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PREVIEW:
Seton Hall will return to action this weekend when completes BIG EAST Conference play with a three-game series at Villanova. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. First pitch on both Saturday and Sunday are scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
The Pirates are coming off a weekend in which they dropped two of three games in a close series vs. Creighton at Owen T. Carroll Field. All three games last weekend were determined by a single run. On Friday, junior Chris Morris allowed only two hits and three walks over six scoreless innings, but The Hall fell 2-1. On Saturday, a ninth inning home run by the Bluejays proved to be the winner for a second straight game. The Pirates fell, 4-3. On Sunday, senior Zach Prendergast tossed his first career complete-game shutout as Seton Hall blanked Creighton, 1-0.
On Wednesday, Seton Hall won at Rider, 9-0. The Pirates erupted for nine runs over the first three innings and five pitchers kept the Broncs off the scoreboard.
SERIES INFORMATION:
Seton Hall and Villanova will continue its long rival rivalry this weekend in Pennsylvania. The Pirates own an 81-43 all-time series lead against the Wildcats. The Hall swept the season series last year at Owen T. Carroll Field and has won 10 of the last 12 games in the series. Last year, Mikael-Ali Mogues batted .333 in the series and had a .538 on-base percentage. Matt Leon appeared in two games in relief and tossed a total of 5.1 innings, allowing just one hit.
Villanova enters this weekend with a 13-27 overall record and a 4-8 mark in BIG EAST Conference play. The Wildcats are coming off a series loss in Indianapolis against Butler, but managed to salvage the final game of the series with a 5-1 win. Villanova opened BIG EAST play with a series victory against Xavier, but hasn't won a conference series since. Villanova is 6-10 at home this season.
THINGS TO KNOW:
PIRATES SHUT OUT RIDER
Seton Hall scored nine times over the first three innings and five pitchers combined to keep Rider off the scoreboard in a 9-0 Pirate victory on Wednesday. Senior Matt Fortin and junior Al Molina each knocked in three runs. Junior Shane McCarthy allowed just two hits over four innings to earn the victory.
BIG FIRST INNING
Seton Hall scored six runs in the first inning at Rider on Wednesday and the Pirates led 4-0 before an out was recorded. Ryan Ramiz, Joe Poduslenko and Matt Toke all walked to load the bases and Matt Fortin drove in two runs with a single. Al Molina followed with a two-run triple. RBI singles by Mike Alescio and Mike Caputo capped the six-run outburst.
STRONG PITCHING
Seton Hall's pitching staff has excelled as of late. The Pirates haven't allowed more than three earned runs over their last six games, and have recorded three shutouts over that span. The Hall hasn't allowed a run in its last two games and has lowered its team earned run average to a season-low 3.46.
PRENDERGAST NAMED PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Senior Zach Prendergast was named BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week on Monday. Prendergast tossed his first career complete-game shutout on Saturday vs. Creighton in Seton Hall's 1-0 victory.
PIRATES DROP SERIES VS. CREIGHTON
Seton Hall dropped two of three games vs. Creighton at Owen T. Carroll Field last weekend. All three games were determined by one run. The Pirates lost on Friday, 2-1, and Saturday, 4-3. The Hall bounced back with a 1-0 victory on Sunday.
PLAYOFF PICTURE
With two victories against Villanova this weekend, the Pirates can eliminate the Wildcats and Georgetown from BIG EAST Championship contention. That would leave only Butler as a team that could potentially keep the Pirates from clinching a berth. If Seton Hall wins two at Villanova, Butler must win two at Georgetown to remain alive. The Bulldogs then must sweep Creighton at home to oust the Pirates from a playoff berth. If the Pirates sweep Villanova, Butler has to go 6-for-6 in its final BIG EAST games to eliminate Seton Hall.
PACILLO CLIMBING CHARTS
Anthony Pacillo tossed a scoreless seventh inning at Rider on Wednesday. It was the 70th pitching appearance of his career, which includes 20 starts and 50 relief appearances. Only eight pitchers in Seton Hall history have appeared in more games. Pacillo has pitched to a 3.51 career ERA over 171.2 innings pitched.
SIX TO GO
Senior Mike Caputo needs just six hits to join the 100-hit club for his career. Earlier this season, Joe Poduslenko and Ryan Ramiz recorded their 100th hits. With a minimum of seven games remaining, Caputo will have a good shot at reaching the mark.
BIG EAST CHAMPIONSHIP
The 2017 BIG EAST Baseball Championship Presented by Jeep is scheduled for May 25-28, as Creighton University is set to host alongside the Conference at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha, home of the NCAA College World Series. All-session tickets for the Championship are on sale through the BIG EAST Baseball Championship Central and through Creighton's ticket master site. All-session tickets are available for $45 and $35 in two different pricing levels. Additionally this year there will be a youth level all-session ticket available for $20 in the lower reserved section. Single-session tickets for both adult ($20/$10) and youth ($6) are available. College students with a valid student ID can purchase single-session tickets for $5.
Pitching matchups
http://www.shupirates.com/news/2017...-big-east-play-this-weekend-at-villanova.aspx
