FROM CBD NEWS SOURCE
WICHITA, Kan. – The 2011 Wichita State baseball schedule features 17 games against 2010 NCAA Tournament teams along with 32 home games, head coach Gene Stephenson announced Nov. 30.
“Once again, we have a very tough schedule,” Stephenson said. “We play a lot of games away from Eck Stadium early on and then Valley play will be difficult because a lot of teams return a lot of players. This schedule will give us a great measuring stick on how good we are. It will be an entertaining home schedule for the fans with games against Midwest opponents Kansas State, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Oral Roberts and Creighton.”
The Shockers begin the 2011 season with a three-game series against Niagara Feb. 18-20 at Eck Stadium. WSU then travels to 2010 NCAA Tourney participant Oral Roberts on Feb. 22. The Golden Eagles return the trip with a game in Wichita on May 10.
WSU returns home for a three-game series with North Dakota, Feb. 25-27 before hitting the road for seven-straight games. The Shockers begin the road trip in Dallas, Texas, at the Dallas Baptist Tournament, March 3-5. The tournament features host Dallas Baptist along with UT-Arlington and New Orleans. WSU will also play UTA in Arlington, Texas, on March 6. The Shockers finish the road trip in New Orleans, La., at Tulane for a three-game series March 11-13.
The Shockers return home for seven-straight including a two-game series against 2010 NCAA Tourney participant Arizona, March 15-16 and then host Penn State (March 18-20) and Air Force (March 22-23).
On March 25, the Shockers begin an eight-game road trip at 2010 NCAA Tourney participant Oregon. WSU will play a four-game series with the Ducks in Eugene, Ore., March 25-27, and then travel to Honolulu, Hawaii, for a four-game series with Hawaii, also a 2010 NCAA Tourney participant, March 30-April 2.
On April 8, WSU opens up Missouri Valley Conference play with a three-game series at Missouri State and travels to 2010 NCAA Tourney participant Kansas State on April 13 before hosting the Wildcats at Eck Stadium on May 17.
The final 2010 NCAA Tournament participant on WSU’s schedule is Illinois State. The Shockers host the Redbirds on April 22-24.
Other teams that will visit Eck Stadium in 2011 include Alcorn State (April 5-6), Nebraska (April 12), Evansville (April 15-17), Oklahoma State (April 26), Kansas (May 4), Creighton (May 6-8) and Indiana State (May 13-15).
Wichita State will travel to Omaha, Neb., for the 2011 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament at TD Ameritrade Park, May 24-28.
