FROM CBD NEWS SOURCE
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Head coach Scott Norwood has announced the UALR baseball schedule for the upcoming 2014 season. The Trojans will play a 56-game regular-season slate featuring 16 matchups against seven schools that qualified for the 2013 NCAA Tournament.
“We put together a really competitive schedule that we feel will prepare us very well for SBC play,” Norwood said.
In April, UALR plays nine of 14 games against teams who finished second in their respective regionals in the 2013 NCAA Tournament. The Trojans kick off the month at Central Arkansas on April 2. After its contest with its in-state rival, UALR plays host to SBC newcomer Georgia State (April 4-6).
On April 8, UALR travels to Stillwater, Okla., to take on the Louisville Regional runner-up, Oklahoma State . The Trojans will stay on the road and travel to Lafayette, La., to battle Louisiana in a weekend conference series (April 11-13). UALR will host Louisiana Tech on April 15 before entertaining SBC regular season co-champion and 2013 NCAA regional finalist Troy (April 18-20). After taking on UAPB on April 22, The Trojans finish their tough April stretch when they host Central Arkansas on the April 23.
The Trojans play seven other contests against NCAA Tournament teams, including a trip to Oxford, Miss., to close out non-conference weekend action (March 7-9) and a trip to take on Oklahoma March 19. The Trojans swept nationally ranked Oklahoma in a doubleheader in Norman, Okla., in 2013. UALR welcomes regular season co-champion South Alabama to Gary Hogan Field on March 21-23.
“These are the types of teams we are really excited to play,” Norwood explained. “This stretch of games will show us where we are as a team. It also shows how the caliber of baseball has risen here at UALR.”
UALR opens the 2013 campaign with 10 of its first 12 games at Gary Hogan Field. The Trojans host Creighton on Feb. 14-16 before traveling to Southeast Missouri State for a midweek battle on Feb. 18. The Trojans return home to face Bradley for a weekend series Feb. 21-23 before traveling to Nacogdoches, Texas, for a game with Stephen F. Austin on Feb. 25.
The Trojans close out February at home against Louisiana Tech (Feb. 26) and IPFW (Feb. 28-March 2).
After the series with Ole Miss, UALR welcomes UAPB to Gary Hogan Field before beginning SBC play at rival Arkansas State (March 14-16). Following the showdown with South Alabama, UALR travels to Columbia, Mo., for a midweek battle with Missouri (March 25). UALR concludes the month at ULM on March 28-30.
After the stretch with multiple games against 2013 NCAA Tournament teams, UALR travels to Western Kentucky for a trio of games April 25-27. UALR begins a five-game homestand against Grambling State (April 29) before welcoming SBC newcomer UT Arlington on May 2-4. The Trojans cap the homestand against Oral Roberts on May 7 for their final non-conference game.
UALR concludes the regular season at Texas State (May 9-11) before welcoming Arkansas State to Gary Hogan Field (May 15-17). The top eight SBC teams during the regular season qualify for the SBC Tournament in Mobile, Ala., on May 20-25.
2014 Arkansas Little-Rock Schedule
