Svenson Tabbed Preseason Pitcher of the Year, Downing Earns First Team in BIG EAST Coaches' Poll

NEW YORK – Seton Hall sophomore right-handed pitcher Steven Svenson has been named the Preseason BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year as the conference announced its preseason honors on Thursday afternoon.

Svenson also was named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST team along with teammate and senior left-handed pitcher John Downing.

Svenson becomes the first Pirate to be named Preseason BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year since Ricky DeVito in 2019. The Matawan, N.J. native comes off a strong freshman season in South Orange as he earned All-BIG EAST First Team honors. The righty ranked second in the conference with a 2.15 ERA in six starts during BIG EAST play, allowing just seven earned runs in 29.1 innings against league opponents. Svenson earned his first career win against Butler on April 25, working five shutout innings while scattering two hits in Seton Hall's 8-1 victory. On the season as a whole, Svenson appeared in 15 games and made 12 starts to the tune of a 4.41 ERA.

Downing enters his senior season fresh off a high impact performance during the 2025 campaign. The lefty was a primary long reliever for The Hall as a junior, posting a 6-0 record with a 2.70 ERA in 50 innings of work. Downing did not allow more than three runs in any of his 14 appearances during the season and led the team in saves, ERA and wins.

The Pirates open the season on Friday, Feb. 13 as they begin the campaign at the Puerto Rico Challenge against Boston College.