FROM CBD NEWS SOURCE
AKRON, Ohio – Early season trips to Mississippi State, Texas State, and Western Carolina; a spring break trip to Winter Haven, Fla.; and a competitive Mid-American Conference schedule highlight The University of Akron’s 2011 baseball schedule, released today by coach Pat Bangtson.
The 2011 schedule also includes seven games at Canal Park, home of the Akron Aeros. The Zips will play their entire first home series of the year against Western Michigan at Canal Park (March 25-27), as well as midweek games against Malone (March 29), and West Virginia (May 10). Canal Park will also host the first game of the season-ending series between Akron and rival Kent State on May 19. That game will also be the annual Diamond Classic for the Kids, with proceeds of the game benefitting the Akron Children’s Hospital.
The nonconference slate sees Akron opening the season Feb. 18-20 in Starkville, Miss. with two games each against Mississippi State and Lamar. The Zips will stay south the following weekend, traveling to San Marcos, Texas for a three game set with Texas State. It will be the first ever meeting between Akron and both Mississippi State and Texas State, while UA and Lamar split a pair of games in 2008.
UA will participate in the three-game Western Carolina Tournament in Forest Park, N.C. March 4-5. Ohio State and Army will also be a part of the weekend tournament. UA has never played Western Carolina or Army and defeated Ohio State in the teams’ matchup last season.
The squad will once again spend spring break in Winter Haven, Fla. playing a week full of games from March 11-19. While in Florida the Zips will play Xavier, Michigan State, Indiana, Butler, North Dakota State, Dartmouth, Bradley, and Chicago State.
Akron opens the home portion of its schedule with the initial series of MAC play March 25-27 against Western Michigan at Canal Park. UA also hosts Central Michigan, Miami, and Bowling Green in home MAC series, while going on the road to face MAC foes Toledo, Eastern Michigan, Buffalo, Ohio, and Kent State.
Home and home series with the Big East’s Pittsburgh and West Virginia, as well as with local rivals Malone and Youngstown State highlight the midweek schedule. The Zips will also play a second game against Ohio State on April 13.
