Tuesday, October 17, 2006

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Oct. 17, 2006) - With the recent conclusion of fall practice, ETSU head coach Tony Skole released the team's 2007 schedule Tuesday afternoon.  Highlighting the slate are 26 home games, nine contests versus NCAA tournament teams from last season and a home-and-home series with instate rival Tennessee.

"I am very excited about our 2007 schedule," said Skole. "The schedule poses a great challenge for our ball club.  The Atlantic Sun Conference schedule will once again be very rigorous as we have five of the nine conference series on the road."

The Buccaneers open the season with a three-game set against The Citadel in Charleston, S.C., February 9-11.  ETSU returns home for a seven-game homestand featuring three-games series against Niagara and Rider and a single game against Furman.

"Although we open the season on the road, nine of our next twelve games will be at home," said Skole.  "I hope this home stand will help our younger players get acclimated to the program and to college baseball in a familiar environment."

Following the time at home, the Bucs head to Rock Hill, S.C. for the Coca-Cola Classic, hosted by Winthrop.  In addition to the Eagles, who have made consecutive appearances in the NCAA tournament, ETSU will face challenges from Temple and perennial Mid-American Conference stalwart Kent State.

ETSU kicks off its second Atlantic Sun Conference campaign against Gardner-Webb in Boiling Springs, N.C. March 16-17.  The Bucs home conference opener does not come until the end of March, hosting the Campbell Camels March 30-31.

Stetson hosts the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament May 23-26 in DeLand, Fla.  The top six teams in the 10-team conference receive bids to the conference tournament with Kennesaw State and North Florida being ineligible for postseason play due to NCAA transition rules.

 "As our program improves each year it makes it more and more difficult to schedule games," said Skole.  "I am very excited about this team.  We have great momentum going into our winter strength and conditioning program."