FROM CBD NEWS SOURCE
KINGSTON, R.I. – Rhode Island baseball head coach Jim Foster has released the team’s 2013 schedule, which includes seven games against teams that competed in last season’s NCAA tournament.
“Once again we have put together a very challenging schedule from start to finish,” said Foster. “We look at every game as a new and different opportunity for us to improve and make the adjustments necessary to be a good ball club.”
The Rams’ first challenge will be a four-game set (Feb. 14-16) at Florida Gulf Coast. Last season, the Eagles collected 37 wins – three of which came on the road in Gainesville while visiting the 13th-ranked Florida Gators.
From there, the Rams travel to South Carolina for three games at the College of Charleston, followed by a pair of midweek games at The Citadel and Charleston Southern. Rhody will close out its southern swing with a trio of games at the Caravelle Resort Tournament in Myrtle Beach – against Coastal Carolina, James Madison and Marshall. All three games will be played at Pelicans Ballpark, home of the Texas Rangers’ Class A Advanced affiliate Myrtle Beach Pelicans.
“The guys have been working very hard and I am excited about the leadership we have on this roster,” added Foster, who also referenced the abundance of young talent that the Rams will field this year. “I’m looking forward to seeing some of our new guys get out there and show what they can contribute to the team.”
Rhode Island returns to Kingston for its home-opener against UMass Lowell on Saturday, March 8. The Rams and River Hawks also will play on the afternoon of the 9th.
URI will squeeze in one more trip down south – traveling to Tampa for three games at USF (March 14-16) – before returning to campus for a March 18th game against Sacred Heart.
“Our early-season games will test us both physically and mentally,” Foster explained. “I think we’ve set ourselves up well to see where are come mid-March as we head into the A-10 portion of our schedule.”
The Rams will host the defending Atlantic 10 Champions when Saint Louis visits The Beck for the opening weekend of conference play, March 21-23.
Other home A-10 series include: Fordham (April 4-6), George Mason (April 18-20), VCU (April 25-27) and Richmond (May 15-17).
Rhode Island’s road conference series will be at La Salle (March 28-30), Dayton (April 11-13), St. Bonaventure (May 2-4) and George Washington (May 10-13).
The Rams also will travel for midweek games at Central Connecticut (April 2) Quinnipiac (April 8), Boston College (April 15), Stony Brook (April 16), Bryant (April 22) and Connecticut (May 13). Rhody’s other non-conference home games will be against Northeastern (April 1), Bryant (April 9), Hartford (April 23) and Boston College (April 29).
“As always, our number one goal is to win the A-10 championship and play in the NCAA tournament,” Foster added. “That is why we play such a challenging schedule, year in and year out. We want to keep getting better so that we will be ready for that opportunity when it comes.”
The 2014 Atlantic 10 Championship will be held at Saint Louis’ Billiken Sports Center, May 21-24.
