Pirates Projected to Finish Third in BIG EAST Softball Preseason Poll
1/16/2024 2:00:00 PM | Softball
NEW YORK – The Seton Hall softball team has been picked to finish third in the BIG EAST standings in 2024, the conference announced on Tuesday. The Pirates received 53 points and a pair of first-place votes in the poll, which was voted on by the league's head coaches.
Villanova, who the Pirates defeated to win the BIG EAST championship last spring, was selected as the preseason favorite. UConn followed closely behind in second place, with the Pirates rounding out the top three.
The Pirates are fresh off one of the best seasons in program history which culminated in the team's first BIG EAST title since 2005. Along the way, the Pirates rewrote the program record book, smashing six single-season team records and another three individual marks. Seton Hall's 42 wins last year marked just the second 40-win campaign in team history.
Seton Hall brings back 18 players from last season's team, led by BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year Kelsey Carr. The senior led the BIG EAST with a 1.82 ERA during conference games, and was just one of two players in the nation to post a sub-2.00 ERA, hit 10+ home runs and drive in 50+ runs.
Other key returners for the Pirates in 2024 include Taylor Hill, who picked up 67 base hits last season and set the single-season program mark of 48 runs scored. Olivia Gilbert comes off a breakout season which saw her club eight home runs and appear in all 60 games. Lela Allen also put up career-best numbers in 2023, batting .313 and posting a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage at third base during conference play.
The Pirates open the 2024 season on Friday, Feb. 16 at the Joan Joyce Classic hosted by Florida Atlantic University. The Pirates will play a doubleheader to open the season, squaring off against Michigan at 9 a.m. before taking on Louisville at 11:30 a.m. BIG EAST play begins for the Pirates on Friday, Mar. 8 with the start of a three-game series at Villanova. The season culminates with the BIG EAST Championship hosted by Providence College, May 8-11, with the top six teams qualifying for the double elimination tournament.
2024 BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll
(first-place votes)
Villanova, who the Pirates defeated to win the BIG EAST championship last spring, was selected as the preseason favorite. UConn followed closely behind in second place, with the Pirates rounding out the top three.
The Pirates are fresh off one of the best seasons in program history which culminated in the team's first BIG EAST title since 2005. Along the way, the Pirates rewrote the program record book, smashing six single-season team records and another three individual marks. Seton Hall's 42 wins last year marked just the second 40-win campaign in team history.
Seton Hall brings back 18 players from last season's team, led by BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year Kelsey Carr. The senior led the BIG EAST with a 1.82 ERA during conference games, and was just one of two players in the nation to post a sub-2.00 ERA, hit 10+ home runs and drive in 50+ runs.
Other key returners for the Pirates in 2024 include Taylor Hill, who picked up 67 base hits last season and set the single-season program mark of 48 runs scored. Olivia Gilbert comes off a breakout season which saw her club eight home runs and appear in all 60 games. Lela Allen also put up career-best numbers in 2023, batting .313 and posting a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage at third base during conference play.
The Pirates open the 2024 season on Friday, Feb. 16 at the Joan Joyce Classic hosted by Florida Atlantic University. The Pirates will play a doubleheader to open the season, squaring off against Michigan at 9 a.m. before taking on Louisville at 11:30 a.m. BIG EAST play begins for the Pirates on Friday, Mar. 8 with the start of a three-game series at Villanova. The season culminates with the BIG EAST Championship hosted by Providence College, May 8-11, with the top six teams qualifying for the double elimination tournament.
2024 BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll
(first-place votes)
- Villanova (4) – 59 points
- UConn (3) – 58
- Seton Hall (2) – 53
- DePaul – 40
- Butler – 37
- Creighton - 27
- St. John's – 21
- Georgetown – 15
- Providence – 14
Players Mentioned
Infield
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Pitcher/Infield
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Infield
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Infield
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