BIG Ten/BIG EAST Challenge All-Tournament Team
CollegeBaseball360.com – in conjunction with coaches and media-relations representatives from the 20 teams – has selected the all-tournament team for the 2010 Big Ten/BIG EAST Challenge (held Feb. 26-28, in the St. Petersburg, Fla., area). The selections include 11 first-teamers, 11 second-teamers and seven honorable mention.
Selections were based on statistics during the three games, in addition to other criteria such as clutch play, defensive contributions, team leadership and other intangibles. The honorees include at least one from all 20 participating teams, led by three from Louisville and two each from seven other teams (Cincinnati, Iowa, Michigan State, Northwestern, Ohio State, St. John’s and Villanova).
Shortstop Joe Panik (pictured) helped St. John’s join Louisville as the only 3-0 teams at the Big Ten/BIG EAST Challenge. Panik batted 5-for-8 with 3 walks (also reached twice via HBP) and factored into nearly half of SJU’s total runs (6 of 13) during the tournament. … Note: eight other teams went 2-1: Cincinnati, Connecticut, Iowa, Michigan State, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State and Villanova.
The all-tournament selections feature 11 juniors, nine sophomores, five seniors, three freshmen and a fifth-year senior. Four are New Jersey natives and four more are from Ohio, plus three from Kentucky, two each from California, Indiana, Illinois, New York and Pennsylvania – and one each from Florida, Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
The honorees include one pure leadoff hitter, two that batted in the #2 spot all weekend, a pair of 3-hole hitters and three cleanup batters (plus two 5-hole hitters, one 6-hole, two 7-hole, one 9-hole and six who batted in multiple lineup spots during the tournament).
Ohio State pitcher Alex Wimers is the only repeat selection to the Challenge all-tournament team. (Note: all class years referenced below refer to academic standing … additional headshots and action photos will be added to this release, time permitting).
2010 Big Ten/BIG EAST Challenge All-Tournament Team
(presented by CollegeBaseball360.com)
First-team position players included (top row, from left): Kevin Plawecki, Jerrud Sabourin, Matt Dittman, Adam Duvall and Joe Panik … (bottom row, from left) Stewart Ijames, Michael Stephens and Matt Szczur (the all-tournament first-team pitchers are pictured below).
First Team
C – #26 Kevin Plawecki (Purdue, fr., 7-hole … Carmel, IN)
… hit .700 (7-for-10 … 3 RBI, 2 R, 2 2B, BB, HBP, SB, E)
1B – #35 Jerrud Sabourin (Indiana, jr., 3-hole … San Diego, CA)
… hit .462 (6-for-13 … 4 RBI, 3 R, 2 2B, BB, 2 K)
1B – #17 Matt Dittman (Illinois, jr., cleanup … Libertyville, IL
… hit .667 (6-for-9, 3 RBI, 4 R, 2B, 2 BB, HBP, SB, 3K)
2B – #30 Adam Duvall (Louisville, sr., 2-hole … Louisville, KY)
… hit .500 (6-for-12, 4 RBI, 4 R, HR, 3 2B, BB, SAC, K, E)
SS – #2 Joe Panik (St. John’s, so., 5-hole … Hopewell Junction, NY)
… hit .625 (5-for-8, 2 RBI, 4 R, 3B, 2B, 3 BB, 2 HBP, 2K, E)
LF – #5 Stewart Ijames (Louisville, jr., 7-hole … Owensboro, KY)
… hit .500 (5-for-10, 3 RBI, 2 R, HR, 2B, BB, K, CS)
CF – #24 Michael Stephens (Ohio State, sr., cleanup … Victorville, CA)
… hit .667 (6-for-9 … 4 RBI, 4 R, HR, 2 2B, 2 BB, HBP, SB, SB, 2K, E)
RF – #20 Matt Szczur (Villanova, jr., leadoff … Erma, NJ)
… hit .600 (9-for-15, RBI, 6 R, 3B, 2B, 2K, CS)
UTIL (2B/RHP)–#14 Zach Morton (Northwestern, so., 9-hole; Rothschild, WI)
… hit .429 (3-for-7, 2 RBI, 2 R, BB, SAC, E
… 0.00 ERA, 0-1, 1 GS, 6 IP, 2 UER, 6 H, BB, BK, 3K, .250 opp. batting
RHP – #18 Thomas Royse (Louisville, jr. … Lexington, KY)
… 0.00 ERA, 1-0, 1 GS, 6 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 2 BB, 9 K, .100 opp. batting
RHP (relief) – #47 Brian Sand (Cincinnati, sr. … Cincinnati, OH)
… 0.00 ERA, 1-0, 1 GP, 5 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 1 HB, 1K, .000 opp. batting
(from left) The 2010 Big Ten/BIG EAST Challenge first team all-tournament pitchers include Northwestern two-way player Zach Morton, Louisville game-1 starter Thomas Royse and Cincinnati’s Brian Sand (whose 5.0 shutout relief innings earned him the win vs. Ohio State).
Second Team
C/DH – #33 Ben Heath (Penn State, jr., cleanup … Huntersville, NC)
… hit .333 (6-for-18, 4 RBI, 6 R, 3 HR, 2 2B, 4K)
1B – #29 Mike Nemeth (Connecticut, jr., 5-hole … Washington, NJ)
… hit .500 (5-for-10, 3 RBI, 3 R, 2B, BB, 2K, E)
2B – #2 T.J. Jones (Cincinnati, so., 3/2-hole … Cincinnati, OH)
… hit .462 (6-for-13, 5 RBI, 4 R, 2B, 2 BB, HBP, 2E)
SS – #1 AJ Pettersen (Minnesota, so., 2-hole/leadoff … Minnetonka, MN)
… hit .455 (5-for-11, 3 RBI, 2 R, 2 2B, BB, HBP, SF)
3B – #12 Andrew Carpenter (Michigan State, so., 7/8-hole … Dayton, OH)
… hit .462 (6-for-13, 4 RBI, 3 R, 2B, SF, 4K)
LF – #18 Jeremy Baltz (St. John’s, fr., 6-hole … Vestal, NY)
… hit .462 (6-for-13, 2 RBI, 2 R, HR, 2K, 2 GDP)
CF/RF – #16 Ryan Durant (Iowa, sr., 3-hole … Eldridge, IA)
hit .545 (6-for-11, 6 RBI, 2 R, HR, 2B, BB, 2 SF, 3K)
RHP – #14 Alex Wimmers (Ohio State … jr., Cincinnati, OH
… 1.12 ERA, 1-0, 1 GS, 8 IP, 2 R/1 ER, 5 H, BB, WP, 6K, .179 opp. batting
LHP – #32 Jarred Hippen (Iowa, so. … Rock Falls, IL)
… 3.12 ERA, 1-0, 1 GS, 8.2 IP, 3 R, 6 H, BB, 8K, .188 opp. batting
LHP – #23 Kyle Helisek (Villanova, so. … Cranberry Township, PA)
… 1.29 ERA, 1-0, 1 GS, 7 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 5 BB, 2 K, .167 opp. batting
RHP (relief) – #32 Chris Enourato (West Virginia, sr. … Bridgeport, WV)
… 0.00 ERA, 1-0, 1 GP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 7 K, .154 opp. batting
Honorable Mention
1B–#38 Casey Martin (Notre Dame, 5th-yr. sr., cleanup/7-hole; Charleston, IN)
… hit .556 (5-for-9, R, BB, E)
LF – #3 Junior Carlin (South Florida, jr., 2-hole … Riverview, FL)
… hit .462 (6-for-13, 2 RBI, 2 R, HBP, K)
LF – #7 Pat Biserta (Rutgers, jr., 2/6-hole … Pt. Pleasant Boro, NJ)
… hit .357 (5-for-14, 3 RBI, 2 R, HR, SB, K)
LF – #34 Quentin Williams (Northwestern, so., 7/8-hole … Pittsburgh, PA)
… hit .556 (5-for-9, 2 RBI, R, HR, 2K)
RHP – #29 Jon Prosinski (Seton Hall, fr. … Skillman, NJ)
… 0.00 ERA, 1-0, 1 GS, 6 IP, 0 R, 4 H, 2 BB, BK, 6K, .211 opp. batting
RHP – #26 Kurt Wunderlich (Michigan State, jr. … Des Peres, MO)
… 0.00 ERA, 1-0, 1 GS, 7 IP, 0 R, 4 H, BB, HB, 6K, .174 opp. batting
RHP (relief) – #17 Brandon Sinnery (Michigan, so. … Worcester, MA)
… 0.00 ERA, 0-0, SV, 2 GP, 5 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 6 K, .067 .opp batting
Day-3 Notebook from Big Ten/BIG EAST Challenge
The BIG EAST kept rolling on Sunday, winning 7-of-10 games for the second straight day to claim the series by a 17-13 margin (after trailing 6 games to 1 heading into Friday night).
BIG TEN/BIG EAST CHALLENGE – Day-3 Results
(Feb. 28, 2010 … BIG EAST 7-3 margin for the day, won series 17-13)
(BIG EAST wins in italics)
GAME 30 – Cincinnati 12, Ohio State 4 (Naimoli Complex)
FINAL STATS | CIN Recap | OSU Recap
GAME 29 – St. John’s 6, Illinois 4 (Naimoli Complex)
FINAL STATS | SJU Recap | ILL Recap
GAME 28 – Michigan 4, South Florida 2 (Naimoli Complex)
FINAL STATS | MICH RECAP | USF Recap
GAME 27 – Iowa 11, Villanova 2 (Jack Russell Stadium)
FINAL STATS | IOWA Recap | VILL Recap
GAME 26 – Michigan State 17, West Virginia 5 (Al Lang Stadium)
FINAL STATS | MSU Recap | WVU Recap
GAME 25 – Louisville 5, Minnesota 4 (Naimoli Complex)
FINAL STATS | LOU Recap | MINN Recap
GAME 24 – Connecticut 9, Indiana 5 (Naimoli Complex)
FINAL STATS | UConn Recap | IU Recap
GAME 23 – Notre Dame 9, Penn State 8 (10 innings … Naimoli Complex)
FINAL STATS | ND Recap | PSU Recap
GAME 22 – Rutgers 6, Purdue 5 (Jack Russell Stadium)
FINAL STATS | RU Recap | PUR Recap
GAME 21 – Seton Hall 3, Northwestern 0 (Al Lang Stadium)
FINAL STATS | SHU Recap | NU Recap
• • • • •
CollegeBaseball360.com again is compiling full tournament stats and will be announcing the Big Ten/BIG EAST Challenge all-tournament team (hopefully sometime tonight, assuming we have received all the game files), in addition to posting detailed tournament stats (team and individual) in PDF format. Check out the 23 players listed below – led by three each from Ohio State and Villanova – who each were batting .500 or better (min. 5 ABs) through the first two days of competition:
20201 Big Ten/BIG EAST Challenge Top Hitters (after day-2)
(tournament stats provided courtesy of CollegeBaseball360.com)
.750 – #35 Jerred Sabourin (Indiana, 3-hole, jr., 1B) … 6–for (4RBI, 2R, 2 2B, BB)
.727 – #20 Matt Szczur (Villanova, leadoff, jr., RF) … 8-for-11 (RBI, 5R, 3B, 2B, 0-1 SB, 2K)
.714 – #17 Matt Dittman (Illinois, cleanup, jr., 1B) … 5-for-7 (3RBI, 2R, 2B, BB, 2K)
.714 – #24 Michael Stephens (Ohio St., cleanup, sr., CF) … 5-7 (2RBI, 3R, 2 2B, BB, SB, SF, 2K)
.714 – #26 Kevin Plawecki (Purdue, 7-hole, fr., C) … 4-for-6 (RBI, R, 2B, BB, HBP, SB)
.667 – #34 Quentin Williams (Northwestern, 7/8-hole, so., LF) … 4-for-6 (2 RBI, R, HR, K)
.571 – #30 Adam Duvall (Louisville, 2-hole, sr., 2B) … 4-for-7 (3 RBI, 3 R, HR, 2 2B, BB, SAC, K)
.571 – #5 Stewart Ijames (Louisville, 7-hole, jr., LF) … 4-for-7 (3 RBI, 2 R, HR, 2B, K, CS)
.556 – #23 Ryan Dew (Ohio St., 5-hole, sr., DH) … 5-for-9 (2 RBI, 4 R, 2B, K)
.500 – #19 Arby Fields (Northwestern, 2-hole, fr., CF) … 5-for-10 (3 RBI, K)
.500 – #30 Jon Moore (Purdue, 2-hole, sr., CF) … 5-for-10 (RBI, 2 R, 2B, 2 K)
.500 – #18 Justin Gominsky (Minnesota, leadoff, so., CF) … 4-for-8 (RBI, R, 2 2B, 2 K)
.500 – #7 Chris Fontenelli (Seton Hall, 5th-yr. sr., 8-hole, 2B) … 4-for-8 (2 R, BB, SAC, 2K)
.500– #23 Michael Glantz (Penn St., 7-hole, jr., SS) … 4-for-8 (RBI, R, BB, SAC, 2K)
.500 – #25 Paul Snieder (Northwestern, 5-hole, so., DH/P) … 4-for-8 (2R, BB, HBP, 4K)
.500 – #44 Matt Fleishman (Villanova, 5-hole, so., LF) … 4-for-8 (RBI, 2R, 2 2B, BB, 2K)
.500 – #1 Drew Haynes (Louisville, 9-hole, jr., CF) … 3-for-6 (2 RBI, 3R, 2B, BB, CS)
.500 – #2 Joe Panik (St. John’s, 5-hole, so., SS) … 3-for-6 (2 RBI, 2R, 3B, 2B, 2BB, HBP, 2K)
.500 – #3 Brandon Hohl (Illinois, 8-hole, fr., 3B) … 3-for-6 (2 RBI, R, 2K, GDP)
.500 – #9 Trevor Willis (Iowa, 8-hole, jr., LF) … 3-for-6 (3B, 2B, BB, SAC, 2K)
.500 – #1 Tyler Engle (Ohio St., 9-hole, jr., SS) … 3-for-6 (RBI, R, 2B, BB)
.500 – #22 Justin Bencsko (Villanova, 2-hole, sr., CF) … 3-for-6 (5R, 2B, 3BB, 2SB, 2 SAC, GDP)
.500 – #22 Mike Olt (UConn, cleanup, jr., 3B) … 3-for-6 (RBI, 2R, 3BB, SB, SF, 2K)
Day-2 Notebook (2010 Big Ten/BIG EAST Challenge)
BIG TEN/BIG EAST CHALLENGE – Day-2 Results
(Feb. 27, 2010 … BIG EAST 7-3 margin for the day, series tied 10-10)
(BIG EAST wins in italics)
GAME 20 – Louisville 17, Michigan State 6 (Jack Russell Stadium)
FINAL STATS | LOU Recap | MSU Recap
GAME 19 – St. John’s 2, Michigan 1 (Al Lang Stadium)
FINAL STATS | SJU Recap | MICH Recap
GAME 18 – South Florida 12, Illinois 3 (Bright House Networks Field)
FINAL STATS | USF Recap | ILL Recap
GAME 17 – Ohio State 10, Notre Dame 2 (Bright House Networks Field)
FINAL STATS | OSU Recap | ND Recap
GAME 16 – Northwestern 7, Rutgers 5 (Naimoli Complex)
FINAL STATS | NU Recap | RU Recap
GAME 15 – Cincinnati 7, Purdue 6 (Jack Russell Stadium)
FINAL STATS | CIN Recap | PUR Recap
GAME 14 – Connecticut 8, Minnesota 2 (Al Lang Stadium)
FINAL STATS | UConn Recap | MINN Recap
GAME 13 – West Virgnia 9, Iowa 5 (Naimoli Complex)
FINAL STATS | WVU Recap | IOWA Recap
GAME 12 – Penn State 3, Seton Hall 2 … 13 inn. (Jack Russell Stadium)
FINAL STATS | PSU Recap | SHU Recap
GAME 11 – Villanova 8, Indiana 1 (Al Lang Stadium)
FINAL STATS | VILL Recap | IU Recap
Big Ten/BIG EAST Challenge Day-1 Notebook
Big Ten wins 7-of-10 games on day-1 (note: day-1 notes will be continually added to this post, in blog post format)
2:54 p.m. (2/27/10) – Game-3 highlightes and notes:
Seton Hall 001 200 000 – 3 6 2 Michigan State 000 011 12X – 5 5 0
MSU Notes – Jr. RHP A.J. Achter 5.1IP-3R-5H-2BB-8K … so. LHP Trevor Popp (W-3.2IP-H-BB-3K) … tying run in 7th, 2R in 8th: sr LF Bo Felt/6-hole RBI triple, so. 3B/8-hole Andrew Carpenter (2RBI-R) added RBI single
SHU Notes – Jr RHP Joe DiRocco 5.1 IP-2R/1 ER-2H-3BB-4K … jr. 3B/7-hole Sean Gusrang solo HR … sr. 1B/5-hole Chris Spagnuolo 2-run 2B
• • • • •
1:02 p.m. (2/27/10) – Game-2 highlightes and notes:
Connecticut 000 040 100 0 – 5 10 4 Northwestern 001 004 000 1 – 6 12 3
NU NOTES – So. DH/RHP Paul Snieder (5-hole) scored winning run in 10th (2-for-4/2R-BB; middle relief 2.2IP-2H-3BB-K) … winning sequence in 10th: Snieder leadoff 1B to CF, Colby Everett SAC, so. IF/9-hole Zach Morton 2-out 1B to RF (2-for-3, 2 RBI-R-BB-SAC) … sr. LHP starter Jack Muraski 6.1IP-5R-7H-2BB … game had 8 combined errors
UCONN NOTES – So. CF/3-hole George Springer 3RBI-R-BB-2B-SF … jr. LHP Elliot Glynn 5IP-R-5H-BB-5K … 4R in 5th (4-1 lead) … both teams 10 LOB (UConn left man on 2nd in 8th-9th-10th) … so. RHP Ryan Thompson (L) 0.2IP-R-2H-BB
• • • • •
11:32 a.m. (2/27/10) – Game-1 highlightes and notes:
Rutgers 010 010 001 – 3 7 0 Iowa 101 010 03X – 6 11 0
TOP IOWA PLAYERS: so. LHP Jarrod Hippen 8.2IP-3R-6H-BB-8K … jr. SS/9-hole Kurt Lee 2-3/2RBI-R-2B-SAC-SB … jr. LF/9-hole Kurt McCool 2-3/2R-3B-SAC
RUTGERS NOTES: sr. RHP Casey Gaynor (L) 6.1IP-3R-8H-BB-5K … jr. 1B/cleanup Jared Matthews 3B/R…jr. RF/leadoff Michael Lang RBI 2B … sr. catcher/7-hole Jayson Hernandez 2-out RBI single in 9th, brought tying run to plate (Iowa jr. RHP Kevin Lee rolle up game-ending 6-4 groundout from pinch-hitter Ryan Kapp)
• • • • •
10:29 p.m. (2/26/10) – Day-1 scores and links
The first day of competition in the second Big Ten/BIG EAST Baseball Challenge is complete, with the Big Ten winning 7-of-10 games to take a four-game cushion into Saturday’s series of 10 more games (followed by 10 more on Sunday, the tournament’s final day).
The Big Ten outscored the BIG EAST by only 10 runs (56-46), with the day’s action featuring three 1-run games (two of them in extra innings and four others decided by 2-run margins (plus one 3-run game). The BIG EAST had one blowout win (Villanova 13, Purdue 5), while the Big Ten posted the day’s biggest margin when Illinois defeated Notre Dame, 11-1.
BIG TEN/BIG EAST CHALLENGE – Day-1 Results
(Feb. 26, 2010 … Big Ten won 7-of-10)
(BIG EAST wins in italics)
GAME 10 – Louisville 2, Michigan 0 (Dunedin Staduim)
FINAL STATS | LOU Recap | MICH Recap
GAME 9 – Illinois 11, Notre Dame 1 (Jack Russell Stadium)
FINAL STATS | ILL Recap | ND Recap
GAME 8 – Ohio State 4, South Florida 2 (Al Lang Stadium)
FINAL STATS | OSU Recap | USF Recap
GAME 7 – St. John’s 5, Minnesota 4 (Dunedin Stadium)
FINAL STATS | SJU Recap | MINN Recap
GAME 6 – Villanova 13, Purdue 5 (Naimoli Complex)
FINAL STATS | VILL Recap | PUR Recap
GAME 5 – Indiana 10, West Virginia 8 (Jack Russell Stadium)
FINAL STATS | IU Recap | WVU Recap
GAME 4 – Penn State 5, Cincinnati 4 … 12 innings (Al Lang Stadium)
FINAL STATS | PSU Recap | CIN Recap
GAME 3 – Michigan State 5, Seton Hall 3 (Naimoli Complex)
FINAL STATS | MSU Recap | SHU Recap
GAME 2 – Northwestern 6, Connecticut 5 … 10 inn. (Jack Russell Stadium)
FINAL STATS | NU Recap | UConn Recap
GAME 1 – Iowa 6, Rutgers 3 (Al Lang Stadium
FINAL STATS | Iowa Recap | RU Recap
2010 Big 10/Big East Baseball Challenge Preview
Second Annual Event Starts Friday
Three frost-free days of baseball await teams from the Big Ten and Big East Conferences in the St. Petersburg/Clearwater, FL area this weekend at the second annual Big Ten/Big East Baseball Challenge. Most of the teams playing this weekend started their seasons last weekend, but a handful will play their season-openers this Friday-Sunday.
Collegebaseball360.com will provide live webcasts of 9 games at this year’s Challenge. CLICK HERE for the video streaming schedule. We will also provide continuous coverage of the event throughout the weekend on our Big Ten/Big East Challenge Page. All 30 of this weekend’s match-ups can currently be found on that page.
Below are capsules for every team participating in this weekend’s event (for the second time in as many years Georgetown and Pittsburgh will not participate). We have included results for each team from last week’s games.
Cincinnati
2009 Record: (29-29, 13-14)
Mascot: Bearcats
Head Coach: Brian Cleary
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Vitals: .285 BA, 72 HR, .382 OBP, .965 Fld%…6.73 ERA, 1 CG, 12 SV, 376 K, 194 BB, .318 opp. BA
Thefts Are Down: After stealing 130 and 133 bases in 2007 and 2008, respectively, the Bearcats swiped just 33 bases last year. The only Big East team with fewer stolen bases was West Virginia with 23.
Long Gone Spina: Cincinnati has a big hole to fill in the middle of the order with the loss of Mike Spina (.342, 23 HR, 69 RBIs). The third baseman was taken in the 11th round of last year’s MLB Draft by the Oakland A’s. His home run total was second in the Big East to Louisville’s Chris Dominguez (25). Spina had an 1.121 OPS last year.
More Losses: The Bearcats also lose Lance Durham, whose .427 average was the second-best in the conference last year. Durham was drafted in the 14th round by Toronto last June. His 99 hits set the UC single-season record formerly held by Boston Red Sox infielder Kevin Youklis. Cincinnati also loses its top pitcher, Jake Geglein (6-1, 2.97 ERA, 9 SV), who signed a free agent contract with the Texas Rangers. Geglein was the only Bearcat pitcher with either a winning record or a sub-3.00 ERA last year.
Across The Pond: Cincinnati head coach Brian Cleary served as the pitching coach for the British National Baseball Team at the 2009 Baseball World Cup. He served in the same role when the team won the silver medal at the 2007 European Championships.
Opening Weekend: The Bearcats were 1-2 last weekend in a 3-game series vs. Florida Atlantic in Boca Raton, FL. Cincy won the opener 5-3, but lost the last two games by a combined 12-0.
Connecticut
2009 Record: (36-24, 14-13)
Mascot: Huskies
Head Coach: Jim Penders
Location: Storrs, CT
Vitals: .318 BA, 51 HR, .393 OBP, .959 Fld%…4.39 ERA, 1 CG, 14 SV, 455 K, 197 BB, .269 opp. BA
Hungry Huskies: UConn returns eight batters from a scrappy line-up who hit .301 or better last year, including George Springer (.358, 16 HR, 57 RBIs, 1.133 OPS), Mike Nemeth (.346, 6 HR, 47 RBIs, 22 doubles), Pierre LePage (.340, 1 HR, 38 RBIs), and Mike Olt (.301, 8 HR, 40 RBIs). LePage helped the Bourne Braves win the Cape Cod League Championship last summer. The biggest loss is that of Pete Fatse (.354, 11 HR, 54 RBIs). CLICK HERE to listen to a podcast interview with LePage.
Husky Hurlers: The Huskies lose key relievers David Erickson (3.21 ERA, 12 SV), Dusty Odenbach (2-3, 3.34 ERA) and Dennis Accomando (1-1, 3.46 ERA), who combined to make 75 relief appearances last year. They also lose John Folino whose six wins led the staff. Top returnees to the staff include Soph. Scott Oberg, who was 4-0 with a team-best 1.78 ERA, Matt Barnes (5-3), and Elliott Glynn (5-4, 4.76 ERA). Glynn led the team with 12 starts and also hit .266 while making 24 starts as an outfielder.
Coast To Coast: After opening its season in Florida at the Big Ten/Big East Challenge UConn heads to California for a four-game series with Cal State Northridge followed by a game at USC. The Huskies then play Tennessee, Marshall and Ohio State in Knoxville, TN.
Illinois
2009 Record: (34-20, 16-8)
Mascot: Fighting Illini
Head Coach: Dan Hartleb
Location: Champaign, IL
Vitals: .316 BA, 42 HR, .394 OBP, .970 Fld%…5.32 ERA, 2 CG, 11 SV, 297 K, 201 BB, .298 opp BA
Thunder Sticks: Illinois returns seven of its top nine hitters from a 2009 team that came-up just short of an NCAA Regional bid. Senior catcher Aaron Johnson (.333, 10 HR, 52 RBIs) and sophomore OF Willie Argo (.355, 12 HR, 47 RBIs, 1.072 OPS) provide the biggest pop among the returnees who combined for 34 of the team’s 42 home runs last year. Junior Pete Cappetta’s .382 average also ranked sixth among Big 10 batters in ‘09
Big Splash: Argo homered in his first three collegiate at-bats in a March 7 loss at LSU last year. The Illini shocked the eventual national champions by winning the other two series games in Baton Rouge.
Solid Arms: Sophomores Bryan Roberts (5-4, 6.72 ERA) and Will Strack (6-1, 3.84 ERA) are Illinois’ top returning starters from a year ago. Strack made 9 starts and picked-up a pair of saves as well with six relief outings. Three other pitchers who combined for six saves and six wins return as well.
South Carolina Swing: While Illinois doesn’t play the likes of LSU this year they start their spring trip on March 5 in Greenville, SC vs. 2009 Super Regional team East Carolina. The Illini also plays two games vs. Big South Conference preseason favorite Coastal Carolina in Conway, SC
Opening Weekend: After the start date to the 2010 season was pushed-up a week Illinois scheduled two home games vs. Bradley. Those game were cancelled last weekend due to snow and freezing temperatures.
Indiana
2009 Record: (32-27, 16-7)
Mascot: Hoosiers
Head Coach: Tracy Smith
Location: Bloomington, IN
Vitals: .321 BA, 62 HR, .402 OBP, .960 Fld%…5.15 ERA, 7 CG, 10 SV, 439 K, 216 BB, .284 opp. BA
Arnett-less: The Hoosiers lose staff ace Eric Arnett (12-2, 2.50 ERA) who tied the IU record for wins and set a new program mark with 109 Ks, which ranked second in the Big 10. He was named co-Big 10 Pitcher of the Year with Ohio State’s Alex Wimmers. Arnett, who also pitched six of the staff’s seven complete games last year, is the first Indiana pitcher to earn conference pitcher of the year honors and to be named All-American. He was a first round pick by Milwaukee in last year’s MLB Draft.
Hoosier Holes: Arnett is among eight Hoosier players who signed professional contracts after their 2009 Big Ten Tournament Championship seson. Leading hitter Kipp Schutz (.392) and slugging catcher Josh Phegley (.344, 17 HR, 66 RBIs) are the top offensive losses.
Young Slugger: Freshman All-American outfielder Alex Dickerson (.370, 14 HR, 57 RBIs, 1.044 OPS) heads a list of four returning starters who hit .314 or better last season.
On The Mound: Senior reliever Chris Squires (2-2, 3.93 ERA, 8 SV) and weekend starter Blake Monar (5-3, 4.64 ERA) are the top returning IU pitchers. Freshman Casey Smith and redshirt sophomore Matt Ernest are two newcomers to the Hoosier staff in 2010. Smith is head coach Tracy Smith’s son, while Ernest has played wide receiver for the IU football team for the last two seasons. He had seven catches for 69 yards and a TD in 2009.
Opening Weekend: Lost their first three games at #24 San Diego by a combined 34-16 before winning the series finale 7-5.
Iowa
2009 Record: (16-36, 4-19)
Mascot: Hawkeyes
Head Coach: Jack Dahm
Location: Iowa City, IA
Vitals: .293 BA, 40 HR, .380 OBP, .951 Fld%…6.25 ERA, 0 CG, 7 SV, 330 K, 230 BB, .312 opp. BA
Line-Up Losses: The Hawkeyes return six of their top nine batters from a year ago, but they lose both Justin Toole (.346, 15 SB) and Wes Freie (.289, 9 HR, 44 RBIs).
Key Returns: All-Big Ten outfielder Ryan Durant (.370) is back to lead the offense. He’s joined by Mike McQuillan (.363), team stolen base leader Kurtis Muller (19) and Sean Flanagan (.310), who played in 27 games and started just 18, but still managed 6 home runs. Flanagan had a .696 slg % in Big Ten games.
Young Arms: No Iowa pitcher made more than nine starts last year, but the three who each started nine games all return. Sophomores Phil Schreiber (2-2, 4.57 ERA), Jarred Hippen (3-4, 4.87 ERA) and Nick Brown (2-4, 6.35 ERA) combined to win seven of Iowa’s 13 wins in 2009.
Big 12 Bound: Iowa plays eight straight games vs. a pair of Big 12 teams that made the NCAA Tournament in early March. The Hawkeyes start a four-game series at Kansas on March 5, and then head to Austin, TX to start another four-game set vs. 2009 College World Series runner-up Texas. Each series includes a day two doubleheader. They host another Big 12 team, Nebraska, on April 27.
Opening Weekend: Iowa split two games in Clarksville, TN to open the season. The Hawkeyes debuted with a 19-11 win over Illinois State and lost to Austin Peay 13-8.
Louisville
2009 Record: (47-18, 19-7)
Mascot: Cardinals
Head Coach: Dan McDonnell
Location: Louisville, KY
Vitals: .304 BA, 85 HR, .394 OBP, .970 Fld%…4.32 ERA, 2 CG, 13 SV, 536 K, 182 BB, .261 opp. BA
Cardinals Trending Hot: Louisville enters 2010 with two straight Big East Tournament championships, and the Cardinals are fresh off their second Super Regional appearance in the last three years. They won the BE regular season & tournament titles last year. The program’s 135 wins over the last three seasons rank sixth in the nation. The Cardinals have made three straight NCAA appearances, including two Super Regionals and a College World Series trip, under head coach Dan McDonnell. Cal State Fullerton beat Louisville last year in the Fullerton Super Regional to advance to Omaha.
Loaded Line-Up: The Cardinals return seven of eight everyday players from last year’s Super Regional squad. All-American junior Phil Wunderlich (.367, 18 HR, 68 RBIs, 1.113 OPS) leads the group of returnees. Seniors Andrew Clark (.350, 9 HR, 55 RBIs) and Adam Duvall (.328, 11 HR, 51 RBIs, 12 SB) are back as well.
Ready To Return: Outfielder Stewart Ijames is back after last season with a shoulder injury. Ijames was a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American in 2008 after hitting .351 with 8 home runs, 11 doubles and 39 RBIs. He led the Coastal Plain League with 12 home runs for the Thomasville HiToms last summer.
Pitching Prowess: Louisville returns 12 of the 15 pitchers who saw action last year, but they do lose their ace, Justin Marks (11-3, 3.77 ERA, 129 K in 105 IP). The left was taken by Oakland in the 3rd round of last year’s MLB draft. Dean Kiekhefer (6-5, 5.00 ERA), Gabriel Shaw (3-1, 3.73 ERA, 3 SV), Tony Zych (6-2, 3.25 ERA, 2 SV) and Thomas Royse (3-2, 3.48 ERA, 2 SV) lead the group of returnees.
Gone But Not Forgotten: The Cardinals also lose 6′4, 240 lb. Chris Dominguez (.345, 25 HR, 82 RBIs) who hit 61 home runs with a school record 218 RBIs in his three-year career (he only played three games in 2006 due to a broken forearm). He was taken in with the 86th overall pick by San Francisco in last year’s draft. His 25 home runs in ‘09 are a single-season school record, while his 61 career long balls are second in the Louisville record books.
Opening Week: Louisville swept a 3-game series vs. Bowling Green last weekend. The improved to 4-0 with a 7-2 win Tuesday night over Morehead State.
Michigan
2009 Record: (30-25, 9-15)
Mascot: Wolverines
Head Coach: Rich Maloney
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Vitals: .294 BA, 55 HR, .387 OBP, .968 Fld%…4.82 ERA, 3 CG, 12 SV, 421 K, 205 BB, .293 BB
Out Of The Blue: Michigan has been one of the most successful teams from the north over the last seven years, but 2009 broke that recent trend. After winning three straight Big Ten titles from 2006-2008 Michigan didn’t even qualify for the league’s postseason tournament last year.
Dominant Duo: Preseason All-American OF Ryan LaMarre (.344, 12 HR, 62 RBIs) and 2009 All-Big Ten first baseman Mike Dufek (.304, 17 HR, 59 RBIs, 19 doubles) head the list of seven returning Wolverines who started at least 30 games last year. Dufek was also 1-1 on the mound with a 2.70 ERA and three saves.
Plethora Of Pitching: The Wolverines return 11 of their 14 pitchers who saw action last year, although staff ace Chris Fetter (7-3, 3.26 ERA) is the top loss. Fetter had all three of the pitching staff’s complete games last year, and he struckout 103 in 94 IP. Senior LHP Eric Katzman (7-4, 3.53 ERA) returns to lead the rotation, while Matt Miller (3.70 ERA, 3 SV) and Tyler Burgoon (4-2, 4.84 ERA, 4 SV) join Dufek in the bullpen.
Carolina Challenge: Michigan plays a 3-game series at North Carolina, which has made four straight College World Series Appearances, March 5-7. The Wolverines also play two games vs. Coastal Carolina in Myrtle Beach March 13 & 14.
Crankin’ It: Coley Crank hit .467 (7-for-15) with four home runs and nine runs batted in at the Red Raider Invitational (Feb. 19-21). He is believed to be the first player in the modern era of Division I baseball to hit three home runs on opening day after blasting out a trio of balls against Jacksonville State (Feb. 19). Crank reached base in all four games, playing primarily as a designated hitter. Named a Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week.
Opening Weekend: Went 2-2 at the Red Raider Shootout in Lubbock, TX. Won first two games vs. Jacksonville State, but lost last two games vs. Texas Tech.
Michigan State
2009 Record: (23-31, 13-11)
Mascot: Spartans
Head Coach: Jake Boss, Jr.
Location: East Lansing, MI
Vitals: .284 BA, 30 HR, .366 OBP, .966 Fld%…5.19 ERA, 2 CG, 7 SV, 302 K, 244 BB, .294 opp. BA
Who’s The Boss: Second year Michigan State head coach Jake Boss, Jr.’s dad, Jake Boss, Sr., is the Spartans’ volunteer assistant coach. The elder boss has 29 years of head coaching experience was inducted into the Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1994. He has also served as a Major League scout for the Toronto Blue Jays and L.A. Dodgers.
Sparty’s Charges: The Spartans return the bulk of their starting position players, although they do lose their top overall hitter Eric Roof (.345, 6 HR, 41 RBIs), who led the team in nearly every offensive category. Outfielder Eli Boike (.310, 36 RBIs, 12 SB), who led MSU with 8 home runs heads the list of returnees. Jeff Holm (16), Jonathon Roof (11) and Brandon Eckerle (13) combined with Boike to help the Spartans steal 71 bases last year.
Two For One: Two of three weekend starters, Soph. Tony Bucciferro (5-2, 3.55 ERA) and Jr. A.J. Achter (3-6, 3.76 ERA), return to spearhead the pitching staff. They do lose Nolan Moody (6-5, 4.53 ERA), who led the staff with his six wins and tossed the team’s only two complete games.
Opening Weekend: Beat Furman & Miami (OH), but lost 10-2 to Clemson in Greenville, SC. MS. Shortstop Jonathon Roof was named Big Ten Player of the Week. Roof went 7-for-11 at the plate over the weekend with two homers, three RBIs and four runs scored.
Minnesota
2009 Record: (40-19, 17-6)
Mascot: Golden Gophers
Head Coach: John Anderson
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Vitals: .314 BA, 55 HR, .391 OBP, .971 Fld%…4.85 ERA, 1 CG, 18 SV, 392 K, 192 BB, .285 opp. BA
Slow And Steady: Minnesota didn’t make a big early splash like Illinois, but the Gophers had just a pair of two-game losing streaks and one three-game skid during the regular season en-route to 40 wins in 2009. Minnesota has won at least 40 games and gone to an NCAA Regional in two of the last three seasons.
Minnesota Milestone: Head coach John Anderson got his 1,000th career win last May with a 7-6 win at Penn State. Anderson is the 20th head coach to win 1,000 games with the same team and the first Big Ten coach to accomplish the feat.
Iron Men: Senior Michael Kvasnicka (.341, 10 HR, 65 RBIs) leads trio of returning Minnesota players who started all 59 games last year. Redshirt Soph. Nick O’Shea (.287, 11 HR, 44 RBIs) started every game last year as well, while A.J. Petterson (.353) started all but one game. The Golden Gophers do lose Derek McCallum (.409, 18 HR, 86 RBIs), who also started every game last year and then was taken by the Minnesota Twins in the fourth round of last year’s MLB Draft.
Golden Arm: Closer Scott Matyas (0-1, 2.22 ERA, 15 SV) is back to lead the pitching staff. The junior finished second in the Big Ten with his 15 saves last year to Ohio State’s Jake Hale. He struckout 45 of the 104 batters he faced in 28 1/3 innings last year. Matyas was drafted by the Yankees last year in the 29th round, but he opted to return for his jurnio season (he redshirted in 2007). Fellow junior Seth Rosin (7-1, 4.21 ERA) is the lone returning weekend starter.
Opening Weekend: Took 2 of 3 games from Akron in Ft. Myers, FL. The two wins were by finals of 6-0 and 1-0. Michael Kvasnicka scored the only run of the series finale with a walk-off home run. It was the Golden Gopher’s first walk-off HR since 2005.
Northwestern
2009 Record: (14-35-1, 5-17)
Mascot: Wildcats
Head Coach: Paul Stevens
Location: Evanston, IL
Vitals: .264 BA, 35 HR, .333 OBP, .964 Fld%…6.39 ERA, 6 CG, 4 SV, 274 K, 182 BB, .318 opp. BA
Big League Digs: The Wildcats will play a doubleheader vs. Wisconsin-Milwaukee in Milwaukee’s Miller Park on April 28. The twin bill will be played after the Milwaukee Brewers play the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 12:10 pm game.
Wildcat Workhorses: Northwestern returns it entire weekend pitching rotation from 2009. Senior LHP Joe Muraski (3-5, 5.31 ERA) led the staff with 65 Ks in 81 1/3 IP, while posting a team-best .276 opponent batting average, junior LHP Eric Jokisch (4-7, 5.48 ERA) pitched five of the staff’s six complete games en-route to a team-leading 88 2/3 IP and sophomore RHP Eric Morton (2-7, 5.65 ERA) was the only other Wildcat to pitch more than 57 innings in ‘09. Relievers Michael Jahns (1-1, 3.56 ERA) and Francis Brooke (2-2, 3.68 ERA) are back as well.
Long Ball Loss: The Wildcats return most of their line-up from 2009, but they lose home run and RBI leader Tony Vercelli (.258, 11 HR, 40 RBIs). Paul Snieder (.244, 6 HR, 25 RBIs) is the team’s top returning home run hitter, Kenneth Avila (.293) hit for the best average last year, while Chris Lashmet (.296, 5 HR, 30 RBIs) returns as well.
No Home Cookin’: For the second straight year Northwestern will play just 15 home games.
Opening Weekend: Northwestern went 0-4 at the Bojangles Baseball Classic in Rock Hill, SC. The Wildcats were outscored 58-9 in their four games vs. Winthrop, Marist and George Mason (twice).
Notre Dame
2009 Record: (36-23, 15-12)
Mascot: Fighting Irish
Head Coach: Dave Schrage
Location: Notre Dame, IN
Vitals: .309 BA, 51 HR, .392 OBP, .966 Fld%…5.36 ERA, 7 CG, 12 SV, 328 BB, 220, .286 opp. BA
Line-Up Losses: The Irish lose their top three hitters, including their top two run producers from 2009. CF A.J. Pollock (.365, 10 HR, 52 RBIs, 21 SB) was taken by Arizona with the 17th overall pick in last year’s MLB draft. He was the highest Irish player drafted since 1965. SS Jeremy Barnes (.353, 15 HR, 70 RBIs) was drafted in the 11th round by Philadelphia. Barnes was Notre Dame’s RBI leader in 3 of his 4 years. Meanwhile, OF Golden Tate (.329, 45 R, 13 SB), who won the Biletnikoff Award on the football field last fall, won’t play baseball this year to prepare for April’s NFL Draft.
Solid Nucleus: Despite the significant losses Notre Dame still returns six players who hit .301 or better in 2009, including Jr. INF Mick Doyle (.327) and Sr. OF David Mills (.325), who was also 2-1 with a save as a relief pitcher.
Plenty Of Pitching: Virtually every significant pitcher from 2009 is back this season, including the entire weekend rotation of Jr. Cole Johnson(7-3, 4.47 ERA), Jr. Brian Dupra (6-5, 3 CG) and Sr. Eric Maust (6-3, 4.94) who has also doubled as a punter on the Irish football team. Relievers Will Hudgins (2-0, 3.65 ERA, 3 SV), Todd Miller (1-2, 5.40 ERA, 5 SV) and Ryan Richter (5-2, 3.85 ERA) return as well. RHP Ryan Sharpley is also back after missing all of 2009 due to injury.
Addition By Addition: Collegiate coaching veteran Dave Dengler joins the Irish staff as the pitching coach for 2010. As a head coach he led Linn-Blinton CC and Yavapai JC to a combined five Junior College World Series appearances, including the 1993 NJCAA National Championship (Yavapai). Dengler was also the head coach at Portland State for four years before the program was disbanded. In his 23 years as a college coach Dengler had 23 pitchers, including World Series MVP Curt Schilling, selected in the MLB Draft.
Opening Weekend: The Fighting Irish swept three games vs. Mississippi Valley State. Notre Dame swept the games played in Itta Bena and Greenville, MS by a combined 39-10. First baseman Casey Martin was named Big East Player of the Week after going 8-for-16 with two home runs and 7 RBIs.
Ohio State
2009 Record: (42-19, 18-6)
Mascot: Buckeyes
Head Coach: Bob Todd
Location: Columbus, OH
Vitals: .328 BA, 66 HR, .400 BA, .963 Fld%…6.39 ERA, 5 CG, 21 SV, 462 K, 265 BB, .300 opp. BA
Dynamic Duo: Reigning Big Ten Player of the Year Dan Burkhart (.354, 10 HR, 62 RBIs) and co-Big Ten Pitcher of the Year Alex Wimmers (9-2, 3.27 ERA) return to spearhead the Buckeyes in 2010. The juniors were not only high school teammates at Cincinnati’s Archbishop Moeller high school, but also teammates back to their Little League days. Burkhart started 57 of OSU’s 61 games last year, while serving as the battery mate for Wimmers’ May 2, 2009 no-hitter in a 6-0 win over arch-rival Michigan.
Buckeyes Back: Including Burkhart OSU returns 8 of its top 10 hitters from last year’s NCAA Regional team. Among them are outfielder Michael Stephens (.346, 14 HR, 63 RBIs), team batting leader Ryan Dew (.388), Zach Hurley (.346, 14 SB), Cory Kovanda (.341), and Matt Streng (.308, 8 HR). Starting pitchers Eric Best (7-4, 5.95 ERA) and and Dean Wolosiansky (11-2, 6.04 ERA) are back as well.
There’s A Hole In The Pen: The biggest hole to fill for the Buckeyes in 2010 will be the one left by closer Jake Hale (0-1, 1.31 ERA, 18 SV). The All-American led the Big Ten and ranked second in the nation last year with his 18 saves.
Bad Aftertaste: Despite the thrill of a trip to the Tallahassee NCAA Regional last year, Ohio State ended the season on a sour note with a 37-4 loss to host Florida State. The Seminoles set NCAA Tournament records for runs, hits (38), total bases (66), and doubles (15) against a team that was playing its fourth game in three days. 33 of the FSU runs were earned. Without those runs the OSU staff ERA would drop nearly half a run to 5.93.
Big East Challenge, Part II: In addition to its games vs. Notre Dame, USF and Cincinnati at the Big Ten/Big East Challenge Ohio State has five more match-ups with Big East teams during the regular season. The Buckeyes play UConn on March 14 in Knoxville, TN, USF again in Winter Haven on March 24, two games vs. Louisville in Columbus May 4 & 5, and then welcome Pittsburgh to town for a May 18 contest.
Opening Weekend: The Buckeyes were 3-0 last weekend in Jacksonville, FL. They out scored North Florida, Florida A&M and Richmond by a combined 40-12. The three wins gave head coach Bob Todd 1,000 career victories. Alex Wimmers earned Big Ten Pitcher of the Week honors he fanned 9 with one walk in 6 innings in the season-opening 4-2 win over North Florida.
Penn State
2009 Record: (25-26, 8-16)
Mascot: Nittany Lions
Head Coach: Robbie Wine
Location: State College, PA
Vitals: .294 BA, 29 HR, .371 OBP, .964 Fld%…5.78 ERA, 1 CG, 10 SV, 339 K, 219 BB, .300 opp. BA
Staying & Going: Penn State returns its top two hitters, but loses two of its top run producers from last year’s team. sophomore Jordan Sternaka led the Nittany Lions in batting average (.365), home runs (6), RBIs (42), slg% (.536), and triples (3) as a true freshman. He also tied fellow returnee Blake Lynd (.356) for the team lead with 39 runs scored. PSU does lose coach’s son Cory Wine (.307, 5 HR, 41 RBIs) and Mike Deese (.301, 5 HR, 40 RBIs).
PSU Pitching: The pitching staff loses its top three starters from 2009, but three top relievers return. Sophomore Ryan Ignas (5-1, 5.31 ERA, 5 SV) led the staff in wins and saves last year, Sr. LHP David Lutz (4-2, 3.38 ERA, 3 SV) had the staff’s best ERA and Jr. Jesse Alfreno’s (1-0, 4.44 ERA, SV) 20 appearances were the team’s third-most behind Lutz (26) and Ignas (22). Alfreno is also a cornerback on the Penn State football team.
Texas Two Step: Penn State plays five straight games against 2009 NCAA Tournament teams in March with two games vs. Texas A&M in College Station, TX followed by a 3-game set vs. Texas State in San Marcos.
Opening Weekend: Penn State’s three scheduled games last weekend were canceled due to snow. The Nittany Lions were to have played a neutral site game vs. Coppin State and two games at Longwood.
Purdue
2009 Record: (25-26, 11-12)
Mascot: Boilermakers
Head Coach: Doug Schreiber
Location: West Lafayette, IN
Vitals: .316 BA, 40 RBIs, .405 OBP, .954 Fld%…5.96 ERA, 4 CG, 10 SV, 341 K, 199 BB, .301 opp. BA
Big Boiler Losses: Purdue loses three vital cogs from last year’s team. Brandon Haveman (.422, 20 doubles), John Cummins (.400) and slugger Dan Black (.310, 15 HR, 51 RBIs) are all gone. Black’s 62 walks were second in the nation in 2009.
Top Returners: Sophomore infielder Eric Charles (.371, 45 Runs) is the Boilermakers top returning hitter. He’s joined in the line-up by David Blount (.322) and Drew Madia (.290, 6 HR, 32 RBIs), whose home run and RBI totals were both second to Black last year.
Plenty Of Pitching: All three weekend starters, seniors Matt Bischoff (4-5, 5.54 ERA) & Matt Jansen (4-6, 6.62 ERA) and junior Matt Morgan (6-5, 4.75 ERA), are back for the Boilermakers this year. Bischoff has received All-Big Ten recognition in each of his first three seasons. Saves leader Kevin Cahill (3-2, 6.40 ERA, 6 SV) is back in the bullpen along with Drew Wurdack (4-1, 5.45 ERA, 2 SV)
Home Grown: 23 players on Purdue’s official web site roster are from the state of Indiana.
Out Of The Gate: Purdue’s three games this weekend vs. Villanova, Cincinnati and Rutgers are its first three games of the 2010 season.
Rutgers
2009 Record: (22-31, 8-19)
Mascot: Scarlet Knights
Head Coach: Fred Hill
Location: Piscataway, NJ
Vitals: .292 BA, 35 HR, 52 SB, .374 OBP, .956 Fld%…6.24 ERA, 1 CG, 10 SV, 311 K, 236 BB, .310 opp BA
King Of The Hill: Entering his 27th season at Rutgers, Fred Hill is easily the longest tenured head coach in the Big East. Hill became just the third person to have his jersey retired at Montclair State at a Feb. 13 ceremony. He started his head coaching career there and guided Montclair to the 1983 NCAA Division III World Series. Hill enters 2010 just 20 wins away from 1,000. Hill’s brother Brian is currently an assistant coach for the NBA’s Detroit Pistons, and his son, Fred, is the head coach of the Rutgers men’s basketball team.
A Lot In The Line-Up: The Scarlet Knights return eight position players, a DH and 10 of their top 11 hitters from last year’s team. Michael Lang (.343, 8 HR, 38 RBIs, 10 SB and Jaren Matthews (.328, 6 HR, 28 RBIs, 10 SB) head the pack.
Mound Presence: 2009 Cape Cod All-Star Casey Gaynor (2-9, 5.54 ERA) is among the pitching staff’s top three pitchers who return. Gaynor was the pitching staff’s workhorse, with the team’s only complete game. Willie Beard (0-2, 2.28 ERA) thrived as the team’s closer with 8 saves as a freshman, while senior RHP Matt Giannini returns after missing 2009 due to injury.
Challenges Abound: Rutgers makes its Big Ten/Big East Challenge debut this year, but it has a pair of challenges sandwiched around the second weekend of the season. The Scarlet Knights open 2010 with three games vs. the Miami Hurricanes in Coral Gables, FL and then face another ACC power with three more games vs. Georgia Tech in Atlanta March 5-7.
Opening Weekend: The Scarlet Knights lost their three games to Miami last weekend. The Hurricanes outscored Rutgers 31-16 in the series.
St. John’s
2009 Record: (30-22, 16-11)
Mascot: Red Storm
Head Coach: Ed Blankmeyer
Location: Queens, NY
Vitals: .349 BA, 42 HR, .422 OBP, .963 Fld%…6.20 ERA, 1 CG, 10 SV, 328 K, 235 BB, .315 opp. BA
Red, White & Blue: Head coach Ed Blankmeyer will serve as an assistant coach this summer for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team. The 2010 schedule is highlighted by the V FISU World University Championships in Japan.
Red Storm Regulars: St. John’s returns five players who made at least 34 starts and hit .331 or better. Soph. OF Jimmy Parque (.360, 5 HR, 61 RBIs) and Jr. third baseman Greg Hopkins (.349, 7 HR, 45 RBIs). They lose Tim Morris (.415, 12 HR) and Matt Kemp (.379, 16 SB) who were selected in the 11th and 19th rounds, respectively, in last year’s MLB Draft.
Plus Pitching: The Red Storm returns a group of pitchers that accounted for 44 of the staff’s 52 starts last year, including Nick Cenatiempo (5-3, 7 starts), Eddie Medina (5-3, 4 starts, 1 SV), Brendan Lobban (4-2, 7 starts) and Bruce Kern (5-4, 11 starts) who had the team’s only complete game. Senior closer Ryan Cole (2-0, 3.49 ERA, 5 SV) is back as well.
Opening Weekend: St. John’s opened its season by sweeping a 3-game series at New Orleans. The weekend was highlighted by a 31-6 win in the series finale. The 31 runs scored are the most in a game for the Red Storm since 1954. Paul Karmas was 4-for-7 in the game with 3 home runs and 10 RBIs. This will be the Privateers’ last season of Division I competition as they transition to Division III in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
Seton Hall
2009 Record: (25-24, 13-14)
Mascot: Pirates
Head Coach: Rob Sheppard
Location: South Orange, NJ
Vitals: .274 BA, 20 HR, .371 OBP, .954 Fld%…4.33 ERA, 9 CG, 5 SV, 307 K, 199 BB, .282 opp. BA
All In The Family: Head coach Rob Sheppard’s brother, Mike Sheppard, Jr., is the head baseball coach at Seton Hall Prep. Their father, Mike Sheppard, Sr., coached the Pirates from 1974-2003.
All In The Family II: Seton Hall volunteer assistant Zach Porcello’s younger brothers, Rick and Jake Porcello, both played for Mike Sheppard, Jr. at Seton Hall Prep. Rick Porcello was a first round draft pick by the Detroit Tigers in 2007. He was 14-9 with a 3.96 ERA for the Tigers last year. Jake Porcello is now a freshman pitcher on the Seton Hall roster.
Tale Of The Tape: The Pirates lose their top two hitters, Matt Smedberg (.382, 2 HR, 26 RBIs) and Chris Affinito (.324, 9 HR, 50 RBIs), as well as two of their weekend starters, Sean Black (4-6, 3.99 ERA, 2 CG) and Keith Cantwell (6-3, 3.48 ERA, 5 CG), from last year’s team. Their top returners are Sr. OF Michael Rogers (.299, HR, 23 RBIs), Jr. SS A.J. Rusbarsky (.271, 1 HR, 20 RBIs) and Jr. RHP Joe DiRocco (4-3, 4.46 ERA, 2 CG).
Opening Weekend: Seton Hall opened the season by being swept in a 3-game series at Texas A&M. The Aggies outscored the Pirates 30-11.
South Florida
2009 Record: (34-25, 18-9)
Mascot: Bulls
Head Coach: Lelo Prado
Location: Tampa, FL
Vitals: .315 BA, 36 HR, .407 OBP, .968 Fld%…4.79 ERA, 8 CG, 11 SV, 402 K, 204 BB, .274 opp. BA
Big Plans: Plans are in the works for a new baseball stadium at USF. The stadium is part of a $30 million facilities upgrade that will benefit other sports as well. The overall capacity of the stadium is expected to exceed 3,000 and is being designed to accommodate additional seating that will enable USF to host NCAA Regionals and Super Regionals.l The new home plate and press box area will be built on what is currently the right field foul pole area of Red McEwen Field.
Sophomore Slump: Junior OF Ryan Lockwood will look for a big bounce-back season in 2010. He hit .415 and was named Collegiate Baseball’s 2008 National Freshman of the Year, but slumped to just a .289 average last year.
The Champ Is Back: Lockwood and 2009 Big East batting champion (conference games only) Junior Carlin (.384 overall/.471 Big East games)) are among five line-up regulars who return in 2010. 57 of Carlin’s hits last year were singles, which contributed to USF’s .441 ranking 8th in the 12-team Big East.
Great Expectations: League coaches named Jr. RHP Randy Fontanez (7-3, 3.09 ERA, 6 CG) the Preseason Big East Pitcher of the Year. Fontanez made 13 starts in 2009, while holding opponents to a .250 average. He tossed six of the staff’s eight complete games. USF also returns starters Derrick Stultz (5-4, 4.48 ERA) and Teddy Kauffman (3-5, 5.86 ERA) as well as reliever Kevin Quackenbush (2-2, 3.94 ERA, 6 SV).
Opening Weekend: USF lost three games in Gainesville, FL last weekend. The Gators outscored the Bulls 22-9.
Villanova
2009 Record: (22-28, 6-20)
Mascot: Wildcats
Head Coach: Joe Godri
Location: Villanova, PA
Vitals: .282 BA, 23 HR, .384 OBP, .970 Fld%…6.15 ERA, 4 CG, 8 SV, 283 K, 206 BB, .308 opp. BA
Hail Szczur: OF/C Matt Szczur (pronounced like Julius Caesar) helped lead the Villanova football team to the 2009 FCS Division I National Championship in December. He was named both the CAA’s Offensive and Special Teams Player of the Year this for the season. The junior ran for 810 yards and 10 touchdowns, passed for 22 yards and 2 TDs, averaged 27.2 yards on 30 kickoff returns, and had 51 catches for 610 yards and 4 more TDs in 2009. Szczur missed his freshman baseball season due to injury, but he led the Wildcats with a .346 average and 18 stolen bases last year. More Experience: Szczur is one of five returning position playing starters for VU, including Jr. INF David Koczirka (.340, HR, 39 RBIs) 12 of 14 pitchers who saw action for the Wildcats last year are back as well. The group combined to make all 50 starts in 2009. Senior RHP Brian Streilein (5-8, 5.46 ERA, 2 CG) leads the rotation, while Jr. LHP Mike Francisco (1-2, 4.24 ERA, 4 SV) leads the relief corps.
Challenge Debut: Villanova opened the 2009 season by playing eventual national champion LSU in the first games in the new Alex Box Stadium, making this year the team’s debut in the Big Ten/Big East Challenge.
Opening Weekend: The Wildcats opened the 2010 season by sweeping a 3-game series at Norfolk State. They outscored the Spartans by a combined 30-6. Brian Streilein earned Big East Pitcher of the Week recognition by pitching 6 2/3 scoreless innings with 12 strikeouts in the season-opening 13-2 win. Ten Wildcats had at least one hit in the game.
West Virginia
2009 Record: (37-18, 17-10)
Mascot: Mountaineers
Head Coach: Greg Van Zant
Location: Morgantown, WV
Vitals: .360 BA, 68 HR, .443 OBP, .966 Fld%…5.40 ERA, 7 CG, 10 SV, 375 K, 199 BB, .300 opp. BA
Dinging It: The Mountaineers led the Big East in batting average (.360), slugging percentage (.564), on-base percentage (.443), and runs scored (525) in 2009.
.400 Or Bust: Two of the top three hitters in the Big East return to lead the West Virginia offense this year. Dan DiBartolomeo’s .439 overall average led the conference, while Jedd Gyorko’s .421 avg. was third. Gyorko is a 2009 Cape Cod League All-Star who was the 2008 Big East Freshman of the Year. Big East coaches voted him the 2010 Preseason Player of the Year. Line-Up Losses: WVU loses its top two home run hitters in Justin Parks and Austin Markel who hit 12 and 15 HR, respectively last year.
Mound Men: Weekend starters Jr. RHP Jarryd Summers (7-3, 3.06 ERA, 2 CG) andLHP Jonathon Jones (6-2, 6.57 ERA) are joined by workhorse closer Chris Enourato (6-2, 3.66 ERA, 6 SV) as the top returnees on the pitching staff. Enourato made 20 relief appearances last year and averaged more than two innings per outing. The senior has been named to the NCBWA’s Preseason Stopper of the Year watch list.
Phantom Starts: WVU pitchers Jarryd Summers, Jonathon Jones and Billy Gross were credited with a combined 15 “starts” on the offensive scorecard last season, but none of them had an at-bat or any offensive stat during the year. Head coach Greg Van Zant’s custom is to substitute his DH for the pitcher when that spot in the batting order is due at the plate for the first time in a game.
Opening Weekend: The Mountaineers lost three games in Conway, SC to Coastal Carolina, Kentucky and Virginia Tech. They were outscored 24-5 in the trio of losses.
Minnesota 2010 Baseball Schedule
MINNEAPOLIS– The Minnesota baseball team released its 2010 schedule on according to an announcement by Golden Gopher head coach John Anderson.
Minnesota’s 2010 schedule features one non-conference team that competed in the
Golden Gopher Head Coach John Anderson
NCAA Super Regionals in 2009 and four out of conference opponents that were part of NCAA Regional play in 2009.
Complete 2010 Minnesota Schedule
The Golden Gophers will start things off when they bring back the Pro-Alumni Game for the first time since 2007. It will take place on Saturday, Feb. 6 at 6:05 p.m.
Minnesota will open up the season against Akron (19-33, 12-15 in 2009) in Fort Myers, Fla. on Feb. 19-21. The next week, the Golden Gophers will travel to St. Petersburg, Fla. where they will compete in the Big East-Big Ten Challenge. Minnesota will face St. John’s (30-22, 16-11) in Dunedin on Friday, Feb. 26, Connecticut (36-24, 14-13) in St. Petersburg on Saturday, Feb. 27 and 2009 Super Regional participant Louisville in St. Petersburg on Sunday, Feb. 28.
The Golden Gophers will return home to host the Dairy Queen Classic on Mar. 5-7. Minnesota will welcome Loyola Marymount (30-29, 13-8), Northwestern (14-35, 5-17) and 2009 NCAA Regional participant Oklahoma State (34-24, 9-16) to the 26th annual installment of the Dairy Queen Classic. Minnesota will face Loyola Marymount on Friday, Mar. 5 at 6:35 p.m., Oklahoma State on Saturday, Mar. 6 at 6:35 p.m. and Northwestern on Sunday, Mar. 7 at 3:05 p.m.
Following the Dairy Queen Classic, the Golden Gophers will host Division III National Champion St. Thomas (41-13) at the Metrodome on Wednesday, Mar. 10. Minnesota will host the Metrodome Tournament on Mar. 12-14. The Golden Gophers will welcome Creighton (31-25, 14-9), Harvard (13-28, 10-10) and South Dakota State (26-30, 17-10) to the Metrodome that weekend. Minnesota will host Harvard on Friday, Mar. 12, Creighton on Saturday, Mar. 13 and South Dakota State on Sunday, Mar. 14.
After the Metrodome Classic, Minnesota will embark on six-game road trip to Alabama and Samford. The Golden Gophers will face 2009 NCAA Regional participant Alabama (37-21, 18-11) in a two-game series on Mar. 16-17. Minnesota will then head to Samford (17-35, 9-21) for a four-game series on Mar. 18-21.
Minnesota will host North Dakota State (16-28, 10-14) at the Metrodome on Mar. 23-24. The Golden Gophers will host a three-game series against Louisiana Tech (29-22, 13-11) on Mar. 26-28. The Saturday game will be played at Target Field at 1:05 p.m., while the Friday and Sunday games will be at the Metrodome.
The Golden Gophers will open up Big Ten play on the road at Purdue on Apr. 2-4. Minnesota will return home to the Metrodome for the first Big Ten series against Michigan State on Apr. 16-18.
Minnesota’s other road series in the Big Ten will be against Northwestern (Apr. 16-18), Iowa (Apr. 30-May 2) and 2009 Big Ten Regular-Season Champion Ohio State (May 20-22). The Golden Gophers will have home conference series at the Metrodome against 2009 Big Ten Tournament Champion Indiana (Apr. 23-25), Michigan (May 7-9) and Penn State (May 14-16).
The Golden Gophers will also play midweek games during the conference season against Concordia-Moorhead (Mar. 31), Hamline (Apr. 6), South Dakota State (at home Apr. 14, on the road Apr. 20), North Dakota State (on the road Apr. 28) and at Kansas State (May 4-5).
Minnesota returns 20 players who saw action from a 2009 squad that finished 40-19, finished second in the Big Ten regular-season at 17-6, advanced to the Big Ten Tournament Championship and advanced to the final game of the NCAA Regionals in LSU.
(Release)
West Virginia 2010 Baseball Schedule
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University Director of Athletics Ed Pastilong has announced the 2010 baseball schedule, highlighted by 32 home games and five matchups against 2009 NCAA Tournament participants.
“Coach Greg Van Zant has put together one of his most competitive schedules to date,” Pastilong said. “We are looking forward to another year of exciting baseball that features several quality opponents and some very challenging early-season tournaments.”
West Virginia opens the season with three competitive tournaments. The Mountaineers start off with the Caravelle Resort Tournament in Conway, S.C., featuring games against 2009 NCAA Tournament qualifier Coastal Carolina, Kentucky and Virginia Tech on Feb. 19-21.
WVU then makes a trip to the second annual Big Ten/BIG EAST Challenge in Clearwater/St. Petersburg, Fla., from Feb.
Greg Van Zant (WVU Photo)
26-March 1. West Virginia will compete against reigning Big Ten champion Indiana, Iowa, Michigan State and will play an additional game against Purdue.
Complete 2010 West Virginia Schedule
The final early-season tournament is the Keith LeClair Classic in Greenville, N.C., from March 5-7. West Virginia faces Western Carolina, then battles 2009 Super Regional qualifier East Carolina before finishing with Illinois.
“All three of our tournaments are ranked as some of the top tournaments in the country,” Van Zant said. “We’re going to see some real good teams early in the season, and we’re looking forward to playing against them. We’re really going to be challenged these first 10 games.”
The Mountaineers make a return trip to Charleston, W.Va., to play Eastern Kentucky in the Mountaineer Diamond Classic at Appalachian Power Park on April 13. Last season’s contest in Southern West Virginia against Kentucky featured a capacity crowd of 2,452 that saw WVU defeat the Wildcats, 10-7.
“We always look forward to playing in our state capital,” Van Zant added. “Last year we had a great turnout and a huge win over Kentucky. We can’t wait to return to Charleston and play a different opponent in Eastern Kentucky, which is a strong program out of the Ohio Valley Conference.”
WVU’s Big East schedule includes five home series against NCAA Super Regional qualifier Louisville (April 16-18), Notre Dame (May 8-9), Big East postseason runner-up Connecticut (April 1-3), Pitt (April 23-25) and Villanova (May 20-22). The Mountaineers will play Seton Hall (March 26-28), St. John’s (April 9-11), Cincinnati (April 30-May 2) and Georgetown (May 14-16) on the road.
“The Big East schedule is always difficult, and this year we’ve got five of our opponents at home,” Van Zant mentioned. “It’s a big plus to have that extra weekend at home and all our games in the conference will be tough. We do feel that we have a real attractive home schedule.”
Also mixed into the non-conference portion is another matchup against Atlantic Coast Conference rival Maryland on April 7 in College Park, Md. The Mountaineers and Terrapins have played each other in five of the last eight seasons.
WVU plays host to a two-game series against defending MEAC champion and NCAA Tournament participant Bethune-Cookman from May 11-12.
West Virginia finished 37-18 last season, its best overall mark since 1998. The Mountaineers finished third in the BIG EAST and amassed 17 conference victories, its second-most since joining the BIG EAST in 1996.
Last year’s squad also set school records for batting average (.360), RBIs (491), doubles (161), extra base hits (242) and runs scored (525).
(Release)
Northwestern 2010 Baseball Schedule
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern head coach Paul Stevens today (Dec. 7) announced the Wildcats’ 2010 schedule, featuring a doubleheader against the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee at Miller Park in Milwaukee.
NU Head Coach Paul Stevens (NU Photo)
After playing games at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome (Minnesota Twins) and U.S. Cellular Field (Chicago White Sox) last season, the Wildcats can add a visit to another Major League ballpark to their resume. The twinbill against UWM will be played April 28 following a 12:10 p.m. game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Complete 2010 Northwestern Schedule
NU is scheduled to play its first 23 games away from Evanston beginning with two games apiece against George Mason and Winthrop Feb. 19-21 in Rock Hill, S.C. The Wildcats compete in the second-annual Big Ten/Big East Challenge the following weekend in Florida, taking on Connecticut, Rutgers and Seton Hall in the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area.
The Wildcats make a return trip to the Metrodome March 5-7 where participates in the 26th-annual Dairy Queen Classic against host Minnesota, Loyola Marymount and Oklahoma State. NU follows up the trip north by heading to Las Vegas March 11-13 for a four-game series against UNLV.
Northwestern embarks on its spring trip March 20 as it starts things off in Winter Haven, Fla., where the ‘Cats face Bucknell, UMBC, Cornell and Dartmouth. NU then heads to Deland, Fla, where it plays four contests against Stetson March 26-28.
The Wildcats return to Illinois and set to play a solo contest at UIC March 30 before opening Big Ten play at home April 2-4 against defending Big Ten regular season champion Ohio State.
On the heels of a mid-week game against Northern Illinois that is being played in Rockford, Northwestern hits the road in conference play for the first time April 9-11 as it treks to Penn State.
Minnesota invades Rocky Miller Park the following weekend, followed by a home game against Illinois State. NU then embarks on stretch during which it plays its next nine games on the road beginning with three games at Purdue April 23-25. Following the doubleheader against Milwaukee at Miller Park, the ‘Cats play a weekend series at Illinois and then a solo game against Valparaiso at U.S. Steel Yard in Gary, Ind.
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Northwestern finally returns home May 7 as it faces defending Big Ten tournament champion Indiana in a weekend set. After a home game against UIC May 11, the Wildcats hit the road for the final time during the regular season as they travel to Michigan.
The 2010 regular season concludes May 20-22 as NU hosts Michigan State.
The 2010 Big Ten Tournament is slated for May 26-30 and is being held at Huntington Park in Columbus, Ohio, for the second consecutive year.
(Release)
Boston College 2010 Baseball Schedule
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – The Boston College baseball team released its schedule for the 2010 season. The 58-game slate begins on February 19 at Tulane and concludes with a nine-game home stand that features two perennial ACC powerhouses.
BC finished the 2009 season with a 34-26 record and earned its first NCAA berth since 1967. In the final USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll, the Eagles earned 15 votes, which was the 33rd-most in the nation.
The Eagles will open the season with a three-game set in New Orleans versus Tulane beginning February 19. The
BC Head Coach Mikio Aoki
following weekend, BC will compete in a tournament at Auburn where it will face the host Tigers, Florida Atlantic and Missouri.
Complete 2010 Boston College Schedule
Boston College’s annual exhibition game with the Boston Red Sox is scheduled for March 3 at 6:05 p.m. at City of Palms Park in Fort Myers, Fla. Last season, BC nearly won for the first time as it led 1-0 after four and a half innings (in a six inning game). The Red Sox scored six runs in the bottom of the fifth and went on to win, 7-1.
The Eagles will stay in Florida until March 14 as they have a three-game series at Florida Atlantic (March 5-7) and then a two-game midweek set at Florida International (March 9-10). BC then opens ACC play at Miami on March 12. The Hurricanes finished No. 20 in the final USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll and reached the NCAA Regionals.
Boston College returns to New England for two more away contests at Connecticut (March 16) and Bryant (March 17) before traveling to Virginia, which reached the College World Series and finished No. 5 in the country.
The Eagles open their home schedule on March 23 when they host Hartford at Eddie Pellagrini Diamond at Commander Shea Field. Holy Cross visits Chestnut Hill the next day before Duke comes into town for a three-game ACC series beginning March 26.
BC’s early ACC away schedule does not get any easier as the next weekend it heads to South Carolina to take on Clemson, which finished No. 14 in the poll and advanced to the Super Regionals.
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The Eagles will spend a good amount of time at home after their Clemson trip as it hosts Maryland beginning April 9, sandwiched by two non-conference games at Shea Field against Bryant (April 7) and Massachusetts (April 13).
Wake Forest will make a trip to Chestnut Hill on April 16 for a three-game series and BC will also host Harvard in a local tilt on April 21.
The Beanpot is also scheduled for April but dates and times will be announced at a later date. The championship game of the Beanpot is annually played at Fenway Park.
Boston College will be back on the road for two more ACC series at NC State (April 23-25) and Virginia Tech (April 30-May 2) before closing out the season with a nine-consecutive games in Chestnut Hill.
The Eagles will host non-conference match ups against Northeastern (May 4), Connecticut (May 10) and St. John’s (May 18) to finish up its out of league contests. BC will also host a pair of ACC and national powers to close out the season as Florida State (May 7-9) and Georgia Tech (May 20-22) come to town. The Seminoles reached the Super Regionals and finished No. 10 in the poll and the Yellow Jackets advanced to the Regionals and ended at No. 18.
The 2010 ACC Baseball Tournament will be held May 26-30 at NewBridge Bank Park in Greensboro, N.C.
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Villanova 2010 Baseball Schedule
VILLANOVA, Pa.–The spring schedule for the 2010 season has been finalized and was released today, as Villanova will begin its 56-game regular season schedule on Friday, February 19. The team’s schedule includes 29 games against non-conference opponents in addition to the 27-game BIG EAST slate.
The highlight of the non-conference schedule is the Wildcats first appearance in the Big Ten/BIG EAST Baseball Challenge in the Tampa area in late February. Villanova will face 2009 Big Ten champion Indiana in the second of three games at the tournament, while also taking on Purdue and Iowa.
Villanova Head Coach Joe Godri
During the annual Spring Break trip to Florida – which begins with the Big Ten/BIG EAST competition – the Wildcats will take part in two different tournaments. The second is the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational, which is being held at Chain of Lakes Park in Winter Haven, the former spring training home of the Cleveland Indians.
Complete 2010 Villanova Schedule
Villanova will be playing in Winter Haven for the first time under ninth-year head coach Joe Godri, and will take on Duquesne, Kansas State, Western Michigan, Northeastern and St. Bonaventure at the tournament. The contest against Kansas State will be the Wildcats first against a team from the Big 12 Conference since Villanova played a three-game series at Texas back in 2006.
A pair of home tournaments are also featured on the Wildcats schedule, as the team will host the Villanova Classic as well as the Big Five Baseball Bash. The second of the two tournaments is being hosted in conjunction with La Salle, Saint Joseph’s and Temple.
“I am very pleased with the makeup of our non-conference schedule,” Godri said. “We are looking forward to playing in the Big Ten/BIG EAST challenge for the first time. I believe these are two evenly matched conferences in college baseball and it is exciting to have the opportunity to play the reigning Big Ten champion.”
The Wildcats open BIG EAST Conference play at home with a three-game series against Cincinnati from March 26-28. The Bearcats will be making just their second visit to the Villanova Ballpark at Plymouth and the first since 2006, when Villanova won two of three games. The other league opponents on the home schedule for the Wildcats are Pittsburgh (April 16-18), Georgetown (April 30-May 2) and Notre Dame (May 14-16). The series against the Fighting Irish will take place during the team’s annual Alumni Weekend.
On the road in BIG EAST play, Villanova will take on Louisville (April 1-3), Connecticut (April 9-11), USF (April 23-25), Rutgers (May 7-9) and West Virginia (May 20-22). The Wildcats end the regular season with the three-game set against the Mountaineers, which will be the first trip to West Virginia for Villanova since 2006. That series will also mark the first time since 2004 that the Wildcats end the regular season on the road.
(Release)
