TicketsSept. 8, 2008
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The University of Cincinnati's baseball team will open up its 2008 season in the inaugural BIG EAST/Big Ten Baseball Challenge, hosted by the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Sports Commission, API Marketing announced today. The "Challenge" will include 27 games between the two conferences at various Spring Training venues in the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area from Feb. 20-22, 2009.
"I am more than excited about playing in the BIG EAST/Big Ten Baseball Challenge, which I believe will be the high profile event of the early college baseball season," said UC head baseball coach Brian Cleary. "I am pleased with the opportunity to play Purdue, and in particular Ohio State and Michigan, due to their recent successes, which is something I had hoped for when we signed on. Given the location and all of the teams involved, I can't imagine a better way to open the season."
All ten of the Big Ten's baseball-playing institutions will compete in the inaugural event, including Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, and Purdue. Eight BIG EAST representatives will participate, including Cincinnati, Connecticut, Georgetown, Notre Dame, Seton Hall, St. John's, USF, and West Virginia.
The Bearcats are scheduled to open the tournament against Purdue on Friday, Feb. 20, before meeting Michigan and Ohio State on Saturday, Feb. 21 and Sunday, Feb. 22, respectively. Game times and venues will be assigned at a later date.
"This is a cutting-edge concept for Division I baseball," said BIG EAST Commissioner Michael Tranghese. "It's a terrific opportunity for our teams to play against great competition in a setting that's conducive to high-level collegiate baseball. We've held our baseball championship in the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area twice in the past three years, so we know that our teams are in for a wonderful experience."
The BIG EAST/Big Ten Baseball Challenge will be similar in format to the popular conference collegiate basketball challenges that have emerged during the past decade, with participating teams competing against schools from the opposing conference. The tournament is scheduled for the same week that Major League Baseball pitchers and catchers report to spring training.
Games will be played in the various MLB spring training venues in the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area, including Bright House Field, Knology Park and Progress Energy Park/Al Lang Field, with marquee matchups scheduled as part of nightly doubleheaders. There will be eight inter-conference contests daily, with the two extra Big Ten teams competing against each other in non-league games.
The tournament pairings can be found below. For more information please call 443-690-8946 or send an email to scott@all-promarketing.com.
BIG EAST/BIG TEN CHALLENGE MATCHUPS
February 20-22, 2009
Day 1 - Friday, February 20
Ohio State vs. Notre Dame
Penn State vs. St. John's
Illinois vs. Iowa
Michigan State vs. Connecticut
Michigan vs. South Florida
Northwestern vs. Georgetown
Minnesota vs. Seton Hall
Indiana vs. West Virginia
Purdue vs. Cincinnati
Day 2 - Saturday, February 21
Michigan vs. Cincinnati
Purdue vs. South Florida
Penn State vs. Northwestern
Ohio State vs. Connecticut
Indiana vs. Georgetown
Illinois vs. Notre Dame
Minnesota vs. West Virginia
Michigan State vs. Seton Hall
Iowa vs. St. John's
Day 3 - Sunday, February 22
Michigan vs. St. John's
Ohio State vs. Cincinnati
Minnesota vs. Michigan State
Northwestern vs. Connecticut
Indiana vs. South Florida
Iowa vs. Georgetown
Purdue vs. Notre Dame
Penn State vs. Seton Hall
Illinois vs. West Virginia