FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
EAST LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan State baseball program and head coach Jake Boss Jr. announced the 2010 Spartan schedule this week. The Spartans will open the 2010 campaign on Feb. 19 with the first of three games in Greenville, S.C., where they will take on Furman, Clemson and Miami (OH).
"We are excited to play another challenging schedule for the 2010 season as we continue to build the foundation of our program here at Michigan State," said Boss. "Playing in Greenville to start the season against outstanding competition in Clemson, Furman, and Miami (OH) will be a difficult task, but that trip is one of the highlight of our year because of the good people of Greenville and their hospitality."
The Spartans will then take part in the second annual BIG EAST/Big Ten Challenge in St. Petersburg and Clearwater, Fla. MSU will meet Seton Hall (Feb. 26), Louisville (Feb. 27) and West Virginia (Feb. 28) in the Challenge.
Following the Challenge, the Spartans’ will take on Southeast Missouri State, Samford, Eastern Michigan and two SEC opponents in Mississippi State and Alabama, in their seven-game spring trip (March 5-12) through Mississippi and Alabama.
"The BIG EAST/Big Ten Challenge will be just that, as we will face three outstanding opponents," said Boss. "The spring trip should be a great experience at Mississippi State, Samford and Alabama."
After a three-game series with Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., March 20-21, MSU will open its home schedule at McLane Baseball Stadium with four games against Oakland University, beginning on March 26.
The Spartans kick off Big Ten play on April 2 when they host Iowa for a three-game set. The Spartans will also host conference foes Ohio State (April 16-18), Illinois (April 23-25) and Indiana (May 14-16). MSU will travel to Minnesota (April 9-11), Penn State (April 30-May 2), Purdue (May 7-9) and Northwestern (May 20-22).
The Green and White will meet rival Michigan just twice in 2010 – at home on May 11 and in Ann Arbor on May 12.
In addition to in-state schools Michigan, Eastern Michigan and Oakland, the Spartans will also take on Central Michigan (three times) and Western Michigan (once).
"Weekend series’ at Notre Dame and at home against Oakland will prepare us for a very challenging Big Ten slate," Boss said. "Midweek games vs. EMU, WMU, CMU and Bowling Green will be equally challenging, but our players came to Michigan State to play against outstanding competition and we feel like we have given them that opportunity."
Six teams on the Spartans’ schedule – Clemson, Louisville, Alabama, Minnesota, Ohio State and Indiana – all appeared in last year’s NCAA Tournament.
The Spartans will play four games at Oldsmobile Park, highlighted by the April 7 exhibition match-up with the Lansing Lugnuts in the Crosstown Showdown. Last year’s Showdown drew a stadium-record crowd of 12,992.
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