FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Santa Clara University’s baseball program announced its 2010 schedule today. The 55-game slate, released by ninth-year head coach Mark O’Brien, begins February 19-21, with a home series against the University of Nevada.
The Broncos will host 29 games at its state-of-the-art on-campus facility, Stephen Schott Stadium. Stanford visits Santa Clara on April 13 and 26. SCU will also host four of its seven West Coast Conference series and the four-team Jack Gifford Classic, March 11-14.
"Every year we’re going to bring in some of the best teams on the West Coast to play us here," said O’Brien. "Just as important is to go to different venues, into some hostile environments. We have an early-season series at Houston which will be a good test for us and games at San Diego State and Fullerton."
Three games with local rival San Jose State University March 5-7, a midweek trip to play 2008 College World Series Champions Fresno State University March 9 and an extended series at SDSU March 20-23 are also part of the non-conference schedule.
"We are going to be tested early and tested often," said O’Brien. "In my mind you need to play teams that will prepare you for conference and we’ll do that."
A 13-game homestand at Schott Stadium, March 26 through April 13, dominates the team’s midseason calendar. The Broncos will play its first two WCC series at home, matching up with the University of Portland April 1-3 and Pepperdine University April 9-11.
"What a great environment for college baseball," O’Brien says about SCU’s Schott Stadium which opened in 2005. "We are very fortunate. It’s a perfect place for families to come out and watch a game."
Twelve of Santa Clara’s final 16 games are on the road: at Gonzaga University April 30 through May 2, at Stanford May 10, at UC Davis May 19, at 2009 CWS qualifiers Cal State Fullerton May 21-23 and finishing up the regular season at LMU May 28-30.
