FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall University baseball head coach Jeff Waggoner recently released the 2011 schedule for the Thundering Herd ball club. The schedule consists of 56 games, including tilts with five NCAA Regional qualifiers, two of which advanced to the Super Regionals.
In 2010, Marshall finished with a 27-31 overall record and an even 12-12 tally in Conference USA. The 12 victories marked a school record for the most wins in C-USA play, while finishing fourth in the standings.
The Herd begins the season in Charleston, S.C., with a tournament hosted by NCAA Regional qualifier College of Charleston from February 18-20. MU will play former MAC opponent Miami (Ohio), Kentucky and the tournament-host over the three days to start off the year.
Following a three-game series against Lipscomb (Feb. 25-27) in Nashville, Tenn., the Herd stampedes into Myrtle Beach, S.C. The tournament slate includes Quinnipiac, Ball State and NCAA Super Regional host Coastal Carolina.
Next on the slate is a trip to Charlottesville, Va., on March 8, to play the national powerhouse Virginia. In 2010, the Cavaliers finished eighth in country advancing to the Super Regionals before bowing out against Oklahoma.
MU will play a back-and-forth four-game series with the Ohio Bobcats (March 11-13). The Herd will host games on Friday and Sunday at the Kennedy Center, with a doubleheader sandwiched in between in Athens on Saturday the 12th.
The St. Bonaventure Bonnies from the Atlantic 10 travel to Huntington for a three-game set from March 18-20, while the Herd will also host a home and home series with Cleveland State (March 15 & 22).
Conference play starts up for the Herd on March 25, by hosting the UAB Blazers at Appalachian Power Park in Charleston, W.Va. MU captured two-of-three in Birmingham last season.
After taking the field against Eastern Kentucky (March 29), MU heads to the Texas to battle reigning regular season C-USA Champions Rice University for the first three days in April.
In league play the Herd hosts Houston (April 15-17), East Carolina (May 6-8) and Tulane (May 13-15). MU takes conference trips to C-USA Tournament Champions Southern Miss (April 22-23), Memphis (April 29-May 1) and UCF (May 20-22).
Other non-conference matchups include: Georgia Southern (April 8-10), Morehead State (April 12, 26), Coppin State (April 13), Eastern Kentucky (April 19), Radford (May 10) and Wake Forest (May 17).
The C-USA tournament is scheduled from May 25-28 in Jackson, Miss., at Trustmark Park, the home of the Atlanta Braves Double-A affiliate stadium, Mississippi Braves.
