Golden Eagles Release 2008 Baseball Schedule

[Bogus Smith]

Golden Eagles Release 2008 Baseball Schedule 

Courtesy: ORU Media Relations

Release: 11/19/2007

TULSA ?- Twelve games against 2007 NCAA Regionals squads highlights Oral Roberts' 2008 baseball schedule as was announced by head coach Rob Walton on Monday.

?I am very pleased with our schedule this year. It is very solid and we are playing some tough teams,? Walton said. ?Going to Pepperdine will be tough because I am expecting big things from them this year and we will have to be ready for it.?

?Our mid-week schedule, at least I feel like, is one of the toughest in the nation. Playing traditional baseball powers Missouri State, Baylor, Wichita State, Arkansas and Kansas will be a great opportunity for us.?

The Golden Eagles open the season with the UTSA Baseball Classic in San Antonio, Texas on Feb. 22. The tournament guarantees four games, including games against Army, Louisiana-Lafayette, tournament host UTSA, and a championship or consolation game on Sunday.

After the season-opening tournament, ORU returns home to host a three-game series against 2007 MAAC Champion and NCAA Regional qualifier LeMoyne on Feb. 29. After a single home game against Missouri State, the Golden Eagles travel to the Lone Star State again, traveling to Arlington, Texas, for the UTA Tournament. ORU plays Dallas Baptist on March 7, followed by UTA on March 8, and McNeese State on March 9.

ORU will play host to perennial and regional power Baylor in a mid-week two-game series on Tuesday, March 11, and Wednesday, March 12. After the match-up with Baylor, ORU makes its annual trip out west to California, playing Pepperdine in a three-game series on March 14-16. Both Baylor and Pepperdine reached postseason play last season.

ORU will play home-and-home series? against Missouri Valley Conference rivals Missouri State and Wichita State as well as Arkansas and play single games on the road against national power Texas (March 24) and Big 12 foe Kansas (May 7).

In other non-conference action, the Golden Eagles host weekend series? against Dallas Baptist (March 20-22) and BYU (March 27-29).

In the newly formed Summit League, previously known as the Mid-Continent Conference, ORU retains the four-game weekend slate and will host new member North Dakota State at J.L. Johnson Stadium (April 4-6) and battle South Dakota State (May 2-4) and IPFW (May 15-17) on the road.

?We are excited about the new challenges of The Summit League and playing the new teams, North Dakota State, South Dakota State, and IPFW. Those three teams will bring a new dynamic to the league,? Walton said.

ORU is looking to win their 11th straight conference title after becoming just the fourth team in NCAA Division I history to win at least 10 consecutive titles in 2007. Walton returns nine letterwinners, five position starters and five pitchers from a 2007 squad that posted a 40-17 record.

2007 Mid-Continent co-Player of the Year Brendan Duffy, Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American Jerry Sullivan, and all-conference honorees Brian Van Kirk, Kelly Minissale and Adam Younger highlight the returners.

[tmh8286]

Yeah, but I knew about this a week ago !