#BIGEASTbase Minute – One Series Left
NEW YORK – Going into the final weekend of league action, Creighton, St. John’s and Seton Hall have all punched their tickets to the BIG EAST baseball tournament next week. The final spot is up for grabs this weekend as teams start competition on Thursday and go through Saturday (weather depending). Butler and Xavier both have a chance at the fourth spot.
All three of the league’s series will be on the BIG EAST Digital Network on Saturday as the 2017 season comes to a close.
A few scenarios to consider.... Assuming all games are played:
Seton Hall is finished with BIG EAST play and with a 10-8 (.556) record can be either the No. 3 or 4 seed. Creighton and St. John’s both have a shot at the top seed. St. John’s can be the 1, 2 or 3 seed. The Red Storm has a head-to-head tie-breaker over Seton Hall and Xavier. Creighton has the same scenario breakdown. Should both the Bluejays and Red Storm have the same result against their respective opponents, Creighton would grab the higher seed in the tournament they are co-hosting. If St. John’s has one more win than Creighton in their series again Villanova, the Red Storm will be the higher seed. Tournament seeding is based on final winning percentage and depends on approval from the Baseball Championship Committee if less than 18 games are played.
SERIES NOTES
VILLANOVA at ST. JOHN’S
St. John’s (11-4) was picked as the BIG EAST coaches’ favorite to win the league. Currently, the Red Storm has picked up five BIG EAST series wins in a row, including last week’s sweep over co-BIG EAST favorite Xavier. St. John’s only lost one series - the opener to Creighton. The Red Storm has swept Butler and Xavier. Villanova (4-11) is coming off a series loss to Seton Hall at home. Two of the BIG EAST’s best pitchers will be on display in Queens as the Red Storm boasts national WHIP leader Sean Mooney (0.75) and the Wildcats with league preseason Pitcher of the Year Hunter Schryver, who ranks second behind Mooney in ERA with 1.97.
CREIGHTON at BUTLER
A sweep over Butler (6-9) could guarantee a No. 1 seed for Creighton (10-3). But the Bulldogs are playing for the final tournament spot. Butler needs to sweep Creighton to be considered, vying for a spot against Xavier, who hosts Villanova this weekend. Butler has won their last two series, 2-1, against Villanova and Georgetown. The Bulldogs also own a series victory over Seton Hall. Creighton has not lost a series in league play and is coming off a bye weekend against McNeese State. CU has lost their last four games.
GEORGETOWN at XAVIER
Xavier (7-6) is in control of its own fate with a series victory over Georgetown (4-11). The Musketeers are coming off an 0-3 weekend on the road at St. John’s. Georgetown returns to action after a 1-2 weekend at Butler. Xavier needs at least a win to make it in the tournament field. This also takes into account all games being played. Xavier already lost two games of the full 18-game slate at Creighton. Xavier beat Creighton in the series opener before the rest of the series was canceled due to weather.
Seton Hall - Bye Weekend
Seton Hall plays a three-game series (Thursday - Saturday) at Southeastern Louisiana this weekend.
Prendergast Earns National Weekly Honors
For a second straight week, Seton Hall senior Zach Prendergast was named BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week on May 15. Prendergast tossed a no-hitter in the series finale at Villanova on Sunday. In addition to his two Pitcher of the Week honors, he has been named to the Weekly Honor Roll twice this season. Furthermore, Prendergast was named one of Collegiate Baseball’s National Players of the Week and the NCBWA National Pitcher of the Week.
This Weekend’s #BIGEASTbase Schedule:
THURSDAY, May 18
VILLANOVA at ST. JOHN’S at 1 p.m.
GEORGETOWN at XAVIER at 3 p.m.
CREIGHTON at BUTLER 4 p.m. mat
SETON HALL at Southeastern La. At 6 p.m.
FRIDAY, May 19
VILLANOVA at ST. JOHN’S at 1 p.m.
GEORGETOWN at XAVIER at 3 p.m.
CREIGHTON at BUTLER at 4 p.m.
SETON HALL at Southeastern La. At 6 p.m.
SATURDAY, May 20
GEORGETOWN at XAVIER (BEDN) at 12 p.m.
CREIGHTON at BUTLER (BEDN) at 12:30 p.m.
VILLANOVA at ST. JOHN’S (BEDN) at 1 p.m.
SETON HALL at Southeastern La. at 2 p.m.