Pirates Projected to Finish Fifth in BIG EAST Softball Preseason Poll

NEW YORK, N.Y. – The Seton Hall softball team has been projected to finish fifth in the BIG EAST this season, the conference announced on Tuesday. The Pirates received 39 points and a pair of first-place votes in the poll, which was voted on by the league's head coaches.

Villanova, who nearly made it out of regionals in last season's NCAA College World Series topped the poll with 61 points and six first-place votes. UConn earned second place with 57 points and two first-place votes, while St John's wrapped up the top three with 46 points.

Seton Hall will look to rebound from a season that saw the team exit the BIG EAST Tournament in the first round. The Pirates earned a fourth-place finish in the BIG EAST regular season in 2024 with a 27-23 overall record and a 14-10 record in conference play. Despite the early exit, it was the first time since 2005-06 that The Hall registered two consecutive seasons with an above .500 record.

Overall, 15 players will return from last season's team for the Pirates, led by All-BIG EAST First Team selection Kelsey Carr. Last season, alongside her All-BIG EAST and NFCA All-Mideast selections, Carr recorded a career-high 119 strikeouts, registered her second consecutive 10+ home run season and recorded the 22^nd no-hitter in Seton Hall history.

In addition to Carr, the Pirates return a trio of hitters that will be feared across the BIG EAST. Senior Taylor Hill will look to continue her dominant offensive career with the Pirates, potentially breaking multiple program records over the course of the season. Olivia Gilbert, another 2024 All-BIG EAST First Team selection, returns looking to record her third consecutive season of 35+ RBI after leading the team last season with 37 total RBI. Katey Brennan will look to take an even bigger leap in her sophomore season after earning BIG EAST Rookie of the Year and All-BIG EAST First Team honors in her first season with The Hall.

The Pirates open the 2025 season on Thursday, February 6, at the Louisiana Classic hosted by University of Louisiana-Lafayette. The Pirates will open the season that night at 7 p.m., squaring off against hosting Ragin' Cajuns. The Hall will open its home schedule with a doubleheader on Saturday, February 22, against Lehigh with start times scheduled for 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. BIG EAST play begins for Seton Hall on Friday, Mar. 7 with the start of a three-game series at Georgetown. The season culminates with the BIG EAST Championship hosted by Villanova University on May 7-10, with the top six teams qualifying for the double elimination tournament.

Results (First Place Votes)
1. Villanova - 61 (6)
2. UConn - 57 (2)
3. St. John's - 46
4. Creighton - 43 (1)
5. Seton Hall - 39
6. Butler - 28
7. Providence - 27
8. DePaul - 14
9. Georgetown - 9