KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan baseball team announced the release of its 2016 schedule that includes an exhibition matchup with the Detroit Tigers top prospects for the fifth straight season along with the likes of four NCAA Tournament teams. The season kicks off with a matchup against Georgia State in Atlanta, GA. on Friday, Feb. 19.
“We are excited to compete in 2016 and our schedule will present a few new venues for us including competition against four teams that made it to the NCAA tournament in 2015,” Sixth year head coach Billy Gernon said. “Our season opens up with back-to-back weekends that present tournament type settings with the first being part of the Atlanta Challenge followed by the Mule Mix Classic in Nashville, Tenn.”
To begin the season, the Broncos head down south with matchups against Georgia State, Georgia Tech and Kennesaw State in the Atlanta Challenge. Following that, WMU heads to Tennessee to face Belmont, Middle Tennessee State and 2015 Atlantic Sun Conference champion Lipscomb in the Mule Mix Classic. To open the month of March, the Brown & Gold head to Florida from March 4-12 starting with a three-game series against Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champions Florida A&M. After the series with the Rattlers, the Broncos head to Lakeland, Flo. for their matchup with the Detroit Tigers Top Prospects on Monday, March 7 at 1 p.m. at Joker Marchant Stadium.
“This will be the fifth year in a row that we will enjoy an exhibition game against the Detroit Tigers Top Prospects Team in Lakeland, FL. It remains a highlight of the season and the game is played in Joker Marchant Stadium in Tiger Town,” Gernon said. “Having played against the likes of Nick Castellanos, Bruce Rondon, Bryan Holaday, Steven Moya, Tyler Collins and Brennan Boesch has been a remarkable experience for our program. We’ve even had the fortune of having (former Tigers Manager) Jim Leyland and (Hall of Famer) Al Kaline stop by the dugout to visit with our players in past games.”
WMU’s first home contest is scheduled for Friday, March 18 against Bowling Green in a nonconference two-game series spread out over the 18th and 19th. The Broncos also have a two-game series at 2015 NCAA Tournament team Bradley on Friday, March 25 and Saturday, March 26. The first Mid-American contest is scheduled for Friday, April 1 at Kent State with the usual three-game series. WMU plays host to conference foes Northern Illinois (April 15-17), Eastern Michigan (April 22-24) and defending MAC champion Ohio (May 13-15) and travel for MAC play to Toledo (April 29-May 1), Miami (May 6-8) and Central Michigan (May 19-21) along with Kent State to open MAC play.
“As always, we have our eyes and goals set on winning the MAC outright, but equally as important, winning the MAC tournament at All Pro Freight Stadium and representing our conference in the NCAA tournament June 2.”
