BIG EAST Softball Back In Action This Weekend
NEW YORK – Seven of the eight BIG EAST Softball programs will compete in nonconference tournaments this weekend. All but two teams will travel to Florida, with four squads participating in the Clearwater Parks and Recreation Showcase Tournament hosted by USF in Clearwater, Fla. Georgetown will compete at the JU/UNF Spring Break Challenge in Jacksonville, Fla. Butler makes its way to Carbondale, Ill., for the Saluki Invitational, while DePaul heads to Memphis, Tenn., for the Memphis Tournament.
Butler (6-8) will face off with UIC in the Saluki Invitational on Friday afternoon, with a contest against Green Bay set for the evening. The Bulldogs will battle Miami (Ohio) on Saturday afternoon before matching up with Iowa in the evening. Butler will finish off the tournament with a tilt against host Southern Illinois on Sunday afternoon.
Creighton (6-7) was scheduled to host Arkansas-Pine Bluff in a three-game series on Saturday and Sunday, but it has been canceled due to inclement weather.
DePaul (15-4) will look to rebound this weekend at the Memphis Tournament. They kick things off against the host Tigers on Friday afternoon. On Saturday, the Blue Demons will face Indiana State in the morning, then clash with Middle Tennessee in the afternoon. DePaul will meet up with IUPUI on Sunday morning before concluding competition with a match up against Belmont.
Georgetown (5-13) heads to Jacksonville and will draw La Salle in its first game on Friday morning. Later in the afternoon, the Hoyas match up against the host Dolphins. Saturday begins with a game versus Ball State before facing UNC Wilmington in the afternoon. Georgetown will wrap up against Cleveland State on Sunday morning.
Providence (4-6) will start off the USF Tournament with a game against Furman for Friday morning, and then they take on Central Michigan in the afternoon. On Saturday, the Friars will see Army first in the morning before a colliding with Saint Francis at noon. South Dakota State awaits Providence to round out the event on Sunday morning.
St. John’s (6-9) will battle Western Michigan in its first game of the USF Tournament on Friday afternoon, followed by a contest versus Toledo in the evening. The Red Storm begins with South Carolina-Upstate on Saturday afternoon, then is set to face the host Bulls in the evening. St. John’s will clash with Central Florida on Sunday morning to complete the tournament.
Seton Hall (7-6) will begin its competition in Clearwater versus Central Florida on Friday afternoon. The Pirates will take on a nationally ranked opponent in No. 17 Indiana on Friday following their first game. Massachusetts is scheduled to play Seton Hall on Saturday afternoon, and a contest versus Central Connecticut State is slated for the evening. The Pirates will wrap up competition against Chattanooga on Sunday morning.
Villanova (7-9), the fourth BIG EAST team in the USF Tournament this weekend, will take on Saint Francis on Friday morning and Holy Cross to follow immediately. The Wildcats will gear up for Eastern Illinois first on Saturday morning before a matchup with Massachusetts later in the afternoon. An early Sunday morning tilt with nationally ranked No. 23 Wisconsin will close out the weekend for VU.
BIG EAST Softball Weekend Schedule
FRIDAY, MARCH 8
Furman vs. PROVIDENCE at 10 a.m. (Clearwater, Fla.)
Saint Francis vs. VILLANOVA at 10 a.m. (Tampa, Fla.)
La Salle vs. GEORGETOWN at 11:30 a.m. (Jacksonville, Fla.)
Holy Cross vs. VILLANOVA at 12:30 p.m. (Tampa, Fla.)
UCF vs. SETON HALL at 12:30 p.m. (Clearwater, Fla.)
Western Michigan vs. ST. JOHN’S at 12:30 p.m. (Clearwater, Fla.)
No. 17 Indiana vs. SETON HALL at 3 p.m. (Clearwater, Fla.)
Central Michigan vs. PROVIDENCE at 3 p.m. (Clearwater, Fla.)
UIC vs. BUTLER at 3:30 p.m. (Carbondale, Ill.)
DEPAUL at Memphis at 4:30 p.m.
GEORGETOWN at Jacksonville at 4:30 p.m.
Toledo vs. ST. JOHN’S at 5:30 p.m. (Clearwater, Fla.)
Green Bay vs. BUTLER at 8 p.m. (Carbondale, Ill.)
SATURDAY, MARCH 9
Army vs. PROVIDENCE at 9:30 a.m. (Clearwater, Fla.)
Eastern Illinois vs. VILLANOVA at 9:30 a.m. (Tampa, Fla.)
Ball State vs. GEORGETOWN at 11:30 a.m. (Jacksonville, Fla.)
Saint Francis vs. PROVIDENCE at 12 p.m. (Clearwater, Fla.)
Indiana State vs. DEPAUL at 12:15 p.m. (Memphis, Tenn.)
Massachusetts vs. VILLANOVA at 1 p.m. (Tampa, Fla.)
South Carolina Upstate vs. ST. JOHN’S at 1 p.m. (Clearwater, Fla.)
UNC Wilmington vs. GEORGETOWN at 2 p.m. (Jacksonville, Fla.)
Middle Tennessee vs. DEPAUL at 2:30 p.m. (Memphis, Tenn.)
Massachusetts vs. SETON HALL at 3:30 p.m. (Clearwater, Fla.)
Miami (Ohio) vs. BUTLER at 5:45 p.m. (Carbondale, Ill.)
Central Connecticut State vs. SETON HALL at 6 p.m. (Clearwater, Fla.)
USF vs. ST. JOHN’S at 6 p.m. (Clearwater, Fla.)
Iowa vs. BUTLER at 8 p.m. (Carbondale, Ill.)
SUNDAY, MARCH 10
No. 23 Wisconsin vs. VILLANOVA at 9 a.m. (Tampa, Fla.)
South Dakota State vs. PROVIDENCE at 9 a.m. (Clearwater, Fla.)
Cleveland State vs. GEORGETOWN at 9 a.m. (Jacksonville, Fla.)
IUPUI vs. DEPAUL at 9:30 a.m. (Memphis, Tenn.)
Saint Joseph’s vs. PROVIDENCE at 11:15 a.m. (Clearwater, Fla.)
UCF vs. ST. JOHN’S at 11:15 a.m. (Clearwater, Fla.)
Chattanooga vs. SETON HALL at 11:15 a.m. (Clearwater, Fla.)
Belmont vs. DEPAUL at 2 p.m. (Memphis, Tenn.)
BUTLER at Southern Illinois at 5:45 p.m.
All times Eastern.