NEW YORK – BIG EAST Softball enters its final weekend of nonconference tournaments before league play begins next weekend. Butler, Providence and Seton Hall are all set to compete in the USF-Michele Smith Pediatric Cancer Spring Invitational Tournament, hosted by USF, while the Red Storm stays home for the St. John’s Invitational.
Butler will be tested early as it takes on No. 21 Minnesota in its first game on Friday. The host Bulls will await the Bulldogs later on Friday afternoon. Butler will face Princeton on Saturday morning before taking on North Florida immediately after. A matchup with La Salle is set for Sunday morning to close out the tournament.
Creighton is back on the diamond after having numerous weather-related game cancellations. The Bluejays make their way to Kansas City to compete against UMKC and South Dakota State. They will battle the host Kangaroos for a doubleheader on Friday afternoon. Creighton will play a game apiece against UMKC and SDSU on Saturday, before one more versus the Jackrabbits on Sunday morning.
DePaul will make another cross-country trip to participate in the Easton Invitational, hosted by Cal State Fullerton. The Blue Demons will take on Iowa State Friday afternoon, followed by a contest against Boston University. On Saturday, DePaul will face Long Beach State at noon, then the host Titans in the evening. The Blue Demons wrap things up versus Harvard on Sunday morning.
Georgetown will head down the road to George Washington for the Buff and Blue Challenge. The Hoyas will meet Stony Brook on Friday morning, and then take on Oakland in a second game to follow. Another tilt with Oakland is scheduled for Saturday morning, followed by a second contest versus Stony Brook. Georgetown closes out the weekend against the host Colonials on Sunday morning.
Providence begins its tournament against Columbia early on Friday before taking on Towson in the afternoon. Colgate will await the Friars on Saturday morning; followed by a game versus Florida A&M. Providence will conclude competition on Sunday morning against Lafayette.
St. John’s will welcome Hofstra, Holy Cross and Wagner for the St. John’s Invitational this weekend. The Red Storm faces Hofstra and Wagner in back-to-back games on Friday afternoon. They will then take on Holy Cross twice, once on Saturday and another on Sunday—both at noon to wrap things up.
Seton Hall and Eastern Illinois will battle on Friday afternoon in the Pirates’ first game of the weekend. Florida Gulf Coast will be next for Seton Hall in a Friday nightcap. The Pirates are set to face both Chattanooga and Purdue on Saturday afternoon to close out the tournament.
Villanova will make its way to College Park, Md. for the Maryland Invitational over the weekend. The Wildcats go up against Rhode Island on Friday evening to kick things off. They are set to play the host Terrapins on Saturday afternoon, before taking on Saint Peter’s in the evening. On Sunday afternoon, the Wildcats will finish up against UMBC.
BIG EAST Softball Weekend Schedule
FRIDAY, MARCH 15
Stony Brook vs. GEORGETOWN at 9 a.m. (Washington, D.C.)
Oakland vs. GEORGETOWN at 11 a.m. (Washington, D.C.)
Minnesota vs. BUTLER at 11:45 a.m. (Clearwater, Fla.)
Columbia vs. PROVIDENCE at 11:45 a.m. (Clearwater, Fla.)
Hofstra at ST. JOHN’S at 1 p.m.
Iowa State vs. DEPAUL at 2 p.m. (Fullerton, Calif.)
Towson vs. PROVIDENCE at 2:15 p.m. (Clearwater, Fla.)
Wagner at ST. JOHN’S at 3 p.m.
Eastern Illinois vs. SETON HALL at 3:30 p.m. (Clearwater, Fla.)
Boston University vs. DEPAUL at 4:30 p.m. (Fullerton, Calif.)
CREIGHTON at UMKC at 4 p.m.
South Florida vs. BUTLER at 4:45 p.m. (Clearwater, Fla.)
University of Rhode Island vs. Villanova at 5:30 p.m. (College Park, MD.)
CREIGHTON at UMKC at 6 p.m.
Florida Gulf Coast vs. SETON HALL at 7:15 p.m. (Clearwater, Fla.)
SATURDAY, MARCH 16
Princeton vs. BUTLER at 9 a.m. (Clearwater, Fla.)
Oakland vs. GEORGETOWN at 9 a.m. (Washington, D.C.)
Stony Brook vs. GEORGETOWN at 11 a.m. (Washington, D.C.)
North Florida vs. BUTLER at 11:30 a.m. (Clearwater, Fla.)
Colgate vs. PROVIDENCE at 11:30 a.m. (Clearwater, Fla.)
Holy Cross at ST. JOHN’S at 12 p.m.
South Dakota State vs. CREIGHTON at 1 p.m. (Kansas City, Mo.)
Long Beach State vs. DEPAUL at 1 p.m. (Fullerton, Calif.)
Florida A&M vs. PROVIDENCE at 2 p.m. (Clearwater, Fla.)
Chattanooga vs. SETON HALL at 2 p.m. (Clearwater, Fla.)
VILLANOVA at Maryland at 3 p.m.
CREIGHTON at UMKC at 3:30 p.m.
Purdue vs. SETON HALL at 4:15 p.m. (Clearwater, Fla.)
Saint Peter’s vs. VILLANOVA at 5:30 p.m. (College Park, Md.)
DEPAUL at Cal State Fullerton at 6:30 p.m.
SUNDAY, MARCH 17
La Salle vs. BUTLER at 9 a.m. (Clearwater, Fla.)
Harvard vs. DEPAUL at 9 a.m. (Fullerton, Calif.)
Lafayette vs. PROVIDENCE at 9 a.m. (Clearwater, Fla.)
GEORGETOWN at George Washington at 11 a.m.
South Dakota State vs CREIGHTON at 12 p.m. (Kansas City, Mo.)
Holy Cross at ST. JOHN’S at 12 p.m.
UMBC vs. Villanova at 3 p.m. (College Park, Md.)