Pirates Start Spring Break at Diamond Invitational

March 3-5, 2017
** COX DIAMOND INVITATIONAL **
Pensacola, Florida - Blue Wahoos Stadium

SETON HALL (3-4) vs. TROY (5-3)

Date

Seton Hall
Probable Starter

Troy
Probable Starter

Live
Video

Live
Audio

Live
Stats

Twitter

Friday,
March 3
3:00 PM ET

SHANE
MCCARTHY
(0-1, 13.50 ERA)
RHP

Daren Osby
(1-1, 5.06 ERA)
RHP

None

LIVE
STATS

@SHUBaseball

SETON HALL (3-4) vs. SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA (4-4)

Date

Seton Hall
Probable Starter

SE Louisiana
Probable Starter

Live
Video

Live
Audio

Live
Stats

Twitter

Saturday,
March 4
Noon ET

CULLEN
DANA
(0-1, 4.22 ERA)
LHP

Corey Gaconi
(0-0, 7.20 ERA)
RHP

ESPN3

None

LIVE
STATS

@SHUBaseball

SETON HALL (3-4) vs. SOUTH ALABAMA (5-3)

Date

Seton Hall
Probable Starter

South Alabama
Probable Starter

Live
Video

Live
Audio

Live
Stats

Twitter

Sunday,
March 5
Noon ET

ZACH
PRENDERGAST
(1-0, 7.20 ERA)
RHP

TBD

None

LIVE
STATS

@SHUBaseball

PREVIEW:
Seton Hall will begin its Spring Break trip to Florida with three games this weekend at the Diamond Cox Invitational in Pensacola, Fla. The Pirates will face Troy on Friday at 2:00 p.m. On Saturday, The Hall will take on Southeastern Louisiana at 11:00 a.m., followed by a game vs. South Alabama on Sunday at 11:00 a.m. Games against Troy and South Alabama will have a live audio stream via the Pirates Sports Network at SHUpirates.com. Saturday's game vs. Southeastern Louisiana won't, but will be carried by ESPN3.

The Hall is coming off 1-2 weekend at the Tony Gwynn Classic in San Diego, Calif. The Pirates fell to Tennessee last Friday, 12-5. Joe Poduslenko reached base all five times in the loss going 3-for-3 with a triple and two walks in the loss. On Saturday, Cullen Dana tossed a gem vs. Oregon, but the Pirates dropped the pitcher's duel, 1-0, as the Ducks scored an unearned run in the bottom of the seventh. Dana allowed just three hits over 6.1 innings pitched in his second start of the season. Later on Saturday, the Pirates bounced back in a big way vs. San Diego State. Seton Hall clubbed four home runs, erupting for a season-high 10 runs in a 10-5 victory. Poduslenko went 4-for-5 with a home run, a double and three RBIs. Mike Alescio, Mikael-Ali Mogues and Al Molina also went deep in the Pirates' offensive explosion.

SERIES INFORMATION:
Seton Hall has never faced Troy or Southeastern Louisiana, but has two victories over South Alabama. Seton Hall earned both wins over the Jaguars in the 2001 NCAA Regional. The Hall defeated South Alabama, 7-2, in their first meeting and then eliminated the Jaguars with an 8-7 victory.

THINGS TO KNOW:
PODUSLENKO'S HONOR ROLL
Senior Joe Poduslenko was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll on Feb. 28. The Pirate third baseman batted .727 over the three games of the Tony Gwynn Classic and was named to the All-Tournament Team. Poduslenko reached base all five times vs. Tennessee, and went 4-for-5 with a home run vs. San Diego State.

TONY GWYNN CLASSIC
Seton Hall played three strong teams at the Tony Gwynn Classic, Feb. 24-25, and went 1-2 at the event. The Pirates lost to Tennessee, 12-5, on Friday. The Hall was shut out by Oregon, 1-0, on Saturday, before downing San Diego State, 10-5, in the finale.

FLEXING MUSCLES
For the first time since May 4, 2013, the Pirates hit four home runs in a single game. Against San Diego State on Feb. 25, Mikael-Ali Mogues hit a two-run home run in the first inning, Al Molina hit a solo shot and Mike Alescio hit a two-run home run in the second inning, and Joe Poduslenko hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning.

BIG OFFENSE
Seton Hall's offense is off to a hot start this season. The Pirates have recorded at least 10 hits in four of their first seven games and are hitting .290 as a team, which is second-best in the BIG EAST Conference. Joe Poduslenko's .500 batting average is second-best in the BIG EAST and his .885 slugging percentage leads the conference.

STRONG START
After a lackluster first start of the season, sophomore Cullen Dana had a breakout performance vs. Oregon last weekend. The left-hander was the hard-luck loser, but pitched brilliantly, allowing just three hits and one unearned run over 6.1 innings pitched. He also struck out five batters.

MOLINA BREAKS OUT
Pirate newcomer Al Molina broke out offensively vs. San Diego State last weekend. The shortstop reached base four times, going 3-for-4 with two doubles, a home run, a walk, an RBI and three runs scored. Molina is now batting .323 for the season.

COMEBACK KIDS
Trailing 6-3 to Michigan with one out in the top of the ninth inning on Feb. 19, the Pirates rallied for five runs to win the game, 8-6. Al Molina delivered a two-run single to cut the Wolverine lead to 6-5, and then Joe Poduslenko crushed a three-run home run over the left field fence to put The Hall in front.

MCCARTHY, ALESCIO PRESEASON ALL-BIG EAST
Juniors Shane McCarthy and Mike Alescio were named to the 2017 Preseason All-BIG EAST Team. McCarthy was one of only four players to be named a unanimous selection. The right-hander led the BIG EAST in ERA, strikeouts and innings pitched. Alescio was a Johnny Bench Award List member and batted .310.

TWITTER
For news, lineups, game action and results, be sure to follow Seton Hall baseball all season long via twitter - @SHUbaseball.

FREE PIRATE SPORTS NETWORK
For the first time, all baseball broadcasts, both video and audio, will be free of charge on the Pirates Sports Network at SHUpirates.com. All home games will have a free live video stream, while select away contests will have a free live audio stream.

PIRATES PICKED FOURTH
Seton Hall was picked to finish fourth in the seven-team BIG EAST Conference by the coaches in the 2017 preseason poll. St. John's and Xavier tied for the top spot, while Creighton was selected third, just one point ahead of the Pirates.

SCHELLENGER AMONG TOP COLLEGE PROSPECTS
Junior Zach Schellenger is currently listed No. 89 in Baseball America's list of the Top-100 College MLB Draft Prospects. The Pirates' closer saved six games and struck out 70 batters in only 45.2 innings last season.

BIG EAST CHAMPIONSHIP
The season will conclude at the home of Creighton and the College World Series, TD Ameritrade Park Omaha with the 2017 BIG EAST Baseball Championship presented by Jeep. The championship will be played on Memorial Day weekend, May 25-28.