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Baseball Faces FDU This Weekend
3/20/2014 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 20, 2014
Seton Hall Weekend Notes 
/ Fairleigh Dickinson Notes / Live Seton Hall Twitter Feed
Game 17: Friday, March 21 - 4:15 p.m.
Owen T. Carroll Field - South Orange, N.J.
#22 SETON HALL 3, FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON 1 (F)
WIN: Prevost (6-0) LOSS: Flack (0-2) SAVE: None BOX SCORE (.pdf) / BOX SCORE (.html) / RECAP
Game 18: Saturday, March 22 - 1:00 p.m.
Naimoli Family Baseball Complex - Teaneck, N.J.
#22 SETON HALL 10, FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON 5 (F)
WIN: Cahill (4-1) LOSS: Butler (1-3) SAVE: None BOX SCORE (.pdf )/ BOX SCORE (.html) / PHOTO GALLERY / RECAP
Game 19: Sunday, March 23 - 1:00 p.m.
Owen T. Carroll Field - South Orange, N.J.
#22 SETON HALL 5, FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON 1 (F)
WIN: Elia (2-2) LOSS: Cuono (1-1) SAVE: None BOX SCORE (.pdf )/ BOX SCORE (.html) / PHOTO GALLERY / RECAP
SETON HALL STATUS
Seton Hall won its four consecutive series with a three-game sweep of Manhattan at Owen T. Carroll Field last weekend. Whereas it was the Pirates' offense that led them to victories at Arizona and James Madison, it was the pitching that dominated Manhattan. Josh Prevost pitched his first career complete-game shutout in Friday's 2-0 victory. Prevost scattered just four hits, struck out six and didn't issue a walk in a dominant outing. On Saturday, D.J. Ruhlman capped a two-out rally in the bottom of the ninth inning with an RBI single as Seton Hall walked off with a 3-2 win. Anthony Elia gave up just two earned runs over six innings in a no decision. On Sunday, the bats finally broke out and the Pirates again shut out Manhattan, 8-0. Conor Krauss made his first start of the season and went four innings, while giving up just one hit. Luke Cahill, Dan Ditusa and Steven Lombardi combined for five innings of shutout relief. Ruhlman had three hits, while Chris Selden led Seton Hall with three RBIs. Seton Hall pitching held Manhattan to just two earned runs in the series. On Wednesday, the Pirates fell to Saint Peter's, 9-8, after rallying from a five-run deficit.
SETON HALL - FDU SERIES
Seton Hall and Fairleigh Dickinson will meet for the 52nd, 53rd and 54th times in history this weekend. The Pirates own a commanding, 41-10, lead in the series and have won 13 out of the last 14 games. Despite the series' long history, this will be the first three-game series between the teams since 1973. Seton Hall won its last meeting with FDU, a 13-0 shutout at Owen T. Carroll Field in 2011. This is a rare split-location series. Games on Friday and Sunday will be held at Owen T. Carroll Field at Seton Hall, but Saturday's game will be at the Naimoli Family Baseball Complex in Teaneck.
SWEEPING THE JASPERS
Seton Hall won its fourth straight series with a three-game sweep of Manhattan at Owen T. Carroll Field, March 14-16. With the victories, the 22nd-ranked Pirates have won four straight and 11 of their last 12 games.
PREVOST, RUHLMAN HONORED
Senior Josh Prevost was named BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week for the third time this season on March 17. Junior D.J. Ruhlman earned Weekly Honor Roll status for the second time. Prevost threw his first career complete-game shutout while scattering just four hits to improve to a perfect 5-0 on the young season. Ruhlman batted a team-best .500 in four games last week and had a game-winning, walk-off hit vs. Manhattan on March 15.
STRONG PITCHING
While historically strong hitting led to success at James Madison, it was impressive pitching that led to a sweep of Manhattan. Seton Hall pitchers shut out the Jaspers twice in three games and gave up just two runs in the series. Pirate hurlers held Manhattan to just .167 batting in the series and had an ERA of 0.67.
MILESTONE APPROACHING
With just four more wins, Seton Hall will reach the 2,000 wins milestone for the program. To date, the Pirates are 1996-1249-24 in 128 seasons of college baseball.
BIG BATS
Seton Hall is currently leading the BIG EAST Conference and ranks amongst the nation's top-10 .326 team batting average. Nine of the 15 position players on the roster have a batting average of .300 or better. Junior D.J. Ruhlman is leading the way with a staggering .419 batting average.
DOWNING THE DUKES
Seton Hall won its third consecutive series, two-games-to-one, at James Madison last weekend. The story was the powerful Pirates' offense, but Seton hall received decent pitching as well. Josh Prevost got the win on Saturday and Joe DiBenedetto earned his first career victory in relief on Monday.
HISTORIC OFFENSE
Seton Hall collected 54 hits, which resulted in 37 runs in its three-game series at James Madison. As a team, the Pirates batted .435 for the series. On Saturday, Seton Hall's 22 hits were the most since collecting 22 hits in a victory over Rider on April 20, 2004. Two days later, the Pirates' offense erupted for 24 hits and 19 runs. The 24 hits are the most since March 11, 2003 and the 19 runs are the most since April 25, 2004.
PLAYING LONG BALL
On March 10, Seton Hall hit three home runs as Kyle Grimm, D.J. Ruhlman and Mikael-Ali Mogues all went deep at James Madison. To date, Seton Hall has eight home runs as a team through 12 games. Last season, the Pirates didn't hit their eighth home run until their 33rd game. Ruhlman, Mogues and Tyler Boyd lead the team with two apiece.
PREVOST HONOR ROLL
Senior Josh Prevost was named to the BIG EAST Baseball Weekly Honor on March 11. The honor is the fourth straight recognition for the Pirates' ace. It's the second time Prevost has received the Honor Roll distinction and he has also twice been named BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week. The 6-foot-8 right-hander pitched seven innings in Seton Hall's easy 15-4 victory. Prevost struck out six and walked only one.
TAMING THE WILDCATS
Seton Hall swept a three-game series at the University of Arizona. The #22 Wildcats entered the series with a .359 team batting average, but could only muster five runs over the series. Seton Hall outscored Arizona, 24-to-5. Sal Annunziata, Zack Weigel and D.J. Ruhlman all batted higher than .450 for the series.
USED BROOMS
Seton Hall swept its second consecutive opponent with a three-game sweep at Arizona. Dating back to last season, the Pirates have not only won, but swept five of their last nine three-game series.
NATIONAL ATTENTION
Seton Hall made its 2014 national rankings debut on March 3 when Collegiate Baseball listed the Pirates as the 22nd-ranked team in the country. The Pirates also received votes in the NCBWA and the USA Today Coaches Polls. Last season, Seton Hall reached as high as #19 in the Collegiate Baseball poll.
PREVOST, RUHLMAN HONORED
Senior Josh Prevost was named BIG EAST Baseball Pitcher of the Week on March 3 for the second time this season and teammate D.J. Ruhlman was added to the conference's Weekly Honor Roll. On Feb. 28, at #22 Arizona, he pitched eight innings, while giving up just one earned run against a powerful Wildcat offense that entered the series with a .359 team batting average. Ruhlman batted .462 with four runs scored and three stolen bases. In the Pirates' 11-2 victory in the series finale, he went 4-for-5 with three runs scored, a triple and his team-leading sixth stolen base of the season.
STRONG START
A year after its worst start in program history, Seton Hall is having its best start in 27 years. At 12-4, it's the program's best start to a season since going 14-2 to begin the 1987 season. That historic year, the Pirates won their first BIG EAST Championship thanks to SHU Hall of Famers Marteese Robinson, Maurice Vaughn and Craig Biggio.
BOYD BOMBS
In Seton Hall's 4-2 rain-interrupted victory at #22 Arizona, junior Tyler Boyd connected on his first career home run. The blast broke a scoreless tie and gave the Pirates the lead for good. Later in the game, he added insurance in the form of a two-RBI double.
STREAKS
Junior D.J. Ruhlman has safely reached base in all 16 games this season for Seton Hall. Ruhlman is currently leading the team and the BIG EAST Conference with a .419 batting average.
THE EXTERMINATORS
Seton Hall squashed the Spiders in a three-game sweep, holding Richmond's offense to just two runs in each game. The Pirates won on Saturday, 8-2, behind Josh Prevost's first career complete game. The bats broke out in a 16-2 victory in the first game of Sunday's double-header and Seton Hall held on for a 6-2, eight-inning, win in the nightcap. The all-time series is now even at six wins apiece.
ROGUE MOGUES
Mikael-Ali Mogues flashed his power potential in Seton Hall's 16-2 victory at Richmond on Feb. 23. The freshman crushed his first career home run and picked up his first career run scored and RBI. He was a defensive replacement at first base after the game had gotten out of hand.
ANNUNZIATA, PREVOST HONORED
Junior Sal Annunziata was named BIG EAST Baseball Player of the Week on Feb. 24. Teammate Josh Prevost was added to the conference's Weekly Honor Roll. Annunziata batted .538 in the series with a team-best six RBIs, 12 total bases, five doubles and a .923 slugging percentage. Prevost threw his first career complete game in Seton Hall's 8-2 series-opening victory. He made just one significant error, allowing a fourth inning two-run home run which accounted for all of the Spiders' scoring. Prevost also struck out a career-high eight batters and walked only one.
OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION
Seton Hall erupted for 16 runs and 15 hits in a 16-2 victory at Richmond on Feb. 23. Every Pirate starter recorded at least one hit and 15 position players saw action in the game. Sal Annunziata had a monster game, going 3-for-4 with four runs scored, three RBIs and a career-high three doubles. Freshman Mike Caputo also had a three-RBI day. For the series, Seton Hall out-scored Richmond, 30-to-6.
BALANCED OFFENSE
In Seton Hall's 8-2 victory at Richmond on Feb. 22, eight of its nine starters recorded an RBI. Kyle Grimm would have made it all nine starters recording an RBI if Zack Weigel wasn't thrown out at the plate on his double in the third inning.
INTERUPTIONS
Seton Hall has had five of its games either postponed or interrupted due to poor weather already this season. The Pirates' home opener against Lehigh, originally scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 26, was postponed due to inclement weather and a significant accumulation of snow on the field from prior storms. The Pirates' game at Rutgers on March 5 was also postponed. Rain postponed a game at Richmond and caused a suspended game at Arizona, while cold temperatures postponed a game at James Madison.
THE CATALYST
Sophomore Zack Weigel has embraced his new role as Seton Hall's leadoff hitter. After going hitless at Oklahoma, he reached base 11 times in three games at Richmond. Weigel batted .600 in the series and with four walks and an HBP, he recorded a staggering .733 on-base percentage.
PIRATES TAKE ONE IN NORMAN
Seton Hall won one of three games in their season-opening series at the University of Oklahoma. The Pirates defeated the 28th-ranked Sooners, 7-5, on Feb. 14, before falling on Feb. 15 and 16.
BIG EAST BEST
Senior Josh Prevost was named BIG EAST Baseball Pitcher of the Week on Feb. 17. Teammate Dillon Hamlin was added to the conference's Weekly Honor Roll. Prevost receives the honor for the first time in his career. Prevost held 28th-ranked Oklahoma to just one earned run on five hits in Seton Hall's 7-5 opening day victory. Hamlin batted .556 in two games this weekend. On Friday, he recorded a career-high four hits (4-for-5), including his second career home run. The sixth inning blast broke a 4-4 tie and Seton Hall never trailed again.
A GRIMM REALITY
Junior Kyle Grimm had a strong weekend at Oklahoma. He is currently tied for the BIG EAST lead with four RBIs. Grimm went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored in Sunday's loss and has recorded at least one hit and one RBI in all three games.
FRESHMAN FIREPOWER
Freshman Mike Caputo has started at second base in each of the season's first three games. Offensively, he's batting .444 with three RBIs. In Seton Hall's opening day win at Oklahoma, Caputo went 4-for-5.
OFF AND RUNNING
Seton Hall is again leading the BIG EAST in steals, and by a large margin. The Pirates have stolen 29 bases through the season's first 15 games. Xavier is second in the conference with 27 steals. In Seton Hall's victory at Oklahoma on Feb. 14, it stole six bases.
NEW BIG EAST
On March 20, the new BIG EAST Conference was unveiled with 10 schools and FOX as the new media rights partner. The 2014 BIG EAST baseball conference will feature seven teams, Butler, Creighton, Georgetown, Seton Hall, St. John's, Villanova and Xavier.
TRIO NET PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE
Junior Sal Annunziata and seniors Josh Prevost and Chris Selden were all named to the 2014 Preseason All-Conference Team. Prevost was a unanimous selection. Creighton nabbed both the Preseason Player of the Year, Mike Gerber, and the Preseason Pitcher of the Year, Tommy Strunc. The Bluejays also landed four players on the Preseason All-Conference Team.
PIRATES PICKED SECOND
The Seton Hall baseball team was picked to finish second, by only one point, among the seven teams of the BIG EAST Conference in the 2014 Preseason Coaches' Poll. The ranking and all-conference selections were made by a vote of the seven BIG EAST coaches. Creighton, Seton Hall and St. John's were the only schools to receive first-place votes. St. John's received the most first-place votes (three), despite placing third in the overall poll. Creighton and Seton Hall received two first-place votes apiece.
FIRST PITCH DINNER
On Thursday, January 30, the Seton Hall baseball team in conjunction with the Pirate Blue Athletic Fund hosted its first annual First Pitch Dinner at Maplewood Country Club. The event was a celebration of Seton Hall baseball past and present as several former Pirates spanning multiple decades attended the season-opening gala. Among those in attendance were two members of the 1964 College World Series Seton Hall baseball team, John Monteleone and John Sielski. Former Pirate All-American John Morris was the featured speaker.
PIRATES WELCOME 10
Seton Hall announced the addition of 15 newcomers to the team for the 2014 season. The Pirates will welcome Mike Caputo, Joseph DiBenedetto, Brett Ender, Matthew Fortin, Thomas Kelleher, Jackson Martin, Mikael-Ali Mogues, Anthony Pacillo, Joseph Poduslenko, Zachary Prendergast, Anthony Scafidi, Eric Spires, Ryan Testani, Greg Tripold and Nelson Valerio to the squad for the new year.
CBS SPORTS NETWORK BROADCASTS
CBS Sports Network has agreed to air at least four baseball games involving BIG EAST schools in 2014, two of which will feature Seton Hall. The lineup begins on Wednesday, April 23 when Creighton hosts Iowa at 7:30 p.m. The Bluejays will be home for another non-conference foe on CBS Sports Network on Tuesday, April 29 when Nebraska comes to Omaha for a 7:30 p.m. start. The first of two BIG EAST baseball showdowns will air on Friday, May 2 when Creighton entertains Seton Hall to open a three-game series at 7:30 p.m. CBS Sports Network will have the Pirates again when they are home for St. John's for the opener of a three-game set on May 15 at 6:30 p.m.
