FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – For just the second time since 2001 the North Carolina baseball team will open their season on the road when they travel to Los Angeles, Calif. for the USC Tournament, Feb. 18-20, as the 2011 baseball schedule was announced Thursday. The Tar Heels will host 34 games at Boshamer Stadium and face another daunting schedule that features 28 games against teams that advanced to the 2010 NCAA Tournament.
The Tar Heels will open up against Cal Poly in the first game of the USC Tournament on Friday, Feb. 18 in Los Angeles, Calif. before playing a doubleheader on Saturday against perennial power Cal State Fullerton and Southern California. The tournament concludes with a game against Missouri on Sunday, Feb. 20.
Carolina’s home slate will open on Friday, Feb. 25 when Seton Hall comes to town for a three-game set. Before the Atlantic Coast Conference season kicks off the Tar Heels will host Charlotte and Davidson in midweek contests before welcoming in NCAA Tournament participants Stony Brook (March 4-6), Elon (March 8) and St. John’s (March 9).
“Our 2011 schedule is challenging but exciting. Opening our season in California will be different but should serve as a strong motivator for our players during the pre-season,” head coach Mike Fox said.
The Tar Heels first two ACC series will have them on the road as they open ACC play March 11 at Wake Forest before heading to Blacksburg, Va. to face Virginia Tech the following weekend.
Carolina will get a visit from rival Duke on March 25 to start the home ACC slate that features home series against Clemson (April 1-3), Miami (22-24), Maryland (May 6-8) and Virginia (May 19-21) to close out the regular season.
In addition to the early trips to Winston-Salem and Blacksburg the Tar Heels will hit the road against Florida State (April 8-10), NC State (April 15-17) and Georgia Tech (May 13-15).
“As always our 30 league games will be the most important and toughest games on our schedule. I know our players look forward to the season,” Fox added.
UNC’s non-conference schedule features midweek dates with a number of in-state opponents, including Appalachian State (May 17), Charlotte (March 1, March 29), Davidson (March 2), East Carolina (April 12, April 27), Elon (March 8), Gardner-Webb (May 3), High Point (March 23), UNC Asheville (May 11) and UNC Wilmington (March 22, May 10). The Tar Heels will also host South Carolina powers Coastal Carolina (April 19) and Winthrop (April 5).
Durham’s Durham Bulls Athletic Park will host the 2011 ACC Tournament from May 25-29. NCAA postseason play begins June 3 on campus sites, and 2011 College World Series is slated for June 18-29 at Omaha’s TD Ameritrade Park.
