2013 UND baseball schedule
GRAND FORKS, N.D.-- University of North Dakota head baseball coach Jeff Dodson announced the finalization of the team's 2013 schedule. The 53-game slate includes 12 games at Mall of America Field at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, trips to Kansas, Wichita State and the home of the NCAA College World Series, T.D. Ameritrade Park (Creighton).
"We're looking forward to another exciting schedule," Dodson said. "We are playing some good teams and getting to play in the Metrodome which will allow our kids to play in front of friends and family. It helps keep us in class, which is a high priority for our program."
The schedule gets underway Feb. 18 with the first of a dozen at the Metrodome, the former home of the Minnesota Twins and the current home field of the NFL's Minnesota Vikings. The final four UND games scheduled for the Metrodome are slated against in-state rival North Dakota State with doubleheaders on Mar. 29 and 30.
"We're excited about the continued series with NDSU at the Metrodome," Dodson said. "Hopefully, if the weather cooperates as it did last year, we can switch those games back to campus sites."
Other non-conference trips include playing the Jayhawks in the first outdoor game listed on the schedule on Mar. 4. That trip finishes with a two-day stop in St. Louis, Mo. to play Tennessee-Martin and Saint Louis before a Mar. 8-10 series against former North Central Conference foe Nebraska-Omaha.
Two days later, it's off to Wichita, Kan. for a two-game series with the perennial-NCAA Tournament qualifier Wichita State Shockers. The finale of the road swing is a stop at T.D. Ameritrade Park to play the Creighton Bluejays in their home park and the new home to the College World Series.
"The KU, Wichita State and Creighton games are exciting," Dodson said. "It gives the kids a chance to play at the home of the CWS at the end of that trip. Then we play the Bison and conference play opens so it's a pretty tough schedule from there on out."
The Great West schedule opens at Houston Baptist Apr. 4 with the first of four mid-week, non-conference games against South Dakota State mixed in the league calendar. The home opener comes Apr. 19 against last season's undefeated league champion, Utah Valley.
"We conclude our season with the Great West Conference Touranament in New Jersey this year, so we're really looking forward to getting out there and competing for a league championship," Coach Dodson said.
