Baseball: BIG EAST/Big Ten Challenge Set
October 19, 2010 05:02 PM | General
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The schedule for the third annual BIG EAST/Big Ten Baseball Challenge, hosted by the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Sports Commission, was announced today by the conference offices.
West Virginia will open the challenge against Iowa on Friday, Feb. 18, at Jack Russell Memorial Stadium, in Clearwater, Fla., at 10 a.m. The Mountaineers will face Penn State on Feb. 19, also at Jack Russell Memorial Stadium, at 1 p.m., and Illinois on Feb. 20, at Al Lang/Progressive Energy Park, in St. Petersburg, Fla., at 1 p.m.
“This event is one of the premier collegiate tournaments, and it is a tremendous opportunity for our team,” says 17-year Mountaineer coach Greg Van Zant. “The challenge is a unique concept and provides great competition for both conferences. We’re excited to face three strong opponents.”
The Mountaineers and Hawkeyes will meet for the second straight season in the challenge, and for only the second time in program history. WVU defeated Iowa, 9-5, last year.
The meeting between WVU and PSU will be the squads’ first since 2006, when the Mountaineers defeated the Nittany Lions, 5-4 (10 innings), at the Keith LeClair Tournament in Greenville, N.C. The two teams have met 103 times since 1904, and PSU owns a 62-41 series advantage.
WVU is 1-1 against the Fighting Illini over the last two years, having defeated them, 11-8, last season in Greenville, N.C., and losing, 10-7, in the first BIG EAST/Big Ten Challenge in 2009. The Mountaineers’ 2010 victory was the program’s first, and all-time, the Illini own a 6-1 series advantage.
The BIG EAST/Big Ten Baseball Challenge consists of eight teams from each conference. Connecticut, Cincinnati, Louisville, Notre Dame, Pitt, St. John’s, Seton Hall and West Virginia will represent the BIG EAST, while the Big Ten will be represented by Iowa, Penn State, Minnesota, Ohio State, Illinois, Michigan, Michigan State and Purdue.
This is the third year of the BIG EAST/Big Ten Challenge, which takes place at the beginning of the college baseball season. BIG EAST baseball returns to Clearwater at the end of the regular season for the 2011 BIG EAST Championship at Bright House Field, May 25-29.
West Virginia will open the challenge against Iowa on Friday, Feb. 18, at Jack Russell Memorial Stadium, in Clearwater, Fla., at 10 a.m. The Mountaineers will face Penn State on Feb. 19, also at Jack Russell Memorial Stadium, at 1 p.m., and Illinois on Feb. 20, at Al Lang/Progressive Energy Park, in St. Petersburg, Fla., at 1 p.m.
“This event is one of the premier collegiate tournaments, and it is a tremendous opportunity for our team,” says 17-year Mountaineer coach Greg Van Zant. “The challenge is a unique concept and provides great competition for both conferences. We’re excited to face three strong opponents.”
The Mountaineers and Hawkeyes will meet for the second straight season in the challenge, and for only the second time in program history. WVU defeated Iowa, 9-5, last year.
The meeting between WVU and PSU will be the squads’ first since 2006, when the Mountaineers defeated the Nittany Lions, 5-4 (10 innings), at the Keith LeClair Tournament in Greenville, N.C. The two teams have met 103 times since 1904, and PSU owns a 62-41 series advantage.
WVU is 1-1 against the Fighting Illini over the last two years, having defeated them, 11-8, last season in Greenville, N.C., and losing, 10-7, in the first BIG EAST/Big Ten Challenge in 2009. The Mountaineers’ 2010 victory was the program’s first, and all-time, the Illini own a 6-1 series advantage.
The BIG EAST/Big Ten Baseball Challenge consists of eight teams from each conference. Connecticut, Cincinnati, Louisville, Notre Dame, Pitt, St. John’s, Seton Hall and West Virginia will represent the BIG EAST, while the Big Ten will be represented by Iowa, Penn State, Minnesota, Ohio State, Illinois, Michigan, Michigan State and Purdue.
This is the third year of the BIG EAST/Big Ten Challenge, which takes place at the beginning of the college baseball season. BIG EAST baseball returns to Clearwater at the end of the regular season for the 2011 BIG EAST Championship at Bright House Field, May 25-29.
John Neider | April 18
Saturday, April 18
Coach Zac Alley | April 18
Saturday, April 18
Coach Rich Rodriguez | April 18
Saturday, April 18
Mountaineer Invitational Recap
Thursday, April 16
