Oct. 21, 2008

Big East/Big Ten Challenge Schedule Set

27 games to be played at five venues Feb. 20-22, 2009

The schedule has been released for the inaugural Big East/Big Ten Baseball Challenge, hosted by the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Sports Commission. The 27 games will be held Feb. 20-22 in Florida.

Five different venues will be used: Knology Park in Dunedin, the spring training stadium of the Philadelphia Phillies; Bright House Field in Clearwater, the Toronto Blue Jays’ spring training stadium; Jack Russell Stadium in Clearwater, the former spring training site of the Phillies; Progress Energy Park in St. Petersburg, the former spring training stadium of the Tampa Bay Rays; and the Naimoli Complex in St. Petersburg, the Rays’ former spring training facility.

All 10 of the Big Ten’s baseball-playing schools will participate, including Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State and Purdue. Eight Big East institutions will compete, including Cincinnati, Connecticut, Georgetown, Notre Dame, St. John’s, Seton Hall, USF and West Virginia.

Big East/Big Ten Challenge Schedule

February 20-22, 2009

Friday, February 20

10 a.m.

Indiana vs. West Virginia, Progress Energy Park

Michigan State vs. Connecticut, Jack Russell Stadium

1 p.m.

Minnesota vs. Seton Hall, Progress Energy Park

Michigan vs. USF, Jack Russell Stadium

Purdue vs. Cincinnati, Naimoli Complex

4 p.m.

Penn State vs. St. John's, Knology Park

Northwestern vs. Georgetown, Progress Energy Park

Illinois vs. Iowa, Jack Russell Stadium

7:30 p.m.

Ohio State vs. Notre Dame, Knology Park

Saturday, February 21

10 a.m.

Michigan State vs. Seton Hall, Progress Energy Park

Minnesota vs. West Virginia, Jack Russell Stadium

1 p.m.

Illinois vs. Notre Dame, Progress Energy Park

Iowa vs. St. John's, Jack Russell Stadium

Penn State vs. Northwestern, Naimoli Complex

4 p.m.

Michigan vs. Cincinnati, Bright House Field

Ohio State vs. Connecticut, Progress Energy Park

Indiana vs. Georgetown, Jack Russell Stadium

7:30 p.m.

Purdue vs. USF*, Bright House Field

* Game televised by Bright House Sports Network

Sunday, February 22

10 a.m.

Ohio State vs. Cincinnati, Progress Energy Park

Penn State vs. Seton Hall, Jack Russell Stadium

Northwestern vs. Connecticut, Naimoli Complex

Minnesota vs. Michigan State, Naimoli Complex

Iowa vs. Georgetown, Naimoli Complex

1 p.m.

Michigan vs. St. John's, Progress Energy Park

Purdue vs. Notre Dame, Jack Russell Stadium

Indiana vs. USF, Naimoli Complex

Illinois vs. West Virginia, Naimoli Complex