Layne Dominates Creighton as Pirates Clinch Tourney

Sunday, May 6

Omaha, Neb.

1:00 PM

Seton Hall University

23-16-1, 10-2

Creighton

26-15, 5-9

Seton Hall

Creighton

Layne Dominates Creighton as Pirates Clinch Tourney

5/6/2018 4:19:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score HOME INFO BOX SCORE

OMAHA, NEB. – Junior Billy Layne, Jr. (Cliffwood Beach, N.J.) tossed a career-best 8.1 scoreless innings, and scattered just two hits as the Seton Hall baseball team shut out Creighton, 3-0, on Sunday to win the three-game series and clinch a berth in the 2018 BIG EAST Baseball Championship.

Layne was brilliant in the best start of his career. He struck out a career-high 11 batters and walked only two to improve to 4-1 on the season. Senior Matt Leon (Bethlehem, Pa.) came in to get the final two outs for his BIG EAST-leading ninth save of the season.

That'll do it for Billy Layne, Jr.'s brilliant outing. He hands the ball to Matt Leon to get the final two outs. Layne struck out 11. pic.twitter.com/xJER5RYnNi
— Seton Hall Baseball (@SHUBaseball) May 6, 2018

Seton Hall broke through offensively in the top of the third inning. Sophomore Connor Hood (Shrewsbury, Pa.) was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Thomas Holdorf (Freehold, N.J.). Tyler Shedler-McAvoy (Allendale, N.J.) followed with an RBI single to right-center field to score Hood with the game's first run. With two outs, Al Molina (Freehold, N.J.) delivered a towering two-run home run over the left field fence to give The Hall a 3-0 lead.

IT'S OUTTA HERE!! Al Molina smashes a two-run home run over the left field wall and the Pirates lead Creighton, 3-0!!#HALLin pic.twitter.com/hhsBJuXy1O
— Seton Hall Baseball (@SHUBaseball) May 6, 2018

Inside the Numbers:

Layne, Jr. scattered just two hits over a career-best 8.1 scoreless innings. He struck out a career-high 11 batters and walked two.
Leon recorded the final two outs of the game for his ninth save of the season.
Molina clubbed a two-run home run in the third inning.
Senior Ryan Ramiz (Freehold, N.J.) reached base three times on Sunday. He went 2-for-3 with a walk.
Hood also reached base three times, gong 2-for-3 with a hit-by-pitch and a run scored.
Seton Hall had seven hits, while Creighton had only three. Seton Hall committed one error, while the Bluejays had none.
Seton Hall left seven men on base, while the Bluejays left six.
Creighton's Preston Church took the loss. He allowed three runs over 5.1 innings.

News & Notes:

The victory improves Seton Hall to 23-16-1 overall and 10-2 in BIG EAST play, while Creighton falls to 26-15 overall and 5-9 in conference.
The win is Seton Hall's 10^th BIG EAST victory of the season. It's the third straight year that the Pirates have reached double-figures in conference wins. It also matches the Pirates' BIG EAST win total of each of the last two seasons with six conference games still to play.
Today's victory clinches a berth in the 2018 BIG EAST Baseball Championship for Seton Hall. It's the eighth straight year that the Pirates have qualified for the conference tournament.
Seton Hall is now 6-14 all-time against the Bluejays. It's the first time that Seton Hall has won a three-game series over Creighton.
Layne, Jr. struck out 11 Creighton batters today. It's the first time this season that a Pirate has reached double-figures in strikeouts. The last Pirate to strike out at least 10 batters was Zach Prendergast during his no-hitter last year at Villanova on May 14.
Leon's save is the 13^th of his career. He ties Jamie Fisher and Benny Mejia for second-most in Seton Hall history. Furthermore, he tied Mejia and Chris Noonan for the single-season record for saves.
Today's appearance is the 83^rd of Leon's career, which ties Matt Singer for third-most in Seton Hall history.
Seton Hall struck out 11 batters today. It's the 15^th time this season that the Pirates have reached double-figures in strikeouts.
Today was Seton Hall's fourth shutout of the season.
After today's game, Seton Hall's team ERA is down to a season-best 4.21.

Next Up:
Seton Hall will return to action on Tuesday when it returns to Owen T. Carroll Field for a contest with local rival Rider. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. ET.