#BIGEASTsb Rolls Into Second Weekend of Non-Conference Action
NEW YORK – Week one of the 2020 softball season saw seven BIG EAST teams in action, with Butler leading the way with a 4-1 showing at the Rambler Rumbler in Rosemont, Ill. This weekend all eight teams are in action with Providence making its 2020 debut. 40 contests are set to take place across three days in five different states with teams traveling to California, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas for multi-team tournaments.
Butler - After a 4-1 weekend at the Rambler Rumbler in Rosemont, Ill., the Bulldogs are back in action this weekend, traveling to Maderia Beach, Fla. for the Maderia Beach Spring Games with six contests on the slate. Butler opens its weekend on Friday, taking on Central Arkansas and Nicholls State. BU will meet Georgia State and Middle Tennessee on Saturday afternoon before closing out the tournament with contests against Akron and Presbyterian on Sunday morning. Sophomore Karli Ricketts earned BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week after a 2-0 performance last weekend at the Rambler Rumbler including a 1.16 ERA and a shutout against Western Illinois. Ricketts struck out a total of 15 batters last weekend.
Creighton - The Bluejays went 3-2 at the H-E-B Classic in San Antonio last weekend with wins over North Dakota (7-5), Toledo (24-1) and Incarnate Word (9-6). Creighton’s Ashley Cantu was named BIG EAST Player of the Week after her offensive outburst of 12 hits, 4 RBI and a .600 batting average at the H-E-B Classic. Creighton returns to Texas this weekend for the North Texas Invitational. The Bluejays will take on Missouri State, hosts North Texas, UT Martin and Abilene Christian.
DePaul - DePaul opened the season at the UNI Dome Classic with a 2-3 mark as the Blue Demons picked up a win over North Dakota (7-4) and an extra-innings victory over Drake (11-10). DePaul will travel south to Greenville, N.C. for the Pirate Clash hosted by East Carolina. The Blue Demons will face George Washington and ECU on Friday before taking on Hampton and ECU on Saturday. DPU will close out the weekend slate with its second contest against Hampton at 9 a.m. on Sunday.
Georgetown – The Hoyas took part in the FGCU Kickoff Classic in Fort Myers last weekend, posting an 0-5 mark. GU is led by junior pitcher London Diller who threw 16.0 innings last weekend for a 1.75 ERA and a total of 18 strikeouts. The Hoyas are back in action at the Winthrop Tournament in Rock Hill, S.C. Georgetown is set to meet Boston and Holy Cross on Friday in a pair of contests. GU will return to action against Virginia and hosts Winthrop on Saturday before closing out the trip with a meeting against Eastern Kentucky on Sunday morning.
Providence - The Friars kick off the 2020 season this weekend at the 2020 Bearkat Classic in Huntsville, Texas. PC will play a total of five games against three opponents. The Friars open the weekend with two contests on Friday against Houston Baptist and Sam Houston State. Saturday’s schedule features two games against Friday’s opponents. Weekend action will conclude with a game against George Mason at 11 a.m. on Sunday.
St. John’s - The Red Storm began the 2020 season with an 0-5 start the season at the UCF Black and Gold tournament. The Johnnies look to regroup in College Station, Texas for the Texas A&M Invitational. SJU will face Texas A&M and Lamar for the first time in program history while also meeting New York’s Binghamton.
Seton Hall - Seton Hall heads to the Golden State Classic in Lake Elsinore, Calif. for Weekend 2 of action. The Pirates posted a 2-2 record at the Elon Classic with wins over Elon (17-6) and Rhode Island (7-2). The Hall is set to face five opponents in three days with games against San Diego, Sacramento State, San Jose State, Loyola Marymount and Utah State.
Villanova – Villanova opened the season with three victories in the first weekend of action at the Jacksonville Tournament. The Wildcats posted victories against San Diego State, Jacksonville and Nicholls State. Paige Rauch posted a 3-0 record in the circle on opening weekend for a 1.31 ERA in 16.0 innings of work. Rookie Chloe Smith impressed in her collegiate debut with a .500 batting average including eight hits and 5 RBI as her first collegiate hit was a home run. VU will travel to Orlando for the UCF Tournament. The Wildcats are set to play five games with meetings against Penn State, Iowa State, FAU and UCF.
Upcoming #BIGEASTsb Schedule
Friday, Feb. 14
GEORGETOWN vs. Boston 10 a.m.
St. John’s vs. Binghamton 11 a.m.
Butler vs. Central Arkansas 11 a.m.
Villanova vs. Penn State 11:30 a.m.
DePaul vs. George Washington 12:30 p.m.
BUTLER vs. Nicholls State 1:30 p.m.
VILLANOVA vs. Iowa State 2 p.m.
CREIGHTON vs. Missouri State 3 p.m.
GEORGETOWN vs. Holy Cross 3 p.m.
PROVIDENCE at Houston Baptist 3:30 p.m.
DEPAUL at East Carolina 5 p.m.
SETON HALL vs. San Diego 5 p.m.
ST. JOHN’S at Texas A&M 6:15 p.m.
SETON HALL vs. Sacramento St. 7:30 p.m.
CREIGHTON at North Texas 8 p.m.
PROVIDENCE vs. Sam Houston 8 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 15
VILLANOVA vs. FAU 9 a.m.
GEORGETOWN vs. Virginia 10 a.m.
CREIGHTON vs. UT Martin 11 a.m.
ST. JOHN’S vs. Lamar 11 a.m.
DEPAUL vs. Hampton 12:30 p.m.
SETON HALL vs. San Jose State 1 p.m.
PROVIDENCE vs. Houston Baptist 1:15 p.m.
CREIGHTON vs. Abilene Christian 1:30 p.m.
GEORGETOWN vs. Winthrop 3 p.m.
VILLANOVA vs. UCF 3:30 p.m.
BUTLER vs. Georgia State 4 p.m.
DEPAUL at ECU 5 p.m.
SETON HALL vs. LMU 6 p.m.
ST. JOHN’S vs. Binghamton 6:15 p.m.
BUTLER vs. Middle Tennessee 6:30 p.m.
PROVIDENCE vs. Sam Houston 8 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 16
DEPAUL vs Hampton 9 a.m.
BUTLER vs. Akron 9 a.m.
VILLANOVA vs. Penn State 9 a.m.
GEORGETOWN vs. EKU 9:30 a.m.
PROVIDENCE vs. George Mason 11 a.m.
BUTLER vs. Presbyterian 11:30 a.m.
SETON HALL vs. Utah State Noon
ST. JOHN’s at Texas A&M 12:15 p.m.
All Times Eastern