KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Western Michigan baseball head coach Billy Gernon announced the team’s challenging 2020 schedule on Tuesday that includes four NCAA Tournament opponents from last season along with two (Louisville, Michigan) who participated in the College World Series.
“The 2020 schedule has its challenges but is designed to better prepare us to win a championship as we should be more battle tested heading into conference play in late March,” said Gernon.
The 2020 schedule will feature 16 home games inside Robert J. Bobb Stadium at Hyames field along with 11 games against Power Five opponents, the most under Gernon. The Broncos will play the first 24 games on their schedule away from Kalamazoo beginning with a three-game series, Feb. 14-16 at the University of Southern California.
After a four-game series with Alabama A&M (Feb. 21-23) the Brown & Gold will square off with national power Louisville in a weekend series, Feb. 28 – March 1. It’s the first match-up between the two programs since meeting in the opening round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament. WMU’s last series at Louisville came in 2014 with the Broncos defeating No. 7 Louisville, 4-2 in game three.
WMU then heads to Florida for the ninth year in a row to take part in the Snowbird Classic in Port Charlotte, Fla., March 3-7. While in the Sunshine State the Broncos will play six games in five days against Villanova, St. Bonaventure, Northeastern, Iowa and NCAA Tournament participant Army.
Following its week in Florida the Broncos square off with Butler, March 13-15 before a midweek showdown at Notre Dame, March 17. Last season, the Broncos defeated the Fighting Irish in South Bend, 12-2.
The Broncos hit the road for a three-game series at Evansville (March 20-22) prior to challenging NCAA College World Series runner-up Michigan on Wednesday, March 25. It will be the third straight year the Broncos and Wolverines meet on the diamond.
Western Michigan begins Mid-American Conference play at home, March 27-29 hosting in-state rival Central Michigan. WMU travels to East Lansing for a match-up with Michigan State April 1 before its first MAC road series, April 3-5 at Eastern Michigan.
“The MAC will be very balanced this year and it is going to be fun to go out and compete at our highest level to bring home a championship for Western Michigan,” said Gernon.
Overall WMU will have four home MAC series along with challenging midweek match-ups against Valparaiso and Michigan State. The Broncos end the regular season on the road, May 14-16 at Northern Illinois.
“Every player, team and season is very special to say the least but it’s worth noting that this is one of the most unified and selfless teams I have every coached in my 19 years as a Division I head coach,” said Gernon.
The 2020 Mid-American Conference tournament will be held May 20-24 at Sprenger Stadium in Avon, Ohio. Gernon has led his squad to the tournament in six of his nine seasons and won the school’s only tournament title back in 2016.
