Players Mentioned
Baseball Begins BIG EAST Tournament, Thursday
5/20/2014 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 20, 2014
Seton Hall Weekend Notes
/ BRACKET Seton Hall Live Twitter Feed
Game 1: Thursday, May 22 - 4:00 p.m. ET
CREIGHTON 9, XAVIER 2 (F)
WIN: Warren (10-1) LOSS: Klever (3-3) SAVE: None
BOX SCORE / RECAP
Game 2: Thursday, May 22 - 7:00 p.m. ET
SETON HALL 1, ST. JOHN'S 0 (F)
WIN: Prevost (12-2) LOSS: Lomangino (6-5) SAVE: None
BOX SCORE / FINAL STATS / PHOTO GALLERY / PRESS CONFERENCE / HIGHLIGHTS / RECAP
Game 3: Friday, May 23 - 4:00 p.m. ET
ELIMINATION GAME
XAVIER 8, ST. JOHN'S 2 (F)
WIN: Nittoli (6-3) LOSS: McCormick (7-2) SAVE: None
BOX SCORE / FINAL STATS / RECAP
Game 4: Saturday, May 24 - Noon ET
CREIGHTON 2, SETON HALL 1 (F)
WIN: Sova (6-1) LOSS: Cahill (10-2) SAVE: None
BOX SCORE / FINAL STATS / PHOTO GALLERY / RECAP
Game 5: Saturday, May 24 - 4:00 p.m. ET
XAVIER 5, SETON HALL 3 (F)
WIN: Campbell LOSS: Pacillo (4-2) SAVE: None
BOX SCORE / FINAL STATS / PHOTO GALLERY / RECAP
SETON HALL STATUS
Seton Hall has wrapped up the 2014 regular season and has clinched the #3 seed in the four-team BIG EAST Championship, May 22-25, in Brooklyn, N.Y. The Pirates lost a three-game series, two-games-to-one, to St. John's at Owen T. Carroll Field last weekend, which gave the Red Storm the #2 seed. On Friday, Josh Prevost lost for only the second time this season as the Pirates fell, 7-3. Kyle Grimm had two RBIs. After Saturday's game was rained out, the teams split a double-header on Saturday. In the opener, Seton Hall held a 3-0 lead, but St. John's came back to win 4-3. The Red Storm plated three runs in the top of the sixth inning in the 7-inning affair. In the second game, the Pirates took a 5-1 lead and were able to hold off St. John's, 5-4. Luke Cahill improved to 10-1 with six innings of two-run baseball. Jon Beaubien and Sal Annunziata had two RBIs apiece in the victory. On Monday, Josh Prevost was named BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week, while D.J. Ruhlman was named BIG EAST Co-Player of the Year. Prevost, Ruhlman, Grimm and Derek Jenkins also earned First Team All-Conference honors. Annunziata, Cahill and Dillon Hamlin were named to the Second Team.
BIG EAST CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
This week Seton Hall will compete in the BIG EAST Championship tournament for the 20th time, second-most among active and former BIG EAST members. The Pirates are an even 32-32 all-time in the tournament. Seton Hall has won three titles, 1987, 2001 and 2011, and finished second four times. The Pirates went a perfect 4-0 to claim their most recent title in 2011, defeating St. John's, 4-2 in the championship game. Last season, former BIG EAST member Connecticut won the tournament as the #8 seed. Seton Hall went just 1-2 in the event despite owning the #2 seed. Seton Hall's Ryan Sullivan was named to the All-Tournament Team. This year, the Pirates have the #3 seed, marking the third straight year they've been the #3 seed or higher.
PREVOST NAMED PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Senior Josh Prevost was named BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year on May 19. He becomes Seton Hall's fifth recipient of the BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year Award and the first since Ted Klamm won it in 1992. Current associate head coach Phil Cundari was the first Pirate to win the award in 1985. Named BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week six times, Prevost was named to the Golden Spikes watch list and currently leads the BIG EAST in wins, ERA, strikeouts, opponent batting average, innings pitched, complete games and shutouts.
RUHLMAN NAMED CO-PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Junior D.J. Ruhlman was named BIG EAST Co-Player of the Year on May 19. He becomes Seton Hall's fourth recipient of the BIG EAST Player of the Year Award and the first since David Kim won it in 1997. Ruhlman and Creighton's Reagan Fowler tied in the voting, so they are co-recipients. A candidate for the Gregg Olson Award, he was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll three times and finished among the conference's top-five in batting average, slugging percentage, runs scored, hits and stolen bases.
SEVEN EARN ALL-BIG EAST
Josh Prevost, D.J. Ruhlman, Kyle Grimm and Derek Jenkins were all named to the All-BIG EAST First Team. Prevost was one of just two unanimous selections. Sal Annunziata, Luke Cahill and Dillon Hamlin were named to the All-BIG EAST Second Team. Seton Hall's seven members of All-BIG EAST Teams are the most since placing seven on teams following the 1995 season.
BIG EAST CHAMPIONSHIP COVERAGE
Broadcasts for every game of the BIG EAST Baseball Championship will be available to fans through live streams on www.bigeast.com and national coverage of Sunday's title game on FOX Sports 1. LINACRE MEDIA will work with the BIG EAST Conference to produce all five opening round games. The broadcasts will be available free of charge on the BIG EAST All-Access player, located under the "WATCH" tab on the conference homepage.
ON SALE NOW!
Tickets for the 2014 BIG EAST Tournament at Brooklyn's MCU Park are on sale now to the public and start as low as $7, and an all-session pass for admission to all six games costs $45. For more, visit www.brooklyncyclones.com.
TOURNEY TIMES AND FORMAT
Times have been confirmed for the BIG EAST Tournament that will take over Brooklyn's MCU Park from May 22-25. Doubleheaders will take place May 22 and 23 with games at 4 and 7 p.m., followed by Saturday's single game at 3 p.m. and Sunday's championship tilt at 1 p.m. On Thursday, #1 Creighton will face #4 Xavier at 4:00 p.m. The third-seeded Pirates will face #2 St. John's at 7:00 p.m. Should the Pirates win, they'll play at 7:00 p.m. on Friday against the winner of the first game.
PIRATES DROP TWO OF THREE TO ST. JOHN'S
The lone highlight of the weekend for the Pirates was salvaging game three of the series. Luke Cahill pitched six innings of two-run baseball with six strikeouts and just one walk to improve to 10-1 as Seton Hall defeated St. John's, 5-4. For his efforts, Cahill was named to the season's final BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll.
38 WINS
With a victory over St. John's on May 17, the Pirates improved to 38-13 on the season. Their 38 wins are the most since winning 40 games in 2000.
PIRATES SWEEP MUSKETEERS
Seton Hall completed a three-game sweep of Xavier, May 9-10. The Pirates routed the Musketeers, 16-0, on Friday behind seven scoreless innings from Josh Prevost. Seton Hall then swept a double-header on Saturday, 3-2 in 12 innings, and 7-3. Anthony Pacillo and Luke Cahill had strong starts.
CAHILL, ANNUNZIATA HONORED
Sophomore Luke Cahill was named BIG EAST Baseball Pitcher of the Week on May 5. Teammate Sal Annunziata earned Weekly Honor Roll distinction. Cahill pitched a career-high 8.0 innings and gave up just two earned runs in a victory over Xavier. He walked just two batters and struck out a career-high 11. Annunziata batted a team-high .417 in helping the Pirates to a perfect 3-0 week.
RUHLMAN NETS BREAKOUT WATCH LIST
Junior D.J. Ruhlman has been named to the watch list for the 2014 Gregg Olson Award, also known as college baseball's "Breakout Player of the Year". The award is named after former Auburn Tiger star pitcher Gregg Olson, who became one of the top collegiate players in the nation after an initial season filled with only mixed success. Ruhlman is one of the top hitters in the BIG EAST Conference this season with a .362 batting average, three home runs and 15 stolen bases. He entered the year with only a .159 career average.
PREVOST NAMED TO GOLDEN SPIKES WATCH LIST
Senior Josh Prevost was named to USA Baseball's 30-man midseason Golden Spikes Award Watch List. The Golden Spikes Award goes to the top amateur baseball player in the country. Prevost is the lone BIG EAST player on the list. The Pirates' ace is 11-2 with a 1.76 ERA this season.
PIRATES DROP SERIES AT CREIGHTON
After winning the opener in convincing fashion, the Pirates dropped the final two games of their series at Creighton in extra innings. On Friday, Seton Hall won, 8-2, as Josh Prevost won a battle of aces. On Saturday, the Pirates fell, 4-3, in 10 innings. On Sunday, Seton Hall took a 7-5 lead in the top of the 10th inning, only to allow three runs in the bottom of the inning to fall, 8-7.
PREVOST WINS BATTLE OF ACES
On May 2 at Creighton, senior Josh Prevost won a battle between the two front-runners for BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year. Prevost entered with a 9-1 record, while Creighton's Matt Warren was 9-0. Both had sub-2.00 ERAs. Prevost threw a complete game, while giving up just two earned runs in Seton Hall's 8-2 victory. For his exploits, Prevost was named BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week for the sixth time this season.
ANNUNZIATA'S BIG BAT
Junior Sal Annunziata had a huge afternoon in Seton Hall's 8-7 extra-inning loss at Creighton on May 4. The first baseman reached base all five times, going 4-for-4 with a walk, three runs scored, two RBIs and his team-leading fifth home run of the season. The homer, a booming opposite field shot was only the 59th home run in the history of TD Ameritrade Park.
SWEEPING THE WILDCATS
For a second straight year, Seton Hall swept a three-game series from Villanova. The Pirates won big, 10-0, on Friday as Josh Prevost went the distance on his fourth complete game. On Saturday, Seton Hall walked-off to a 6-5 victory in 11 innings. On Sunday, the Pirates edged the Wildcats, 3-1, as Luke Cahill and Sal Annunziata had big performances.
PREVOST, RUHLMAN HONORED AGAIN
Senior Josh Prevost was named BIG EAST Baseball Pitcher of the Week on April 28. Teammate D.J. Ruhlman was added to the conference's Weekly Honor Roll. Prevost threw his fourth complete game of the season and his second shutout while scattering just two hits and striking out a career-high 13 batters. Ruhlman batted a team-best .471 last week. He hit safely in all five games and recorded an RBI in three.
PREVOST ON WATCH LIST
Senior Josh Prevost was named to the 2014 College Baseball Hall of Fame Pitcher of the Year Watch List. The Seton Hall ace is one of 47 pitchers on the initial list. The Pitcher of the Year Award, sponsored by Diamond, will be presented during the National College Baseball Hall of Fame's annual Night of Champions on June 28 in Lubbock, Texas.
MORE LOVE FOR JOSH
Senior Josh Prevost was one of five players named National Players of the Week by the NCAA on April 28. College Sports Madness named Prevost their BIG EAST Player of the Week, while the ECAC named him Pitcher of the Week.
PACILLO GOES DISTANCE... SORT OF
Freshman Anthony Pacillo recorded his first career complete-game, shutout, albeit in seven-innings on April 30. The left-hander shut down Saint Peter's,while scattering five hits, striking out five batters and walking only one. Seton Hall won the game in a rout, 15-0.
PIRATES WIN GEORGETOWN SERIES
Seton Hall evened its BIG EAST record last weekend with a series victory at Georgetown. The Pirates defeated the Hoyas, 5-4, on Thursday, fell 4-3, on Friday, and won, 9-3, on Saturday. Seton Hall received strong pitching throughout the weekend.
CAHILL EARNS HONOR ROLL
Sophomore Luke Cahill was named to the BIG EAST Baseball Weekly Honor Roll on April 21. Cahill pitched seven strong innings in Saturday's rubber game vs. Georgetown, leading Seton Hall to an easy 9-3 victory. Cahill gave up only one earned run over seven innings and struck out five batters, while not issuing a walk.
TRIPLE PLAY
In Seton Hall's 9-3 victory over Georgetown on April 19, the Pirates turned a rare triple play. The Hoyas had runners on first and second, when the batter hit a grounder to first base. Annunziata stepped on the bag and noticed that the trail runner had run past second base. Annunziata spun and threw to Ruhlman, who ran down the trail runner. Presumably assuming three outs had been recorded, the lead runner inexplicably stepped off the third base bag and was also tagged out by Ruhlman.
GRAND SLAM
Senior Dillon Hamlin hit a grand slam to break a scoreless tie in SHU's 9-3 victory at G'Town on April 19. The home run was Hamlin's second of the season and 3rd of his career.
APRIL POWERS
Derek "Wheelz" Jenkins saw his game elevate to another level when the calendar turned to the month of April. In 18 games that month, Wheelz has upped his batting average from .263 to .344, scored 19 runs and stolen 22 bases. He was also named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll twice.
ANOTHER FRESHMAN ARM EMERGING
Anthony Pacillo has established himself as a quality freshman arm, but Ryan Testani has quietly emerged as another pitching gem in the rookie class. Testani has now made eight appearances and has an impressive 1.98 ERA. On April 18 at Georgetown, Testani shut down the Hoyas for four innings until finally allowing a run late. He gave up only one hit.
SETON HALL SWEEPS NYIT
Seton Hall completed a three-game sweep of NYIT, April 11-12. The Pirates routed the Bears, 21-0, in game one on Friday, and swept a double-header, 7-6 in game one, and 6-0 in game two, on Saturday. Sal Annunziata, Chris Selden and Derek Jenkins all hit .500 or better in the series. Two starters, Josh Prevost and Luke Cahill didn't give up a run. Anthony Elia only gave up one earned run.
MORE WEEKLY HONORS
Senior Josh Prevost and sophomore Derek Jenkins were named to the BIG EAST Baseball Weekly Honor Roll on April 14. Prevost had a no-hitter through 6.1 innings and settled for allowing just one hit over eight shutout innings in Seton Hall's 21-0 rout of NYIT. He also struck out a career-high 12 batters. Jenkins batted a team-high .500 with a .529 on-base percentage, six runs scored and six stolen bases in four games.
SATURDAY THEATRICS
Seton Hall trailed, 5-2, to NYIT in the eighth inning, but rallied to take a 6-5 lead before eventually heading into extra innings tied at six. With two outs and the bases empty in the bottom of the 10th inning, junior Sal Annunziata crushed his third home run of the season to send the Pirates to a walk-off 7-6 victory.
BATTERING THE BEARS
Seton Hall erupted for 21 runs on 24 hits in a 21-0 victory over NYIT on April 11. The Pirates' 21 runs are the most in program history since tallying 24 in a victory over Chicago State on March 11, 2003. Fourteen Pirates recorded at least one hit with Dillon Hamlin and Kyle Grimm leading the way with three hits apiece. Hamlin also recorded two doubles and a career-high five RBIs. Grimm had three RBIs and a team-high four runs scored.
PIRATES DROP TWO AT BUTLER
At Butler, Seton Hall dropped its first series since the season-opening series at Oklahoma. The Pirates were besieged by 10 errors during the three-game series. Seton Hall lost game one, 6-1, on Friday, which handed Josh Prevost his first loss of the season. On Saturday, the Pirates bounced back with a 7-3 victory behind a 14-hit attack. On Sunday, Seton Hall dropped the rubber game, 7-6.
JENKINS HONORED
Sophomore Derek Jenkins was named to the BIG EAST Baseball Weekly Honor Roll on April 8. The speedy center fielder led the team with a .500 on-base percentage, seven runs scored and eight stolen bases last in five games last week.
SPEED KILLS
Derek Jenkins has taken his base-running to another level recently. The outfielder stole eight bases last week and now has a BIG EAST Conference leading 29 steals this season. On April 2 at Princeton, Jenkins reached base five times, going 2-for-3 with three walks, three runs scored and three stolen bases. At Butler on April 5, he went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and three stolen bases.
FAB FROSH
Freshman Anthony Pacillo turned in his best career start at Princeton on April 2. The left-hander surrendered just one hit over seven scoreless innings to improve to 2-0 on the young season. Pacillo struck out a career-high eight batters and walked only one in Seton Hall's 13-6 victory.
THE PEST
As the season progresses, Derek Jenkins is getting on base more often and wreaking havoc on the base paths. At Princeton on April 2, Jenkins reached base five times, scored three runs and stole three bases. One of the fastest players in the BIG EAST, he currently leads the conference in steals.
PIRATE DOWN IONA, SPLIT AT CCSU
Seton Hall won two of three games, March 28-29. The Pirates shut out Iona, 8-0, on Friday and split a double-header at Central Connecticut State on Saturday. Seton Hall lost the opener, 1-0, in seven innings, but rebounded to win the second game, 2-0.
2,000 WINS
With a mid-week victory over Saint Peter's on March 27, Seton Hall won its 2,000th game. To date, the Pirates are 2021-1259-24 in 128 seasons of college baseball.
SWEEPING THE KNIGHTS
Seton Hall completed a three-game sweep of Fairleigh Dickinson, March 21-23, for its fourth series sweep of the season and its fifth series victory in six series' this season.
TRIO HONORED
Junior Anthony Elia was named BIG EAST Baseball Pitcher of the Week on Monday. Teammates Josh Prevost and Zack Weigel were added to the conference's Weekly Honor Roll. In a season of weekly awards for Seton Hall players, it's the first time that three Pirates have been honored in the same week. Elia pitched his first complete-game shutout at Central Connecticut State on March 29.
SUPERB PITCHING
Seton Hall pitchers had a superb weekend at Iona and Central Connecticut State. The Pirates gave up just one earned run all weekend and twice shut out their opponent. Josh Prevost shut out Iona over eight innings and Anthony Elia recorded his first complete-game shutout at CCSU.
COME BACK KIDS
Seton Hall trailed 5-0 in the first inning at FDU on March 22, but proceeded to score 10 unanswered runs to win, 10-5. It's the first time in nearly a year that Seton Hall has trailed by four or more runs and came back to register a victory.
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.
SWEEPING THE AWARDS
Tyler Boyd was named BIG EAST Baseball Player of the Week, while teammate Josh Prevost earned BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week honors for the fourth time this season on March 24. Boyd led Seton Hall with a .500 average last week and hit a key three-run home run at FDU on March 22 to turn a 5-3 deficit into a 6-5 lead. Prevost pitched his third complete game of the season vs. FDU on March 21 while giving up just one run while striking out five.
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.
ACE DOMINANCE
Through six starts, senior Josh Prevost is having a season for the ages. The 6-foot-8 right-hander is a BIG EAST-leading 6-0 and has been named BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week four times. The other two weeks, he was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll. Prevost currently leads the conference in wins, strikeouts, innings pitched, opponent batting average and earned run average.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
INTERRUPTIONS
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
