FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
WICHITA, Kan. – The 2010 Wichita State baseball schedule features games with traditional national powers and conference champions along with 30 home games, head coach Gene Stephenson announced Oct. 22.
“Once again we have a great schedule for the fans and players alike,” Stephenson said. “It will be very challenging for this team. I think we have an especially challenging road schedule. It will require us to grow up in a hurry to be successful. I think we’ll have a much better team overall, but we need to prove it on the field in the spring. With the improvements at our facility, it should be an exciting season.”
The Shockers begin the 2010 season on Feb. 23 in Lawrence, Kan., against 2009 NCAA Tournament participant Kansas. The Jayhawks return the trip to Wichita on April 27. WSU then travels to Mobile, Ala., for the Coca-Cola Classic, Feb. 26-28. In the tournament, WSU will face North Florida, Eastern Michigan and host South Alabama.
WSU then opens the home portion of its schedule with seven-straight games, two against North Dakota on March 2-3, three against Florida Gulf Coast, March 5-7 and two against Central Arkansas, March 9-10. FGCU is coming off of two-straight Atlantic Sun regular-season titles.
WSU again hits the road for five-straight games against national powers including a three-game series at Long Beach State, March 12-14. The Shockers wrap up the road trip with a two-game series in Tucson, Ariz., against Arizona, March 16-17.
The Shockers return home for a three-game series with 2009 NCAA Tournament participant Washington State, March 19-21. The two teams met in the Norman Regional with the Cougars earning a 3-2 victory.
On March 23-24, the Shockers play a two-game set at Oral Roberts, another 2009 NCAA Tournament participant. ORU returns the trip to Wichita on May 4 and May 18.
Missouri Valley Conference play gets underway for the Shocks on March 26-28 in Wichita against Bradley and then WSU travels to Manhattan, Kan., on March 30 to face 2009 NCAA Tournament participant Kansas State. The Wildcats finished the season ranked 19th by Baseball America and 22nd by Collegiate Baseball, USA Today/ESPN and the NCBWA. KSU visits Eck Stadium on April 20.
The final 2009 NCAA Tournament participant on WSU’s schedule is Oklahoma State. The Shockers travel to Stillwater, Okla., on April 6, while the Cowboys visit Wichita on April 28. OSU finished the 2009 season ranked 27th by Collegiate Baseball.
2009 Western Athletic Conference champion San Jose State visits Eck Stadium April 23-25, while independent powerhouse Dallas Baptist visits Wichita May 20-22.
The Shockers will play at Creighton on May 7-9 and will get to play at Rosenblatt Stadium on May 7-8. It is the final season of Rosenblatt Stadium.
Other teams that will visit Eck Stadium in 2010 include Southern Illinois (April 9-11) and Missouri State (May 14-16).
Wichita State will also play host to the 2010 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament for the 24th time, May 26-29.
