Hempstead, NY – Hofstra University Baseball Coach John Russo announced his team’s 2020 schedule today, a 53-game slate that features two NCAA Tournament teams, several games against power conference teams, and the resumption of the series against Long Island Rival Stony Brook. Hofstra’s 23 opponents in 2020 combined for 589 wins.
“I am very happy with our 2020 schedule,” said Coach Russo. “I think it is one of the best schedules we have ever put together and I would like to thank our administration for giving us this opportunity. I think the experience our student-athletes will get from playing tough road games against some bigger name opponents will prove to be invaluable when it comes time for Colonial Athletic Association play.”
The Pride opens the season in Sanford, Florida, against Big 10 opponent Purdue on Feb. 14. Following that four-game series, Hofstra travels to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for a three game series against La Salle of the Atlantic 10 (Feb 22-23). The Pride closes out February with a trip to Reno, Nevada, for a pair of doubleheaders against Nevada (Mountain West) and Wichita State (American Athletic) on Feb. 28-29.
Hofstra heads west once again on March 6-7 for a three-game series at New Mexico (Mountain West) before returning for its home opener against Merrimack (Northeast) on March 12. A return to Sanford, Florida, for a four-game series versus Dartmouth (Ivy) on March 14-16 begins a long spring break road trip for the Pride. Hofstra follows that series with a game at Charleston Southern (Big South, March 18) before opening CAA play against 2019 regular season champion Elon (March 20-22).
Other home non-conference opponents for the Pride include Iona (Metro Atlantic Athletic, April 1 and April 22), Monmouth (Metro Atlantic Athletic, April 7), Rutgers (Big 10, April 14), St. John’s (Big East, April 15), and Manhattan (Metro Atlantic Athletic, April 28). Non-conference road games will take place at Monmouth (March 24), Long Island (Northeast, March 31), St. John’s (April 21), Manhattan (April 29), and Stony Brook (America East, May 6). The meeting with Stony Brook, which was a 2019 NCAA Tournament team, will be the first since 2010.
Hofstra’s home CAA series’ will be against Charleston (March 27-29), Delaware (April 10-12), Northeastern (May 1-3), and James Madison (May 8-10). Aside from Elon, Hofstra will also take on 2019 CAA Champion UNCW (April 3-5), Towson (April 17-19), and William & Mary (April 24-26) on the road. The CAA Championship, which features the top six teams in the league, begins May 20 in Wilmington, North Carolina.
