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Creighton baseball coach Ed Servais liked what he saw from many of his veterans in an opening-week sweep of Central Arkansas.

It's how those players went about doing it that excited Servais even more.

"Young players, new players, they aren't very good at the acting part of the game," Servais said. "When they feel uncomfortable, their face, their eyes, their actions give you information.

"They're never going to tell you they're uncomfortable, but they give themselves away. Last week, our veterans played with a lot of fluidity that you can't do if you're tight and feeling like you're overwhelmed."

Players such as first baseman Nick Judkins and third baseman Chance Ross had a confidence that Servais didn't always see from them in their first season in the program. Same with catcher Anthony Bemboom and Alex Staehley, a starter at second the past two seasons who is shifting to shortstop.

"Young players will tell a coach what they think the coach wants to hear," Servais said. "I want to see, and what I saw last weekend from those guys was a confidence that can help us have the kind of season we're anxious to have."

Judkins and Ross each hit .333, as did newcomer Brennan Murphy, in the three wins. Judkins had a double and a homer while driving in three runs. Ross also doubled and had four walks, finishing the weekend with a .500 on-base percentage.

Ross is coming off a junior season in which he started 61 games, hitting .218 with 23 RBIs. Judkins started 60 games, hitting .227 and tying the school and Missouri Valley Conference record with 22 sacrifice bunts.

Though Judkins knows that it was just one week, he was encouraged by the way he performed in the opening series.

"It builds confidence when you have a good weekend like that," Judkins said. "It's something I can build upon, but I know I have to come back to work this week and improve."

Judkins backs Servais' assessment that he is carrying himself differently on the field this season.

"Last year coming into the program, Chance and I basically were trying to feel things out," said Judkins, who transferred after two seasons at Iowa Central Community College. "We were new and we really didn't know what to expect.

"Now that we're seniors, that experience is very beneficial. All sports is confidence, and when you have confidence, you have a chance to be successful. How you carry yourself on the field has a lot to do with it."

At times last season, Judkins said, he fell into the trap of trying to do too much.

"When you do that, you start trying to do things you can't," he said. "I think one of the keys to success for me this season is just staying within myself.

"When you come from a different program, you want to prove that you belong. I got off to a slow start last year, and that kept me from playing with the confidence you need in this game."

Servais wants to see another step from Judkins and his teammates this week when the Bluejays play a three-game series at Portland.

"From what we saw last week, Nick Judkins and Chance Ross are going to be different players than they were last year," Servais said. "It's not so much the results but how they carried themselves.

"They went about their business. They didn't get rattled. It was like, 'We know what we have to do here, now let's go out and do it.'"

Contact the writer:

402-679-2298, steve.pivovar@owh.com

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