. Connecticut at Big East Baseball Championship

MASON, Ohio (Interstat) — The seed Connecticut Huskies (32-24) face the seed Creighton Bluejays (29-24) on Thursday in the opening round of the Big East Baseball Championship at Prasco Park.

First pitch is set for 7 p.m. ET.

The Huskies won two of three against Creighton in their regular-season series April 2-4 in Storrs, Connecticut, outscoring the Bluejays 23-14. Connecticut took the first two games 11-2 and 11-9 before Creighton salvaged a 3-1 win in the finale.

Both teams enter the tournament looking to reverse recent momentum. Creighton dropped its last regular-season game 5-3 at Xavier on Saturday, while Connecticut lost 9-6 at home to Villanova the same day.

Creighton will likely turn to right-hander Jack Pineau. The senior has been erratic this season, posting a 6.60 ERA over his last five appearances. He suffered a loss at St. John’s on May 21, allowing three earned runs in 4.2 innings without a hit. But Pineau has shown dominance at times: He tossed six shutout innings against Butler on April 24 with eight strikeouts, and threw 4.1 scoreless innings with six strikeouts at Xavier on May 14.

Connecticut counters with left-hander Garrett Garbinski, who has been used primarily in relief. Over his last three outings, Garbinski has a 2.70 ERA, including three innings of scoreless work against Villanova on May 16. He allowed two earned runs in 4.1 innings against Northeastern on May 12.

Creighton’s offense must improve after managing just three runs in its series finale at Xavier. Shea Wendt, Brian Gould and Henry Prindel combined for 5.1 scoreless innings of relief in that game, but the Bluejays could not overcome a deficit.

Connecticut’s lineup is paced by Camden Righi, who went 2-for-5 with two RBIs in the loss to Villanova. The Huskies’ bullpen depth could be a factor; Paxton Meyers threw 0.2 scoreless innings in that game.

The winner advances in the double-elimination tournament. The loser moves to an elimination game.

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