Chippewas Unveil 2017 Baseball Schedule
11/23/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - The Central Michigan baseball team will open the 2017 season with a three-game series from Feb. 17-19 at East Tennessee State.
The Chippewas then go to Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas, and then on to Florida where it will play eight games against six opponents, including Boston College, which made an appearance in the NCAA Super Regionals in 2016.
CMU released its 56-game regular-season schedule on Tuesday.
"It's very consistent with what we've done in the past," said longtime CMU coach Steve Jaksa. "Last year was probably top to bottom the most difficult schedule that I've been a part of. This one is similar to schedules that we have had in the past."
CMU is scheduled to open at home on March 14 against Marygrove.
The schedule includes eight total dates with in-state rivals Michigan State, Michigan and Oakland, along with a four-game series at Northwestern, and a home series with Missouri State, which finished 38-21 and reached the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament championship game last spring.
The Chippewas are scheduled to return to Detroit for their annual Clash at Comerica, but with a new opponent, Notre Dame. The Irish replace Michigan State, which had been CMU's opponent for every previous 'Clash.'
"We've had a great relationship with MSU," Jaksa said. "Through scheduling situations it didn't work out this year. It's disappointing, but we look at it as an opportunity. Quality opponent. I think any who wants to see good college baseball can circle that one on their calendar."
The Chippewas will also play Oakland at Jimmy John's Field, a minor league stadium that opened last spring, in suburban Detroit's Utica.
The Chippewas' slate includes eight Mid-American Conference series. They will play Miami (Ohio), Western Michigan, Northern Illinois and Ball State at home. They are slated to travel to Toledo, Kent State, Bowling Green and Ohio.
Western Michigan is the defending MAC Tournament champion; Kent State is the defending regular-season champ.
The MAC Tournament, scheduled once again for Avon, Ohio, is scheduled to begin on May 24.