DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman Head Baseball Coach Jason Beverlin released the Wildcats’ 2013 schedule on Mon., Dec. 3.
Bethune-Cookman’s 55-game regular season schedule includes 20 games in the friendly confines of Jackie Robinson Ballpark, and features seven games facing 2012 NCAA Tournament teams, each finishing the campaign ranked in the top 40.
“In addition to the traditional schedule we have in Florida, playing a multitude of quality top 40 opponents every year, we will play big series against NCAA Regional-caliber teams and teams that have gone to the next level,” Beverlin commented. “I think it’s a good test for our guys to not only prepare us for the rest of the season, but also the postseason.”
The Wildcats finished the 2012 slate earning their seventh consecutive Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) regular season and tournament title, collecting a 34-26 final record. The Wildcats advanced to the NCAA Gainesville [Fla.] Regional, making their ninth regional appearance in the last 10 years.
B-CU opens the 2013 season with a three-game series at Pac-12 opponent Arizona State, who finished 15th in the final 2012 standings. The Wildcats will also compete in three-game slates at Mercer, Kansas State and Campbell, in addition to split dates with Miami, UCF, North Florida, USF and Jacksonville.
“Our conference play is still the most important in setting the tone for the conference tournament, and taking care of business is extremely important,” Beverlin said. “The rest of the schedule really will prepare us for another Regional appearance and the type of teams we are going to have to beat in order to make it to a Super Regional.”
MEAC in-state rival Florida A&M will lead off the 24-game conference slate with a three-game series at Jackie Robinson Ballpark, with two series of games also set with conference foes North Carolina Central, North Carolina A&T and Savannah State.
“As competitors, it’s very important to constantly test yourself and be able to evaluate where your players and program are in order to make those strides and become the best we can be,” Beverlin commented.
