One-Loss DePaul Heads to Hawaii As #BIGEASTsb Play Resumes
NEW YORK – The BIG EAST softball season continues this weekend with six of the eight teams traveling near and far. DePaul will take its 8-1 record out to the Aloha State for the Hawaii Invitational over the weekend. Weather affected two teams this weekend as Seton Hall will host two doubleheaders against Lehigh and Saint Peter’s after their weekend tournament was canceled, and Butler’s visit to Western Kentucky has been shortened to just two days due to forecasted heavy rain.
Butler will start off the Hilltopper Classic on Sunday morning against Indiana State and will turn around to play Western Kentucky in the afternoon. The two-day event will find the Bulldogs facing Cleveland State on Monday morning and a second game versus Indiana State to immediately follow.
Creighton heads to Carbondale, Ill. to compete in two doubleheaders on Friday and Sunday. The Bluejays will play Saint Louis on Friday morning before squaring off with the host Salukis in the afternoon. Evansville will be waiting on Sunday morning, followed by another tilt with Southern Illinois.
DePaul plays on Thursday against New Mexico at the Hawaii Invitational in Honolulu. They will go up against Canisius at on Friday morning, followed by a tilt with the host Rainbow Wahine in the afternoon. Another game versus host Hawaii is scheduled for Sunday morning before the Blue Demons head back to the mainland.
Georgetown travels to Florida for a five-game slate at the Madeira Beach Tournament. The Hoyas will play Colgate first on Friday morning, and then clash with Manhattan in the afternoon. Saturday’s schedule includes North Florida in the morning and Albany to follow. Georgetown will wrap up the tournament against Purdue on Sunday.
Seton Hall will host Lehigh and Saint Peter’s in South Orange, N.J. after their tournament at East Carolina was canceled due to weather concerns. The Pirates will play the Mountain Hawks for two games on Friday, and they welcome the Peacocks for the second doubleheader on Saturday.
Villanova makes its way to Auburn, Ala. over the weekend for the Tiger Invitational. The Wildcats will take on Eastern Illinois in the opener on Friday morning, and they face the host Tigers in the afternoon. Troy awaits Villanova on Saturday afternoon before a meeting with North Dakota State in the nightcap. The Wildcats will close out the tournament with another battle against Auburn on Sunday.
BIG EAST Softball Upcoming Schedule
THURSDAY, FEB. 21
New Mexico vs. DEPAUL at 4:30 p.m. (Honolulu, Hawaii)
FRIDAY, FEB. 22
Eastern Illinois vs. VILLANOVA at 9 a.m. (Auburn, Ala.)
GEORGETOWN vs. Colgate at 11 a.m. (Madeira Beach, Fla.)
Saint Louis vs. CREIGHTON at 11 a.m. (Carbondale, Ill.)
Lehigh at SETON HALL at 12 p.m.
Canisius vs. DEPAUL at 1 p.m. (Honolulu, Hawaii)
CREIGHTON at Southern Illinois at 1:15 p.m.
GEORGETOWN vs. Manhattan at 1:30 p.m. (Madeira Beach, Fla.)
Lehigh at SETON HALL at 2 p.m.
VILLANOVA at Auburn at 2 p.m.
DEPAUL at Hawaii at 6 p.m.
SATURDAY, FEB. 23
GEORGETOWN vs. North Florida at 11 a.m. (Madeira Beach, Fla.)
Troy vs. VILLANOVA at 11:30 a.m. (Auburn, Ala.)
GEORGETOWN vs. Albany at 1:30 p.m. (Madeira Beach, Fla.)
North Dakota State vs. VILLANOVA at 7 p.m. (Auburn, Ala.)
SUNDAY, FEB. 24
VILLANOVA at Auburn at 11:30 a.m.
Indiana State vs. BUTLER at 11 a.m. (Bowling Green, Ky.)
Evansville vs. CREIGHTON at 11 a.m. (Carbondale, Ill.)
GEORGETOWN vs. Purdue at 11:30 a.m. (Madeira Beach, Fla.)
CREIGHTON at Southern Illinois at 1:15 p.m.
BUTLER at Western Kentucky at 3 p.m.
DEPAUL at Hawaii at 3 p.m.
MONDAY, FEB. 25
Cleveland State vs. BUTLER at 11 a.m. (Bowling Green, Ky.)
Indiana State vs. BUTLER at 1 p.m. (Bowling Green, Ky.)
All times Eastern.