ASHEVILLE, N.C. ? Thirty home games plus 14 at McCormick Field highlights the 2008 UNC Asheville baseball schedule. The 56-game schedule was announced by Bulldog head coach Willie Stewart this afternoon.
UNC Asheville also plays 13 games against teams that participated in the NCAA Tournament last spring, including road games at Florida State and South Carolina.
Stewart is very excited about the challenging schedule but is delighted with the 30 home games, easily the most in school history.
“The thing that pleases me the most about this year's schedule is the fact we have so many home games,” declared Stewart. “We were only able to play 14 home games last season and really wanted to change that this year. We can't thank the City of Asheville enough for allowing us to play at a great place like McCormick Field. Playing 14 games at McCormick Field means a lot to our program.”
The fourth-year head coach knows this year's schedule is full of challenges, despite having 30 home games.
“We've got plenty of tough games this year both in Asheville and on the road,” commented Stewart. “We're going to have play well to have a good season against the opponents we're playing.”
Another highlight of the schedule is the Bulldogs participation in The Citadel Invitational from March 7-9 for the second year in a row.
“I'm very pleased to be going back down to Charleston for The Citadel's tournament,” stated Stewart. “It is a great tournament for our program to be a part of and compete against three good teams early in the year.”
Asheville opens the 2007 season at Greenwood Field on Feb. 22 against future Big South Conference opponent Presbyterian. The Bulldogs play the Blue Hose twice more at Presbyterian that weekend (Feb. 23-24) before journeying to Gardner-Webb (Feb. 26) and national power South Carolina (Feb. 27).
Stewart's club is back at Greenwood Field the first weekend in March when Asheville entertains Akron (Feb. 29-March 2) . The Dogs then hit the road for Spring Break with five games. Asheville plays at Florida State (March 4-5) for a two-game set before heading to The Citadel Invitational. The Bulldogs play Wright State (March 7) in the first game, Evansville (March 8) the next day and The Citadel (March 9) in the final game.
Asheville travels to North Carolina A&T (March 11) and Furman (March 12) before playing its first three games at McCormick Field against Marist (March 14-16). The Dogs play at USC Upstate (March 18) and then comes back to Greenwood Field to play five straight home games. Asheville plays Hartford (March 20-22) and then hosts defending Ivy League champion Brown (March 23) in a double-header.
The Bulldogs go to Wake Forest (March 25) before coming back to McCormick Field to take on NCAA Regional participant Western Carolina (March 26).
Big South Conference play opens in the final weekend of March when Asheville journeys to High Point (March 28-30). The Bulldogs play their annual exhibition game against the Asheville Tourists on March 31 at McCormick Field. The men of Willie Stewart play at Appalachian State (April 1) and Western Carolina (April 2) before beginning a seven-game homestand at both Greenwood Field and McCormick Field. The Dogs host Big South rival Liberty at Greenwood Field (April 4-6) and entertain Southern Conference champion Wofford (April 9) at McCormick Field. Asheville stays at McCormick Field for two games against VMI (April 11-12) before finishing the series at Greenwood Field (April 13).
The Bulldogs journey to defending Big South Conference champion and NCAA Regional host Coastal Carolina (April 18-20). Asheville finishes the regular season with seven straight home games, three at Greenwood Field and four at McCormick Field. The Bulldogs take on Charleston Southern on-campus (May 9-11), battle Appalachian State (May 13) at McCormick Field and complete the regular season with a series against perennial league power Winthrop (May 16-18).
“We're looking forward to the 2008 season,” said Stewart. “It should be an exciting year and we're just delighted that we'll be playing a lot of games in the city of Asheville.”
