Softball Announces Full 2024 Schedule - Seton Hall University Athletics
South Orange, N.J. – Fresh off its first BIG EAST title in nearly two decades, the Seton Hall softball team is poised to defend its crown in the upcoming 2...
South Orange, N.J. – Fresh off its first BIG EAST title in nearly two decades, the Seton Hall softball team is poised to defend its crown in the upcoming 2024 season. Head coach Angie Churchill announced the full spring schedule on Thursday, featuring a total of 51 games against 26 different opponents.
The 2023 season was one of the best in program history, as the Pirates went 42-18 overall and 18-6 in BIG EAST play to capture their first BIG EAST title since 2005. Seton Hall rewrote the record books en route to the title, setting new program marks in runs scored (332), base hits (498), runs batted in (307), doubles (91), walks (195) and BIG EAST wins (18). It was also just the second 40-win season ever for the Pirates. Kelsey Carr (Ridgewood, N.Y.) was named BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year after sporting a miniscule 1.82 ERA in 61.2 innings pitched in conference games.
Seton Hall is set to face a difficult non-conference slate against 17 opponents in 2024. Of those 17 programs, three qualified for the NCAA Tournament last season with each of them winning one game in regionals. Overall for 2024, the Pirates are set to face off against six teams who won at least 34 games last season.
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
- Seton Hall will open the 2024 season at the Joan Joyce Classic hosted by FAU. The Pirates' first game of the season comes on Feb. 16 against Michigan, as head coach Angie Churchill will coach against her alma mater. Churchill was a four-year member of the Wolverines softball program from 2001-04, winning three Big Ten titles and reaching the Women's College World Series three times. The Pirates will also square off with Louisville, Maine and the host Owls on the weekend.
- Next, the Pirates head west to compete in the Arizona State/Grand Canyon Classic from Feb. 23-25. The first game of the weekend pits the Pirates against Texas State in a rematch of last year's matchup in the Austin Regional. In that game, the Bobcats used a late rally to defeat Seton Hall, 4-3, to eliminate the Pirates from the NCAA Tournament. Both host schools will prove to be strong opponents for the Pirates. Arizona State is only two seasons removed from a trip to the Super Regionals, while Grand Canyon pulled off one of the greatest upsets in NCAA softball history last spring by defeating No. 2 UCLA in the Los Angeles Regional.
- The Pirates' final tune-up before BIG EAST play comes in Miami, Fla. at the FIU Classic from March 1-3. The tournament-style field will see the Pirates face off against North Dakota and the Panthers on day one. The first game on day two pits Seton Hall against UIC. The final two matchups on the weekend will depend on the outcome of other games in the bracket.
- The remainder of non-conference action sees the Pirates host Stony Brook (March 26), FDU (April 10), Syracuse (April 13-14) and Drexel (April 23). Seton Hall will travel to face Rider (March 19) and Army (April 3).
- BIG EAST play begins with a bang, as the Pirates will travel to face Villanova for their conference opener March 8-10. Seton Hall defeated the Wildcats twice at last year's BIG EAST Championship, including in the title-clinching game that sealed the Pirates' conference championship. The Pirates will also pay visits to Georgetown (March 15-17), Butler (March 28-30) and St. John's (April 26-28) in conference play.
- Seton Hall will host the other two teams it defeated during its BIG EAST title run. UConn will make the trip to South Orange from April 19-21, while DePaul will visit Mike Sheppard Sr. Field for the final series of the season from May 3-5. The Pirates will also host Creighton (March 22-24) and Providence (April 5-7).
- The BIG EAST Tournament will be hosted by Providence for the first time. The double-elimination tournament will be held from May 8-11.
*All dates and times are subject to change*
