2011 Baseball Schedule
CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois University head baseball coach Jim Schmitz has announced the 2011 baseball schedule, highlighted by games against teams from 11 different conferences as well as four 2010 NCAA Tournament participants.
The season kicks off with 16 games away from the friendly confines of Coaches Stadium as they start the 2011 campaign with a three-game series with 2010 NCAA Tournament participant Southern Mississippi on Feb. 18-20. The Panthers then head to Conway, Ark., for three games against Central Arkansas (Feb. 25-27) before playing in the Dunn Hospitality Diamond Classic hosted by Evansville on March 4-5. Eastern squares off against Evansville on March 4 before playing the Purple Aces the following day in addition to facing Big Ten member Northwestern.
The Panthers play seven games during spring break, facing Alabama in a three-game series on March 11-13 before squaring off against Mississippi State on March 15. The road swing ends in a three-game series with Memphis on March 18-20.
EIU's home opener is slated for March 22 against Chicago State in a midweek matchup. The Panthers play in a total of 15 midweek games including home contests against Southern Illinois (March 23), Saint Louis (March 29), Western Illinois (April 5), Illinois College (April 13), Benedictine University (April 27) and Illinois State (May 11).
Road midweek matchups included contests at Indiana State (March 30), Chicago State (April 6), Illinois (April 20), Saint Louis (May 10) and Bradley (May 17). EIU also plays two midweek games at neutral sites when it faces Illinois on April 12 in Mattoon, Ill., and Missouri in O'Fallon, Mo., on April 26.
Ohio Valley Conference action begins at home against Eastern Kentucky on March 26-27. The Panthers also face defending OVC Regular-Season Champions Tennessee Tech (April 16-17), Murray State (April 23-24) and 2010 OVC Tournament Champions Jacksonville State (May 7-8) in a three-game series at Coaches Stadium.
Road OVC action starts on April 2-3 against Austin Peay in Clarksville, Tenn. EIU will play conference road series at Morehead State (April 9-10), UT Martin (April 30-May 1) and Southeast Missouri (May 20-21).
The conference tournament will be played in Jackson, Tenn., on May 25-28 at Pringles Park. It will mark the second consecutive year that the double-elimination tournament has been played at the venue.
