#BIGEASTbase Minute – Weekend Preview
NEW YORK – League play continues this weekend as Xavier hosts Butler, Seton Hall host Georgetown and Creighton hosts Villanova. Creighton has won seven-straight games and is the only team to win both league series. St. John’s, who continues to be ranked in all five national polls, hosts Fairleigh Dickinson this weekend.
The Georgetown-Seton Hall series finale will be carried on the BIG EAST Digital Network.
SERIES NOTES
BUTLER at XAVIER
Xavier has an even record in conference play with a 3-3 record after taking last weekend’s home series against Seton Hall. Butler is right behind at fifth in the league at 2-4 after having St. John’s sweep them at home last weekend. Friday’s series opener will feature two of the best pitchers in the league with Butler’s Jeff Schank going against Xavier’s Zac Lowther. Schank leads the conference and is 16th in the country in ERA (1.31); while Lowther leads the league in strikeouts (71), strikeouts per nine innings (13.89) and WHIP (.87). Lowther’s stats rank 23rd, third and 20th nationally. Both teams are entering the weekend after a 1-1 non-conference week. Butler’s bats are led by Michal Hartnagel with a .402 average. Gehrig Parker leads the Bulldogs in RBI with 25. For Xavier, freshman Connor Grammes leads the offense with a.326 average. Joe Gellenbeck leads the Musketeers in RBI with 40.
GEORGETOWN at SETON HALL
Seton Hall is one series ahead of Georgetown in the standings at 2-4 in league play. Georgetown was swept at home by Creighton in the Hoyas’ first weekend of BIG EAST action. The Pirates won both non-conference games this week against Rutgers, winning 9-6 and 10-9. Georgetown also had a winning week with a 13-2 non-league win over Mount St. Mary’s. Georgetown’s Michael DeRenzi leads the Hoya offense along with Jake Kuzbel with a .383 and .360 averages. Both players have 34 RBI. Pirate Joe Poduslenko has 29 RBI on the season to lead Seton Hall. On the mound, Zach Prendergast leads SHU in wins with a 4-2 record and 3.91 ERA.
VILLANOVA at CREIGHTON
Creighton is the hottest team in the league currently after a rocky start. The Bluejays are 5-1 in the conference with series victories over St. John’s and Georgetown and riding a seven-game win streak going into the weekend. Villanova had their league bye last weekend and returns to BIG EAST play on the road at the home of the 2017 BIG EAST Championship. Creighton defeated Nebraska this week, 5-2, earning redemption from a 14-6 earlier loss this season. Creighton’s bats are led by Isaac Collins with a .306 avg. Michael Emodi leads the Bluejays with 28 RBI. For the Wildcats, Todd Czinege leads the offense with a .324 average. He also leads Villanova in RBI with 17 RBI.
Fairleigh Dickinson at ST. JOHN’S
St. John’s, will host Fairleigh Dickinson for what was a three-game series at Jack Kaiser Stadium. Friday’s game was cancelled due to field conditions. St. John’s got back on track with a series sweep at Butler. St. John’s remains in the national rankings as high as 12 and as low as 22. The Red Storm leads the league in RPI (30th).
Upcoming #BIGEASTbase Schedule (all times Eastern)
Friday, April 21
BUTLER at XAVIER at 3 p.m.
GEORGETOWN at SETON HALL at 6 p.m.
VILLANOVA at CREIGHTON at 7:30 p.m.
Fairleigh Dickinson at ST. JOHN’S at cancelled
Saturday, April 22
GEORGETOWN at SETON HALL at 1 p.m.
Fairleigh Dickinson at ST. JOHN’S at 1 p.m.
BUTLER at XAVIER at 1 p.m.
VILLANOVA at CREIGHTON at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 23
GEORGETOWN at SETON HALL
(BEDN) at Noon
BUTLER at XAVIER at Noon
VILLANOVA at CREIGHTON at 1 p.m.
Fairleigh Dickinson at ST. JOHN’S at 1 p.m.
Tuesday, April 25
VILLANOVA at Rutgers at 3:30 p.m.
Dayton at BUTLER at 4 p.m.
U.M.B.C. at GEORGETOWN at 7 p.m.
Wichita State at CREIGHTON at 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, April 26
Saint Peter’s at SETON HALL at 4 p.m.
CREIGHTON at South Dakota State at 4 p.m.
Princeton at ST. JOHN’S at 6 p.m.
XAVIER at Kentucky at 6:30 p.m.