Citing the success of last year’s effort, the Big Ten and the Big EAST will once again kick off the season in 2010. Both conferences have announced the schedule of the Big Ten/Big EAST Challenge.
"We are very happy to once again host the Big Ten/BIG EAST Challenge," said Kevin Smith, director of the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Sports Commission. "The inaugural event exceeded our expectations on all fronts, setting up what we hope will be an even more successful second year. We look forward to providing an opportunity for these fine NCAA Division I baseball programs from two of the nation’s most visible conferences to escape the winter cold and come to our area to compete against equally matched opponents at major league-caliber facilities."
In its first go-round in 2009, the Big Ten won the Challenge, 15-9. Illinois won two of its three games.
This time, Illinois will start the Challenge (and the season for that matter) with Notre Dame.
2010 Big Ten/BIG EAST Baseball Challenge Schedule
FRIDAY, February 26, 2010
TIME LOCATION MATCHUP 10:00 am Al Lang Stadium Rutgers vs. Iowa 10:00 am Jack Russell Stadium Connecticut vs. Northwestern 10:00 am Naimoli Complex Seton Hall vs. Michigan State 1:00 pm Al Lang Stadium Cincinnati vs. Penn State 1:00 pm Jack Russell Stadium West Virginia vs. Indiana 1:00 pm Naimoli Complex Villanova vs. Purdue 4:00 pm Dunedin Stadium St. John's vs. Minnesota 4:30 pm Al Lang Stadium South Florida vs. Ohio State 4:30 pm Jack Russell Stadium Notre Dame vs. Illinois 7:30 pm Dunedin Stadium Louisville vs. Michigan
SATURDAY, February 27, 2010
TIME LOCATION MATCHUP 10:00 am Al Lang Stadium Villanova vs. Indiana 10:00 am Jack Russell Stadium Seton Hall vs. Penn State 10:00 am Naimoli Complex Northwestern vs. Rutgers 1:00 pm Al Lang Stadium Connecticut vs. Minnesota 1:00 pm Jack Russell Stadium Purdue vs. Cincinnati 1:00 pm Naimoli Complex Iowa vs. West Virginia 4:00 pm Bright House Field Ohio State vs. Notre Dame 4:30 pm Al Lang Stadium St. John's vs. Michigan 4:30 pm Jack Russell Stadium Michigan State vs. Louisville 7:30 pm Bright House Field South Florida vs. Illinois
SUNDAY, February 28, 2010
TIME LOCATION MATCHUP 10:00 am Al Lang Stadium Northwestern vs. Seton Hall 10:00 am Jack Russell Stadium Purdue vs. Rutgers 10:00 am Naimoli Complex Penn State vs. Notre Dame 10:00 am Naimoli Complex Indiana vs. Connecticut 10:00 am Naimoli Complex Illinois vs. St. John's 1:00 pm Al Lang Stadium Michigan State vs. West Virginia 1:00 pm Jack Russell Stadium Iowa vs. Villanova 1:00 pm Naimoli Complex Michigan vs. South Florida 1:00 pm Naimoli Complex Minnesota vs. Louisville 1:00 pm Naimoli Complex Ohio State vs. Cincinnati