FROM BIG EAST RELEASE
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – This weekend marks the opening weekend of BIG EAST baseball conference play, with 18 games scheduled for Friday-Sunday. Louisville has posted the best record in the league through the nonconference portion of the schedule with 15 wins and six losses (.714). Here is a look at the six weekend series.
Cincinnati (8-11) at Louisville (15-6)
· Louisville has won four straight games heading into the weekend.
· Cincinnati has lost five consecutive games.
· The Cardinals hold an 87-80 lead in the all-time series between the two teams.
· Last season the teams met four times with Louisville taking two out of three in the regular season as well as a 5-3 victory in the BIG EAST Championship.
· Louisville leads the league with a .333 team batting average.
· The Cardinals have scored in the first inning in eight straight games and nine of their last 10.
· Sophomore outfielder Justin Glass leads Cincinnati with a .388 batting average.
Connecticut (7-11) at West Virginia (11-12)
· West Virginia leads the all-time series between the two schools 23-22.
· Connecticut and West Virginia did not meet last season.
· In 2010 the Huskies swept the Mountaineers in a three-game series in Morgantown, W. Va.
· Both teams enter the weekend series coming off home victories.
· Connecticut second baseman LJ Mazzilli has hit a home run in four-straight games.
· West Virginia leads the league in fielding percentage (.978), while Connecticut ranks last (.952).
Georgetown (11-10) at USF (14-8)
· USF holds an 8-4 advantage in the all-time series.
· Georgetown and USF did not meet last season.
· The teams met three times in 2010 with USF winning all three matches.
· The Hoyas are looking to snap a three-game losing streak, while the Bulls have lost their last two.
· Georgetown leads the league in RBIs with 145.
· The Bulls pitching staff has the lowest ERA in the league at 3.37.
Pittsburgh (10-8) at Notre Dame (12-7)
· Notre Dame leads the all-time series 29-15
· Pittsburgh has taken seven of the last 10 meetings with the Irish. The Panthers have taken two of three from Notre Dame in each of the last two series. The Irish took the opener of the 2009 series in Pittsburgh and the finale of the 2011 series, also in Pittsburgh
· Notre Dame comes into the series on a two-game winning streak while Pittsburgh lost it’s last game.
· Pittsburgh senior Rick Devereaux has 26 RBIs this season which is tied for first in the league.
· Irish pitcher Will Hudgins has a league-leading ERA of 1.31.
Rutgers (9-9) at Seton Hall (9-10)
· Rutgers holds the all-time series lead, 41-38. the Pirates in each of the last two years
· Rutgers has won the series with Seton Hall each of the last two years.
· Rutgers enters the game on a two-game winning streak while Seton Hall dropped its last game.
· Seton Hall freshman infielder Kyle Grimm is leading the team in batting with a .370 average.
St. John’s (11-9) at Villanova (13-9)
· St. John’s enters the series on a seven-game winning streak.
· St. John’s leads the series 44-22, including a 15-7 record in games played at Villanova.
· The Red Storm won two out of three games last season.
· Villanova has lost its last two games.
· St. John’s infielder Matt Wessinger leads the league with 18 stolen bases.
· As a team Villanova ranks second in the league with a .319 batting average.
· Villanova’s Tyler Sciacca leads the league in batting with a .459 average.
