Seven #BIGEASTsb Teams In Action As Non-Conference Tournaments Continue
NEW YORK -- The fifth week of BIG EAST Softball play will find seven of the eight BIG EAST teams participating in various tournaments across the country. Butler heads to Memphis to put its hot start to the season to the test, while Creighton, Providence and Seton Hall head to Florida for warmer weather. Villanova, receiving votes in the NFCA poll, continues its road swing in San Diego, while DePaul stays local after a week off with the Saluki Invitational in Carbondale, Ill. Georgetown will look to build on its two wins last weekend with a trip to the UNCW Softball Invitational in Wilmington, N.C.
Butler (12-4) hits the road to Memphis for a five game slate over three days. The Bulldogs have run out to a 12-4 start to the season with four wins last weekend at the Liberty Softball Classic. BU will face Western Carolina to kick off competition on Friday. On Saturday, the Bulldogs take on Indiana State and hosts Memphis. Contests against Belmont and Youngstown State close out weekend competition.
Creighton (8-8) kicks off its spring break with a trip to Longwood, Fla. to participate in the Spring Games. The Bluejays are coming off of a 1-3 outing at the Coach B Classic where the Bluejays picked up a win over Purdue Fort Wayne. CU will begin action against LIU and Bethune-Cookman on Friday. The Bluejays will then face their first ranked opponent of the season with a matchup against No. 12 Florida State before meeting Cleveland State on Saturday afternoon. CU wraps up the first portion of its trip against Longwood on Sunday morning.
DePaul (6-9) is back in action after taking a week off. The Blue Demons will head to Carbondale, Ill. for the Saluki Invitational. 2020 will mark the fourth appearance for DePaul in the Saluki Invitational, an event that began in 1981. DePaul will meet a slew of local teams this weekend with five games in three days. The Blue Demons are set to meet Western Illinois and IUPUI on Friday before a lone game at Southern Illinois on Saturday. DPU will close out the weekend with matchups against Northern Illinois. Last time out, DePaul picked up a pair of wins at the Samford Invitational while falling to then-No. 23 Kentucky.
Georgetown (5-13) will resume non-conference play at the UNCW Softball Invitational in Wilmington, North Carolina. The Hoyas will play a five-game slate over three days, facing North Dakota and UNCW two times apiece, while meeting Presbyterian for a single game. GU went 2-1 last weekend at the Colonial Classic, splitting a two-game series with Princeton and taking down Morgan State 9-1.
Providence (3-7) is set to compete at the 2020 Clearwater Spring Break Invitational this weekebd, The Friars will meet Bowling Green and Florida A&M on the first day of competition, followed by a doubleheader against Western Michigan and Robert Morris on Saturday. PC will close out their time in Clearwater with a game against Yale. The Friars last saw action at the Spring Games in Madeira Beach, Fla. where PC posted a 1-4 record.
Seton Hall (6-12) is also set to take part in the Clearwater Spring Break Invitational with a five-game slate. The Pirates will face Tennessee Chattanooga and Army on Friday before another two-game swing on Saturday with Penn State and Florida A&M. The Hall closes out the weekend against Bowling Green on Sunday at 9 a.m. SHU picked up two wins last weekend at The Spring Games.
Villanova (12-9) continues its road stretch after picking up two ranked wins last weekend at the Woo Pig Classic in Arkansas. The Wildcats picked up an 11-4 win over San Diego State on Wednesday afternoon to move to 12-9 on the season. VU will take part in the San Diego Tournament this weekend with three games against Mount St. Mary’s and a two-game slate against San Diego. The Wildcats will close out their swing out west with a game against CSUN on Sunday. Paige Rauch is fifth in the nation in wins in the circle with 10 on the season.