FROM CBD NEWS SOURCE
Hempstead, NY – A four-game series with College World Series runner-up Mississippi State University, as well as trips to Grand Canyon University, University of Incarnate Word and Furman University highlight the 2014 Hofstra University baseball schedule, which was released today by Coach John Russo.
The schedule features four NCAA Regional teams from 2013 with Colonial Athletic Association opponents Towson, William & Mary and UNCW joining Mississippi State. Hofstra’s opponents won 613 games a season ago led by Mississippi State’s 51 victories.
The season starts February 14 when the Pride travel to Starkville, Mississippi, for a four-game series against the Bulldogs. Mississippi State finished the 2013 season with a 51-20 mark and was College World Series runners-up. The series will mark the first-ever meetings between the two programs and is Hofstra’s first visit to the state of Mississippi.
Hofstra travels to Phoenix, Arizona, the following weekend (February 21-23) for a four-game set with Grand Canyon. The Antelopes, who are transitioning to Division I this year, are coached by former Major League Baseball player Andy Stankiewicz and are coming off a 40-19 season.
The Pride open at home against Albany on March 5 before traveling to San Antonio, Texas for a four-game set at Incarnate Word. The Cardinals are also transitioning to Division I this season and won 26 games in 2013.
Hofstra’s final non-conference road trip sees the Pride travel to Greenville, South Carolina, on March 15-16 for a three-game series against the Paladins of Furman, which won 32 games in the Southern Conference last season.
The Pride will also play non-conference road contests at Rutgers (March 12), Marist (March 26), NYIT (April 15), Manhattan (April 16) and LIU Brooklyn (April 23). The Pride host Fordham (March 19), St. John’s (March 25), Manhattan (April 1), NYIT (April 2) and Massachusetts-Lowell (May 16-17) in non-conference play.
The CAA slate opens March 26 at defending champion Towson. The Pride play all three of the CAA’s postseason representatives on the road with series’ at UNCW (April 11-13) and William & Mary (April 25-27). Hofstra hosts James Madison (April 4-6), Delaware (April 18-20), Northeastern (May 2-4) and CAA newcomer College of Charleston (May 9-11).
The CAA Championship will take place May 21-24 at Brooks Field on the campus of UNCW.
