FROM CBD NEWS SOURCE
Rich Hill (Courtesy of San Diego Media Relations)
SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The University of San Diego head baseball coach Rich Hill has announced the 2014 baseball schedule, which features eight opponents coming off NCAA Baseball Tournament appearances in 2013.
“Once again we have put together an elite, national caliber schedule,” stated Hill. “We have non-conference NCAA tournament games against New Mexico, Baylor, UNC-Wilmington, San Diego State, Oklahoma State, Cal State Fullerton, and Oregon, which will test this group. We always play the toughest schedule we can, including a marquee road trip and the 2014 slate is no exception. Our tournament should be very exciting for our fans at Fowler Park early in the season”
The Toreros will play 31 home games inside the friendly confines of Fowler Park, including hosting their own tournament. California, NCAA Tournament participants Baylor, and UNC-Wilmington will come to town for the USD Tournament February 28-Mar. 3.
The Toreros will open up play in 2013 with seven consecutive home games, before hosting the prestigious USD Baseball Tournament. The Toreros will welcome New Mexico to town for the opening weekend of play from Feb. 14-16, followed by a four-game series with Northern Kentucky the following weekend from Feb. 21-23.
After the USD Tournament has concluded, USD will remain in San Diego, but head across Interstate 8 to take on NCAA Tournament participant and cross-town rival San Diego State in a 6 p.m. game at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
USD will then make their first road trip of the season, as they head to Stillwater, Okla. to take on the Oklahoma State Cowboys in a three-game tilt from May 7-9.
San Diego then returns to Fowler Park to host Cal State Fullerton on Mar. 11 at 6 p.m. The Titans were the No. 5 national seed in last season’s NCAA Tournament, and managed to reach the Super Regionals, before falling to eventual national champion UCLA. USD will then return the favor and travel to Fullerton on Apr. 29 for a mid-week clash with the Titans at 6 p.m.
San Diego then kicks off WCC play on the road against BYU March 13-15. The rest of the USD’s road WCC series’ include NCAA Tournament participant San Francisco (Mar. 28-30), Portland (Apr. 11-13), WCC newcomer Pacific (Apr. 11-13), and Pepperdine (May 9-11).
“The addition of UOP makes the WCC even tougher this year much like BYU did in 2013,” explained Hill”
USD will also play home WCC series’ against reigning WCC regular-season champion Gonzaga (Apr. 1-3), Santa Clara (Apr. 17-19), and Saint Mary’s (May 2-4).
Other non-conference highlights include a two-game series against Pac-12 member Washington State (Mar. 18-19), as well as home and home matchups against the Big West’s UC Riverside (Mar. 25 and Apr. 22), UC Irvine (Apr. 8 and May 6), and Long Beach State (Apr. 21 and May 13). USD will also host cross-town rival San Diego State on Apr. 1 at 6 p.m. to round off the 2014 schedule.
