Baseball Releases 2007 Schedule
12/20/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Dec. 20, 2006
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EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State head baseball coach David Grewe has announced the Spartans' upcoming schedule for the 2007 season. MSU opens with 19 of its first 21 games on the road, including three games at the Coca-Cola Classic in Mobile, Ala., and two at the Detroit Tigers' spring training complex in Lakeland, Fla. The Green and White will play a total of eight games on the annual Florida trip before taking on Oklahoma, a 2006 Super Regional participant, for three games in Norman. The Spartans' home opener is set for March 24 against Concordia at Kobs Field. Another highlight on the schedule is the Crosstown Showdown, which features the Spartans against the Lansing Lugnuts, the Class A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, in an exhibition game April 3 at Oldsmobile Park.
"Our 2007 schedule is full of exciting and challenging games," said Grewe. "We will spend a great deal of time on the road early playing some of the nation's elite teams, highlighted by Auburn, South Alabama, Jacksonville, Central Florida and Stetson. All of these programs have top-25 potential and have proven each and every year that they are worthy of postseason play."
MSU will play a total of five NCAA Tournament teams from a year ago, including two in the season-opening Coca-Cola Classic in Mobile, Ala. The Spartans open Friday, Feb. 23 versus South Alabama, who went 38-19 last season and competed in the NCAA Tournament. The second game of the tournament is against Auburn, while the third game is against Jacksonville, another NCAA Tournament team that went 42-17 in 2006.
During spring break, the Spartans will play eight games in Florida, beginning with two at the Tigers' spring training complex in Lakeland, Fla., against Saint Joseph's (March 4) and Pittsburgh (March 5). MSU plays Stetson, a 2006 NCAA Tournament team, March 7 in Deland, Fla. The Spartans will also match up against Central Florida, South Florida and Quinnipiac in the Sunshine State.
MSU's final road trip before playing at home will be a three-game set at Oklahoma March 16-18. The Sooners went 40-19 last season and advanced to the NCAA Super Regionals against Rice.
The home opener is scheduled for Saturday, March 24 against Concordia at Kobs Field. The two teams will also meet on Sunday, March 25.
Michigan State opens the Big Ten schedule with a four-game series at Indiana beginning March 30. The Big Ten is once again loaded with solid teams and this year's schedule poses additional challenges as the Spartans play 18 road games and only 14 home games within the Big Ten schedule.
A special feature to this year's schedule is an exhibition game against the Lansing Lugnuts on Tuesday, April 3 at 6:05 p.m. at Oldsmobile Park. This game marks the beginning of the Crosstown Showdown. If necessary, the make up date for the game is Wednesday, April 4.
"Our exhibition game versus the Lugnuts is a very special day for the City of Lansing and its surrounding communities," Grewe said. "This game marks the first time in the history of both organizations that all baseball fans in this great capital city can come support both of its baseball teams."
Including the exhibition against the Lugnuts, the Spartans will play a total of seven games at Oldsmobile Park this season. The Spartans will also travel to Grand Rapids, Mich., to play host to Western Michigan at Fifth Third Ballpark on April 11. This game is now in its second year as Coach Grewe seeks to reach out to all the great Spartans on the west side of the state.
"It will take extreme toughness and the right mental focus by our players and coaches to show up each and every game ready to compete," said Grewe. "I am thrilled for the challenge and ready to get after it."
