FROM CBD NEWS SOURCES
MACOMB, Ill. – Western Illinois head baseball coach Ryan Brownlee announced the 2014 spring schedule for Leatherneck baseball on Wednesday (Nov. 6). The Leathernecks will play 52 games in the spring with 21 games taking place at Alfred D. Boyer Stadium in Macomb.
“We have another challenging schedule. I am really looking forward to seeing our team compete against this schedule,” Brownlee said. “Just like last year’s schedule, it will be a test for us to see if we can compete pitch-to-pitch. With the shuffling in our league it allowed us to add a few more nonconference home games. I am excited for the community of Macomb and Leatherneck fans to have a chance to see us play a few more home games. We were able to add two nonconference weekends with Butler and Illinois State. I also like the fact that we are playing more road games within our region which also gives our fans a chance to see us play on the road.”
Western will open the season in Thibodeaux, La. with the Nicholls State Tournament. The Leathernecks will take on Louisiana-Monroe, host Nicholls State and in-state foe Southern Illinois during the three-day tournament from February 20-22.
The following weekend the Leathernecks will head to Evansville, Ind. to battle the Purple Aces of Evansville in a four-game set.
Western will be back in the Hoosier state the next weekend for the start of its spring break trip. The Purple & Gold will first take on Indiana State in Terre Haute, Ind. for a three-game set from March 7-9 before heading south for two games with Louisville in Louisville, Ky. on March 11 and 12.Western ends its spring break trip with three games in Normal, Ill. against the Redbirds of Illinois State from March 14-16.
The Leathernecks open the home portion of their schedule on March 21 as Butler comes to town for three games. Chicago State then makes its way to Alfred D. Boyer stadium on March 25 for a midweek game.
Conference play begins for the Leathernecks on March 28 as Western plays host to South Dakota State in a doubleheader. North Dakota State visits Macomb on March 30 for another league doubleheader.
Western will play 17 games during the month of April, beginning with a doubleheader at Omaha on April 6. Illinois-Springfield then visits Macomb on April 9 for a midweek game before the Leathernecks hit the road for nine straight games.
April 12-13 the Leathernecks will be in Fort Wayne, Ind. for a pair of doubleheaders against the Mastodons. On April 15, Western travels to Iowa City, Iowa for its annual game with the Iowa Hawkeyes. The Leathernecks conclude their nine-game road swing in Fargo, N.D. with four games against the Bison from April 18-20.
Western then returns home for an eight-game home stand beginning with Fort Wayne from April 25-27. St. Ambrose visits Boyer Stadium for a midweek game on April 30 and then the Leathernecks play host to Illinois State for their final nonconference games of the season from May 2-4.
The final regular season road trip for the Purple & Gold will be to Brookings, S.D. as the Leathernecks play four games against South Dakota State from May 9-11.
The Leathernecks conclude their regular season schedule at home with a four-game set versus Omaha from May 15-17 at Alfred D. Boyer Stadium.
The 2013 Summit League Tournament will be hosted by South Dakota State and take place in Brookings beginning on May 23.
Full 2014 Western Illinois Schedule
