Seattle University head baseball coach Donny Harrel has announced the team's schedule for the 2013 season, the school's first one as a member of the Western Athletic Conference.
"I believe this is the strongest schedule we have had in the four years of the current program," Harrel said. "The addition of the conference games heightens the importance of the schedule, especially in the second half, but we were still able to put together a competitive non-conference schedule. The guys are ready to face the teams on this year's slate."
The Redhawks open the season with a three-game series Feb. 15-17 at Santa Clara, a squad that swept a two-game series at Bannerwood Park last season. Seattle U opens the home schedule Tuesday, Feb. 19, against Portland before embarking on another weekend road trip, this time facing Cal Poly Feb. 22-24 in San Luis Obispo, Calif.
Seattle U welcomes BYU for a two-game midweek series Feb. 26-27, and then the Redhawks start a seven-game road stretch with a weekend series at Long Beach State March 1-3. After the first of three games against crosstown rival Washington, this one taking place at Husky Ballpark March 5, the Redhawks travel south to face the Portland Pilots in a three-game series March 8-10.
After hosting Saint Martin's March 12, Seattle U welcomes Portland back to Bannerwood Park for a single game March 13 before a weekend series against UC Davis March 15-17. The players will take winter quarter finals, and then the team leaves for its first two Western Athletic Conference series, heading first to Ruston, La., for a series at Louisiana Tech (March 23-25) before remaining in the region for a three-game series at Texas State (March 28-30) in San Marcos, Texas.
Washington makes the short trip to Bannerwood Park for a single game Tuesday, April 2, and then the Redhawks host their first WAC series when the UTSA Roadrunners come to town for three games April 5-7. Seattle U hosts British Columbia in a single game Tuesday, April 9, before leaving for a three-game WAC series at Dallas Baptist April 11-13.
Seattle U hosts UT Arlington in a conference set April 19-21, followed by a single game visit to Bannerwood Park by Oregon State Monday, April 22. The Redhawks continue WAC play with a three-game series at San Jose State April 26-28.
Oregon comes to Bannerwood Park for a two-game midweek series April 30-May 1, with Sacramento State heading to the Pacific Northwest for a three-game WAC series May 3-5. The Redhawks complete the three-game season series against Washington with a visit to Husky Ballpark Tuesday, May 7, and then head out on the road for a conference series against CSU Bakersfield May 10-12.
Seattle U concludes the regular season by hosting New Mexico State May 16-18. The games on Thursday, May 16, and Friday, May 17 will take place at Bannerwood Park, while the site of the game on Saturday, May 18, is still to be determined.
If Seattle University finishes in the top eight in the 10-team conference, it will head to Grand Prairie, Texas, for the 2013 WAC Baseball Tournament, held at QuikTrip Park, home of the 2011 American Association champion Grand Prairie AirHogs. The winner of the double-elimination WAC Tournament receives an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.
Seattle University finished the 2012 season with a 23-30 record, including victories over Washington, Washington State, BYU, Ohio State, Nevada, and Utah Valley. The Redhawks welcome back 18 letterwinners from last season to this year's squad.