Sept. 16, 2009

Courtesy of Iowa Athletics

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The schedule has been finalized and two state-of-the-art major league venues have been added to the 2010 Big Ten/Big East Baseball Challenge, hosted by the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Sports Commission, event manager API Sports announced today.

The Hawkeyes will play Rutgers (Feb. 26), West Virginia (Feb. 27) and Villanova (Feb. 28). Iowa's contests against West Virginia and Villanova will be its first-ever meeting between the two opponents.

“We’re excited about the Big Ten/Big East Challenge,” Head Coach Jack Dahm said.  “We felt like it was a great experience for our players last year and a good opportunity for our club to play against other northern programs.  The three teams we will be playing are very good opponents and should be a nice challenge for us at the start of our season.”

Doubleheaders at Dunedin Stadium and Bright House Field highlight a slate that features 30 games over three days, Feb. 26-28, 2010, at current and former big league facilities in the St. Petersburg and Clearwater, FL area.

“After a successful inaugural event, the Big Ten Conference is looking forward to more exciting and competitive games during the 2010 Big Ten/BIG EAST Baseball Challenge,” said Big Ten Commissioner James E. Delany. “This experience gives our programs the chance to compete in outstanding weather in some of the nation’s finest baseball facilities, and we look forward to another great event in the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area.”

Last year’s Challenge, which featured eight programs from the BIG EAST and all 10 Big Ten baseball-playing institutions, was won by the Big Ten, 15-9.  Georgetown, which competed in 2009, will not be back in 2010, allowing newcomers Rutgers, Louisville and Villanova to participate. Rounding out the BIG EAST contingent is Cincinnati, Connecticut, Notre Dame, St. John’s, Seton Hall, South Florida (USF) and West Virginia. Big Ten participants include Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State and Purdue.

2010 Big Ten/BIG EAST Baseball Challenge Matchups

Day 1 - Friday, February 26
Rutgers vs. Iowa
Connecticut vs. Northwestern
Seton Hall vs. Michigan State
Cincinnati vs. Penn State
West Virginia vs. Indiana
Villanova vs. Purdue
St. John’s vs. Minnesota
South Florida vs. Ohio State
Notre Dame vs. Illinois
Louisville vs. Michigan

Day 2 - Saturday, February 27
Villanova vs. Indiana
Seton Hall vs. Penn State
Northwestern vs. Rutgers
Connecticut vs. Minnesota
Purdue vs. Cincinnati
Iowa vs. West Virginia
Ohio State vs. Notre Dame
St. John’s vs. Michigan
Michigan State vs. Louisville
South Florida vs. Illinois

Day 3 – Sunday, February 28
Northwestern vs. Seton Hall
Purdue vs. Rutgers
Penn State vs. Notre Dame
Indiana vs. Connecticut
Illinois vs. St. John’s
Michigan State vs. West Virginia
Iowa vs. Villanova
Michigan vs. South Florida
Minnesota vs. Louisville
Ohio State vs. Cincinnati