NEW YORK – St. John’s and DePaul are still locked in atop the BIG EAST Softball standings as league play continues into its fourth weekend. The Red Storm, just a half-game ahead of the Blue Demons, will head to Seton Hall, while DePaul will host Providence. Butler will welcome Georgetown with the series finale featured live on the BIG EAST Digital Network (BEDN) on Sunday at noon ET. Creighton will travel to Villanova in the fourth conference series this weekend.
BIG EAST teams went a combined 6-1 in midweek, non-conference matchups this week. Creighton stifled in-state rival Nebraska on Tuesday, while St. John’s and Villanova picked up wins over Manhattan and Lafayette on Wednesday, respectively. Butler defeated Purdue Fort Wayne at home on Thursday, along with Seton Hall’s victory against Hofstra. Providence also won on Thursday at Central Connecticut State.
Butler secured a 3-2 decision versus visiting Purdue Fort Wayne on Thursday. Starting pitcher Alyssa Graves went four innings and struck out four, allowing only one run, while Karli Ricketts picked up the win in relief for the Bulldogs. Ricketts fanned three Mastodons and allowed just one run in three innings. Butler is back in action this weekend when conference foe Georgetown comes to town.
Creighton piled on the runs to clinch their first win against in-state rival Nebraska since 2012 on Tuesday, 9-1. The Bluejays jumped on the Cornhuskers early with five runs in the first inning as Ashley Cantu led off with a home run. Creighton never looked back to secure the run-rule win in five innings. Starting pitcher Laura Roecker struck out four and allowed just the one run for the complete-game win. Mikaela Pechar led the offense with three RBI and a home run. The Bluejays will look to keep their momentum going at Villanova this weekend.
DePaul was idle during the week and will gear up to welcome Providence to Lincoln Park over the weekend. The Blue Demons will look to keep pace with St. John’s atop the standings as the BIG EAST Championship is less than one month away.
Georgetown dropped a midweek, non-conference contest at Towson, 9-3. Newcomer Mae Forshey led the team, going 3-for-3 with an RBI in the loss. The Hoyas will look to turn things around this weekend at Butler. Sunday’s finale will broadcast live on BEDN at noon ET.
Providence escaped with a 5-4 win on the road versus Central Connecticut State on Thursday. Jessica Tomaso brought in the game-winning run with a sacrifice fly in the sixth. Emma Lee was 3-for-3 at the plate, scoring two runs and adding an RBI to lead the Friars’ offense. Pitcher Julia Murphy recorded her first career win in the circle after coming in for relief in the fifth inning. She allowed just two hit and no earned runs. Providence will take on DePaul over the weekend in BIG EAST action.
St. John’s shut out Manhattan at home on Wednesday, 6-0, in non-conference play. Three Red Storm pitchers, Kayla Kmett, Angela Saric and Madison Morris combined to hold the Jaspers to only four hits in the game. Rookie Peyton Cody extended her hitting streak to 15 games and also scored a run in the contest. St. John’s will try to make it five wins in a row as it heads to Seton Hall this weekend.
Seton Hall recorded a 4-1 midweek, non-conference victory against Hofstra at home on Thursday. The Pride scored first in the second inning, but the Pirates never looked back as Reganne Camp tossed five scoreless innings of relief to pick up the win in the circle. Janae Barracato and Hailey Arteaga each had two hits and an RBI to lead the way at the dish. Seton Hall will entertain St. John’s in a BIG EAST weekend series.
Villanova shut out Lafayette, 3-0, on Wednesday in non-conference play. Wildcat pitchers Gabby Wenn and Taylor Rhinehart combined to allow zero runs in the victory. Wenn recorded two strikeouts, while Rhinehart tallied one. Wenn picked up her first win of the season and Rhinehart grabbed her first save. Villanova is back in action this weekend when it hosts Creighton in league play.
BIG EAST Softball Weekend Schedule
Saturday, April 13
CREIGHTON at VILLANOVA at 12 p.m.
GEORGETOWN at BUTLER at 12 p.m.
PROVIDENCE at DEPAUL at 12 p.m.
ST. JOHN’S at SETON HALL at 12 p.m.
CREIGHTON at VILLANOVA at 2 p.m.
GEORGETOWN at BUTLER at 2 p.m.
PROVIDENCE at DEPAUL at 2 p.m.
ST. JOHN’S at SETON HALL at 2 p.m.
Sunday, April 14
CREIGHTON at VILLANOVA at 11 a.m.
GEORGETOWN at BUTLER at 12 p.m. (
BEDN)
PROVIDENCE at DEPAUL at 12 p.m.
ST. JOHN’S at SETON HALL at 12 p.m.
All times Eastern.