ALBANY, N.Y., — The University at Albany baseball team has released its schedule for the 2016 season. The Great Danes will take part in 53 games this year, playing 20 at home.
“I think that this year’s schedule will be challenging from beginning to end,” said Head Coach Jon Mueller. “We‘re playing a number of teams that are rich in NCAA Tournament experience. South Carolina, Western Kentucky, St. John’s should all provide very difficult environments to play in.”
The Great Danes begin the season in Columbia, S.C., as they take on the University of South Carolina — the 2010 and 2011 National Champions — for a three-game outing from Feb. 19-21. A perennial power in the SEC, the Gamecocks have made 30 NCAA Tournament appearances and have played in 11 College World Series. Following that opening test, UAlbany moves up one state to North Carolina as they take on North Carolina A&T for a weekend series beginning on Feb. 27.
Staying on the road, UAlbany will play in two doubleheaders against NYIT, from March 4-5 and will then head on down to face Conference-USA opponent Western Kentucky for a three-game series that will run from March 11-13.
The Great Danes will make a mid-week pit stop at Central Connecticut State on March 15 before beginning America East Conference play at Hartford the following weekend of March 19-20.
Remaining in the state of Connecticut, the Great Danes will take on Fairfield and Harvard March 25-27.
UAlbany will finally make their home debut of the 2016 season for a game versus Fordham on March 29, but will head back on the road to go and face America East opponent Binghamton for a series from April 2-3.
The team will make one last stop on the road for a doubleheader vs. Marist on April 5 before returning to Varsity Field for a nine-game home stand. They will see the likes of UMBC (April 9-10), St. John’s (April 12), St. Peter’s (April 16-17) and a doubleheader against Quinnipiac (April 19).
UAlbany hits the road for a weekend series at UMass Lowell in conference play from April 23-24 and returns home for a rematch against Central Connecticut St. on April 26. The Great Danes will then host America East Conference opponent Hartford in a key series from April 30 to May 1.
The Danes take a short road trip down to the city to play Manhattan under the lights on May 3 and return home to take on the visiting Maine Black Bears (May 7-8).
UAlbany will play their last home games of the season against America East opponent, Binghamton from May 14-15, and then will head on the road to do battle against St. John’s one more time.
The Great Danes will conclude the 2016 regular season with an in-state conference clash as they visit Stony Brook University May 20-21.
“This schedule should prepare us for the highly competitive America East Conference with the chance to move on to the NCAA Tournament,” added Mueller
The America East Championship Tournament will take place at UMass Lowell for the fourth straight season. The top six teams will compete for an automatic bid into the NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament.
