FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
Hempstead, NY- Second-year Hofstra University Head Baseball Coach Patrick Anderson today announced the 2010 Pride schedule, which features a series against a NCAA Tournament qualifier.
Hofstra will again undertake a challenging non-conference slate, including a season-opening three-game series against Troy University in Alabama starting with an Opening Day tilt Feb. 19.
For a second straight season, Hofstra will travel to Dick Howser Stadium to play Florida State. The Seminoles qualified for the national tournament last year and are two years removed from the College World Series.
Penn State, West Virginia, Maryland, Fairfield, Manhattan and Stony Brook help comprise the non-conference slate. The Pride will play 12 straight road games before the home opener against Fairfield March 12. Hofstra’s non-conference opponents finished a combined 355-322-2 last season for a .524 winning percentage.
"With regards to our non-conference schedule, we want our young players to be challenged as much as possible before getting into CAA action," Anderson said.
A-three day round robin against Temple, Villanova and St. Joseph’s will mark Hofstra’s only in-season tournament this year as part of the Villanova Bash March 12-14.
Hofstra opens CAA play with a three-game series at Northeastern April 2-4. The Pride’s longest home stand is a seven-game stretch featuring conference series versus VCU and William and Mary sandwiched around a game versus local-rival Stony Brook March 21.
The schedule’s conference portion includes roads series against Georgia State, Towson and Delaware and a home set against VCU. Hofstra concludes the regular season with six straight home games encompassing three-game series against James Madison and Old Dominion.
"Our expectations in the CAA are simple: to battle and compete every time a ball is thrown in the air," Anderson said.
Hofstra is coming off an 11-32 season and returns nine players, including senior Matt Prokopowicz, who posted a .344 average with three home runs and a team-leading 30 RBIs. The Pride will also feature 17 freshmen as it tries to climb up the standings.
