MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (November 3, 2016) – Featuring 23 home games and games against four of the eight teams that made the 2016 NCAA College World Series, West Virginia University Director of Athletics Shane Lyons has released the 2017 baseball schedule.
The 56-game 2017 schedule is highlighted by a pair of games at the 2016 national champions, Coastal Carolina, and Big 12 home series against TCU and Texas Tech, both coming off College World Series appearances. WVU will also travel to TCU, another College World Series team from a year ago, and Tulane, which reached the Regional final, for a total of 14 games against teams that made the 2016 NCAA Tournament.
“We have a very challenging schedule, but I know our team will be up to the challenge,” WVU coach Randy Mazey said. “I am really excited about this year’s schedule. We’ll have a lot of road games early, but we’ll get to play the defending national champions twice, which is exciting for our team, and then we’ll be at home a lot late in the year.”
The 23-game home schedule at Monongalia County Ballpark includes games against reigning Big 12 champion Texas Tech (May 5-7) and Big 12 Tournament champion TCU (April 14-16), as well as Oklahoma (April 28-30), Kansas (April 7-9), Pitt (May 16), Marshall (April 4) and Penn State (May 9). All but four home games, and every Big 12 game, will be played in April and May.
“I’m excited to bring some really good teams to Morgantown, including two that made the College World Series last year,” Mazey said. “Our fans played a big role in building a strong home field advantage at Monongalia County Ballpark last year, and I know they’ll get to see some great baseball again this year.”
Opening day is set for Friday, February 17, at Charlotte. WVU’s home opener is slated for Tuesday, March 14, against Morehead State. Big 12 play begins at Baylor on March 17, while the first home weekend series is from March 24-26, against Jacksonville. Big 12 play at home commences on April 7, against Kansas.
Along with facing Coastal Carolina, the defending national champions, and College World Series participant Oklahoma State, WVU’s road slate features a six-game trip to Louisiana, where the Mountaineers will play a game at Nicholls State, a weekend series at Tulane and two midweek contests at Southeastern Louisiana. West Virginia also faces Marshall in Charleston and travels to Big 12 foes Texas, Oklahoma State, Baylor and Kansas State along with visits to Pitt, Virginia Tech and Maryland.
Postseason play begins at the Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship on May 24 in Oklahoma City, following the regular-season finale at Texas on May 21.
The Mountaineers are coming off a record-setting campaign, where they won 36 games, the most since 2009, and advanced to their first ever Big 12 Tournament championship game. WVU went 20-10 at Monongalia County Ballpark, capping the home season on a nine game winning streak.
2017 West Virginia Schedule | Printable 2017 West Virginia Schedule (PDF)
