Aug. 29, 2008

ATHENS, Ohio -

2009 Ohio baseball schedule

The 2009 Ohio baseball schedule was released by head coach Joe Carbone Friday, with the Bobcats set to host 27 games at Bob Wren Stadium. The Bobcats open their season Feb. 20 at Davidson. The team will remain in Davidson, N.C. over the next two days to play a pair of games against Army and one versus Lafayette.

Bobcat fans will get a chance to see non-conference opponents Pittsburgh, Wright State, Duquesne (four-game series), Eastern Kentucky, Cleveland State, Youngstown State, Marshall, West Virginia, Dayton and Cincinnati challenge Ohio in Athens. The Bobcats will also host weekend series’ against Mid-American Conference foes Central Michigan, Toledo, Akron, Kent State and Buffalo.

Ohio’s first eight games of the season come on the road. Following the Davidson trip, the ‘Cats will battle Furman in a four-game series Feb. 27-29. A three-game series (March 6-8) at Southeastern Conference opponent Tennessee highlights the schedule, as well.

Ohio will also face West Virginia, Pittsburgh, Marshall, Cleveland State and Cincinnati on the road as part of their non-conference slate. Weekend road trips to Western Michigan, defending MAC Tournament-champion Eastern Michigan, Bowling Green and rival Miami are part of the team’s MAC agenda.

“We’re very excited about this year’s schedule, with our three southern trips to Davidson, Furman and Tennessee,” Carbone said. “We have a very competitive southern tour and our non-conference schedule is one of the toughest we’ve ever had since I’ve been the head coach here.”

Ohio is 3-4 all-time against Davidson, while their matchups with Army and Lafayette will mark the first-ever meeting between the schools. The Bobcats have had success against Furman in the past, owning the series lead 11-5, but haven’t fared as well against the Volunteers, who lead the all-time series 11-4. Ohio hasn’t played Tennessee, however, since 1997.

The first home game of the season is set for Wednesday, March 4 against Pittsburgh at 4 p.m. The Bobcats open MAC play with a three-game series at home against Central Michigan on Friday, March 20 through the 22nd. The series comes in the midst of a nine-game, 14-day home stand that stretches from March 11 to the 24th, the team’s longest of the season.

Ohio wraps up its regular season Saturday, May 16 at home against Buffalo. The Bobcats will be looking to make the MAC Tournament for the second-straight year, after qualifying this past spring, where the team made the semifinals.

For the full schedule, please clink the link at the top.