#BIGEASTbase Minute -- Seton Hall Clinches Tourney Berth
NEW YORK – With two weekends left to play, two spots have been filled by the pair of teams in the top of the standings: St. John’s and Seton Hall. The Pirates clinched this weekend after taking two at Creighton to move to 10-2 in the conference. St. John’s had a BIG EAST bye, but remains in first place at 11-2. The two teams will square off in South Orange this weekend.
Moving up in the standings after this weekend was also Georgetown, who took third place after a sweep of Villanova at home. Butler stayed solid in the BIG EAST Championship field, should the season end today, at 6-5 and a home series win over Xavier.
St. Johns’ swept Liberty this weekend; 14-2, 7-6 and 1-0.
Creighton won the first game of the series on Friday, 4-2. Creighton had a solo home run from Will Robertson in the first inning and never relinquished the lead. Seton Hall won Saturday’s game 2-1, then the rubber match on Sunday, 3-0 for the series win. Billy Layne Jr., had the win on Sunday with a career-best 8.1 scoreless innings, scattering two hits and striking out 11. Ricky DeVito earned the win on Saturday after allowing just one run over 6.2 innings. Relievers Corey Sawyer and Matt Leon held Creighton hitless in the finish.
Georgetown played a doubleheader on Friday against Villanova due to weather issues. The Hoyas won the first game of the doubleheader 8-7, then took the second, 9-3. In a quick turnaround the Hoyas won game three 4-1, a Saturday noon start.
Butler picked up a key home series win against Xavier. The Musketeers won game one behind the relief pitching of Matt Kent who went 6.2 innings on 97 pitches, limiting Butler to a .167 batting average for the 9-6 win. Butler won the second game 8-4, Ryan Pepiot got the start and win for the Bulldogs and struck out seven in seven innings. Gehrig Parker iced the game with a three-run homer. Butler won the rubber match 6-4.
#BIGEASTbase Results
FRIDAY, May 4
GEORGETOWN 8, VILLANOVA 7
XAVIER 9, BUTLER 6
ST. JOHN’S 14, Liberty 2
GEORGETOWN 9, VILLANOVA 3
CREIGHTON 4, SETON HALL 2
SATURDAY, May 5
GEORGETOWN 4, VILLANOVA 1
ST. JOHN’S 7, Liberty 6
BUTLER 8, XAVIER 4
SETON HALL 2, CREIGHTON 1
SUNDAY, May 6
BUTLER 6, XAVIER 4
SETON HALL 3, CREIGHTON 0
ST. JOHN’S 1, Liberty 0
All times listed are Eastern.