The Spartans will take on a host of perennial national powers, including trips out west to UCLA (Feb. 27-March 1) and Oregon (April 3-5) for a pair of three-game sets. MSU will also take on Oregon State (Feb. 14), Coastal Carolina (March 8) and Clemson (March 11) in non-conference action.
“When we recruit student-athletes, we make a promise to play the best competition that we can,” Boss said. “They are going to see different parts of the country and experience different places with tremendous atmospheres for college baseball. It is also an opportunity to play in a regional-type of setting and prepare us for the end of the year, the Big Ten tournament, and beyond.”
After a year hiatus, the Spartans and Wolverines will renew their rivalry on April 14 when the two teams meet at Comerica Park in a non-conference game. The following day, Michigan State will take on Central Michigan for the fifth consecutive season at Comerica Park.
“We have really enjoyed playing at Comerica Park the last couple of years,” Boss said. “Getting the chance to play Michigan down there should be a great atmosphere as well. We have a lot of alumni in the Detroit area that are excited about us coming down, and the fact that we get to come down back-to-back days is even better.”
The Spartans will play 18 games in the friendly confines of McLane Baseball Stadium at Kobs Field. The home opener on March 24 against Central Michigan will be the first of five straight at the Spartans’ home field as they’ll follow with Oakland on March 25 and then host Illinois, March 27-29.
MSU will open the 2015 slate by returning to Surprise, Arizona, for three games. MSU will meet New Mexico in the opener on Feb. 13 and follow with games against Oregon State and a non-conference clash with Northwestern.
“It’s going to be a challenging weekend, but the ballpark is beautiful, the weather is outstanding and we have a number of alumni out there that will again get the opportunity to see us play,” Boss said.
The Spartans will head to Texas the following weekend (Feb. 20-22) to take on Houston Baptist, UT Arlington and Southeastern Louisiana – a 2014 NCAA Tournament qualifier.
“We have not been to UT-Arlington at all in the past, but I can tell you it’s a good program. Southeastern Louisiana is a very good program, and Houston Baptist is certainly capable of beating anybody,” Boss said.
After the trip to Los Angeles to meet the Bruins, the Spartans will play eight games in 10 days in South Carolina for their spring trip. MSU will meet Toledo (March 6), Akron (March 7), UMBC (March 7) and Coastal Carolina (March 8) at TicketReturn.com Field in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, as part of the Coastal Carolina Invitational.
MSU will meet Clemson on March 11 in its first of four games at Fluor Field in Greenville, South Carolina. The Spartans will take on South Carolina Upstate (March 13), Furman (March 14) and Connecticut (March 15) as part of their First Pitch Invitational.
“I have said it before and I will continue to say it – the highlight of our year is to spend time in Greenville. Craig Brown and the Greenville Drive organization are such gracious hosts,” Boss said. “To be able to play Clemson in that atmosphere in Greenville is an outstanding experience for our guys. The First Pitch Invitational has been a staple in our program and it continues to be with a couple local schools like USC Upstate and Furman. We’re excited for Connecticut to come down as well. We’ve played them a few times in the past and it is a very good program.”
The Big Ten schedule begins similar to 2014 with MSU taking on Ohio State in Columbus, March 20-22.
Michigan State will play Big Ten road sets at Rutgers (April 17-19), Indiana (April 24-26) and Minnesota (May 12-14).
Conference foes Illinois (March 27-29), Northwestern (April 10-12), Purdue (May 1-3) and Penn State (May 8-10) will all visit East Lansing.
MSU will continue its tradition of playing home-and-home sets with all three of the state’s Mid-American Conference schools. The Spartans will play at Eastern Michigan on April 1 and host the Eagles on April 29. Western Michigan will appear at McLane Baseball Stadium on April 8 and the Spartans will trek to Kalamazoo on April 22. In addition to the game at Comerica Park, MSU and CMU will square off March 24 in East Lansing and May 12 in Mt. Pleasant.
Other non-conference opponents on the Spartans’ schedule include Toledo (April 21) and Notre Dame (April 28) in South Bend, Indiana.
The ninth annual Crosstown Showdown will take place Thursday, April 9 at Cooley Law School Stadium.
The 2015 Big Ten Tournament is scheduled for May 20-24 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
