DURHAM, N.C. – The North Carolina Central University baseball program has announced its 2016 schedule with 54 games that will begin on Feb. 19 at the Durham Athletic Park.
The Eagles will play a total of 31 games at home at the DAP, starting with a season-opening three-game series against Morehead State on February, 19 at 4:00 p.m. NCCU travels to High Point for one game before returning to host Niagara and Appalachian State from Feb. 26 to March 1.
Head coach Jim Koerner enters his fifth year at NCCU and is looking forward to the challenging schedule ahead.
“We always try to put together a challenging non-conference schedule and we feel this year is no different,” Koerner said. “We open the season against the defending OVC regular and post season champions in Morehead State University. This will be a good early season measurement for us.
“We are very fortunate to call the Durham Athletic Park home. Not only is it the best facility in our conference, but the history of the field has a special feel to it. We have over 30 games at the DAP this year that we hope to take advantage of.”
NCCU plays its first game against a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opponent at Norfolk State on March 2, and then will host the Spartans on March 9 after a home series with New Jersey Institute of Technology and a trip to Charleston Southern.
The Eagles begin the divisional campaign at War Memorial Stadium against North Carolina A&T with a three-game set on March 12 beginning with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. NCCU then hosts Bethune-Cookman and Savannah State on back-to-back weekends on March 19-20 and March 25-26, respectively.
“The MEAC is becoming more and more competitive every year,” Koerner said. “The Southern part of this conference is a going to be a battle. There are five teams competing for three spots. Every weekend will have a playoff atmosphere.”
NC A&T comes to the Durham Athletic Park for three games on April 16 and 17, starting with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. NCCU also sees reigning MEAC Champion Florida A&M in Tallahassee April 2-3 and host the Rattlers on May 7-8.
The non-conference schedule is highlighted with home-and-home matchups with Appalachian State, Campbell, Charleston Southern, Duke, High Point, Longwood, and Presbyterian. Admission to home games at the Durham Athletic Park is free.
“As usual, the state of North Carolina is always going to provide tough mid-week competition,” Koerner said. “Games against Campbell, Duke, High Point and Appalachian State, among others, will force us to stay sharp as we gear up for conference weekends.”
