The first game of the 2008 Ohio State baseball season is just 2 weeks away. Below is the current schedule with links to each opponent's baseball website, their 2007 record, their conference and their mascot. I will break down each team in more depth a day or two before the game or series. There is a small write up on each Big 10 series.
In my opinion, this is a slight upgrade to last year's schedule. The premier game will be at Texas A&M in College Station, Texas. The Aggies are a perennial contender for the CWS. This will be a good indication of where the Buckeyes are and what we can expect of them this season.
Here is the current schedule.
Fri, Feb 22
Arkansas State at Millington, Tenn. 1:00 p.m. 2007 record: 23-32 Mascot: Indians Conference: Sun Belt
Sat, Feb 23
Memphis at Millington, Tenn. 1:00 p.m. 2007 record: 36-27 Mascot: Tigers Conference: Conference USA
Sun, Feb 24
Seton Hall at Millington, Tenn. 10:00 a.m. 2007 record: 25-25 Mascot: Pirates Conference: Big East
Fri, Feb 29
Texas A&M at College Station, Tex. 7:30 p.m. 2007 record: 48-17 Mascot: Aggies Conference: Big 12
Notes: Ranked 10 at season's end, hosted and won College Station Regional of College World Series
Sat, Mar 01
Louisiana Tech at College Station, Tex. 1:30 p.m. 2007 record: 35-24 Mascot: Bulldogs Conference: WAC
Sun, Mar 02
Arkansas at College Station, Tex. 12:00 p.m. 2007 Record: 21-43 Mascot: Razorbacks Conference: SEC
Fri, Mar 07
Air Force at West Palm Beach, Fla. 7:00 p.m. 2007 Record: 8-44 Mascot: Falcons Conference: Mountain West
Sat, Mar 08
Maine at West Palm Beach, Fla. TBA 2007 Record: 22-31 Mascot: Black Bears Conference: America East
Sun, Mar 09
Connecticut at West Palm Beach, Fla. 12:00 p.m. 2007 Record: 34-27 Mascot: Huskies Conference: Big East
Sat, Mar 15
Bucknell at Bradenton, Fla. (Stadium TBD) TBA 2007 Record: 16-24 Mascot: Bisons Conference: Patriot
Sun, Mar 16
Dartmouth at Bradenton, Fla. (IMG Academy Park) 3:00 p.m. 2007 Record: 8-29-1 Mascot: Big Green Conference: Ivy League
Mon, Mar 17
Northern Iowa at Bradenton, Fla. (Manatee Community College) 7:00 p.m. 2007 Record: 23-28 Mascot: Panthers Conference: Missouri Valley
Tue, Mar 18
Bradley at Bradenton, Fla. (IMG Academy Park) 3:00 p.m. 2007 Record: 32-21 Mascot: Braves Confererence: Missouri Valley
Wed, Mar 19
St. Louis at Bradenton, Fla. (IMG Academy Park) 10:00 a.m. 2007 Record: 16-37 Mascot: Billikens Conference: Atlantic 10
Thu, Mar 20
Army at Bradenton, Fla. (Manatee Community College) 7:00 p.m. 2007 Record: 25-23-1 Conference: Patriot
Fri, Mar 21
Kansas at Bradenton, Fla. (Manatee Community College) 1:00 p.m. 2007 Record: 28-30 Mascot: Jayhawks Conference: Big 12
Wed, Mar 26
Pittsburgh Columbus, Ohio 2:00 p.m. 2007 Record: 27-27 Mascot: Panthers Conference: Big East
Penn State * Columbus, Ohio
Game 1 Fri, Mar 28 6:35 p.m
Game 2 Sat, Mar 29 1:05 p.m.
Game 3 Sat, Mar 29 3:05 p.m.
Game 4 Sun, Mar 30 1:05 p.m.
Notes: Rivals has pegged the Nittany Lions for 3rd in the Big 10 this upcoming season (
Link); PSU finished 44th in the Nation in Avg Home attendence, pretty high for a Northern team, they trailed only Nebraska, Notre Dame,
Ohio State, Oregon State and Creighton (
Link); Penn State reliever Drew O'Neil has garnered several awards and spots on Watch Lists (
All Presason Ping,
Preseason Louisville Slugger,
Preseason Wallace Award Watch List)
Wed, Apr 02
Toledo Columbus, Ohio 6:35 p.m. 2007 Record: 26-28 Mascot: Rockets Conference: MAC
Minnesota * Columbus, Ohio
Fri, Apr 04 6:35 p.m.
Sat, Apr 05 1:05 p.m.
Sat, Apr 05 3:05 p.m.
Sun, Apr 06 1:05 p.m.
Notes:
Gophers complete home schedule; The Golden Gophers will start the regular season vs Ole Miss, a 2007 NCAA Super Regional semi-finalist; Minnesota finished 2nd in the Big Ten to Champion Michigan and are picked to finish 2nd again this year by Rivals; Jr Third Baseman Nate Hansen will be a player to watch (
Link); The Gophers will play 31 of their 56 games at home this year, including 17 at the Metrodome (
Link)
Wed, Apr 09
Central Michigan Columbus, Ohio 6:35 p.m. 2007 Record: 35-21 Mascot: Chippewas Conference: MAC
Michigan St. at East Lansing, Mich.
Fri, Apr 11 5:05 p.m.
Sat, Apr 12 1:05 p.m.
Sat, Apr 12 3:05 p.m.
Sun, Apr 13 1:05 p.m.
Notes: Michigan State will play 13 games against 7 teams that made the 2007 NCAA Championship series (
Complete MSU Schedule); The Spartans had the top rated recruiting class in the Big 10 this year per Baseball America (
Link)
Wed, Apr 16
Louisville Columbus, Ohio 6:35 p.m. 2007 Record: 47-24 Mascot: Cardinals Conference: Big East
Purdue * Columbus, Ohio
Fri, Apr 18 6:35 p.m.
Sat, Apr 19 1:05 p.m.
Sat, Apr 19 3:05 p.m.
Sun, Apr 20 1:05 p.m.
Notes: Purdue has two members on the Pre-season All Big 10 team by Rivals (
Link); 1B/OF Ryne White and RHP Matt Bischoff are on the Wallace Watch List (
Link); White ranked third in the nation in 2007 with a .452 batting average;
Wed, Apr 23
Akron * Columbus, Ohio 6:35 p.m. 2007 Record: 23-24 Mascot: Zips Conference: MAC
Northwestern at Evanston, Ill
Fri, Apr 25 4:00 p.m.
Sat, Apr 26 2:00 p.m.
Sat, Apr 26 5:00 p.m.
Sun, Apr 27 2:00 p.m.
Notes: Wildcats 2nd Baseman Jake Owens named to Wallace Watch List (
Link); DH Antonio Mule was selected to the NCAA All-Midwest Region team in 2007
Wed, Apr 30
Eastern Michigan Columbus, Ohio 6:35 p.m. 2007 Record: 32-24 Mascot: Eagles Conference: MAC
Michigan at Ann Arbor, Mich.
Fri, May 02 6:35 p.m.
Sat, May 03 4:05 p.m.
Sat, May 03 7:05 p.m.
Sun, May 04 1:05 p.m.
Notes: scUM, the defending champ, was picked to win the Big 10 again this year by a deluded Rivals (
Link); for a reason known only the God, dUMb was voted a preseason #8 by Baseball America (
Link); Ann Arbor is a filthy whore (
Link); Junior RHP/DH Zach Putnam, Senior 1B Nate Recknagel and Junior SS Jason Christian were named to the 2008 Louisville Slugger preseason All-America teams selected by what must be a group of chimpanzees at
Collegiate Baseball (
Link); Putnam was also put on the Wallace Watch List (
Link)
Wed, May 07
Marshall Columbus, Ohio 6:35 p.m. 2007 Record: 21-32 Mascot: Thundering Herd Conference: Conference USA
Illinois at Columbus, Ohio
Fri, May 09 6:35 p.m.
Sat, May 10 1:05 p.m.
Sat, May 10 3:05 p.m.
Sun, May 11 1:05 p.m.
Notes: CF Kyle Hudson led the Illini with 30 receptions at WR for the football team in 2006 and hit .353 for the baseball team in 2007; SS/OF Pete Cappetta hails from the same High School as Ohio State commit Garrett Goebel (Montini Catholic)
Tue, May 13
Buffalo Columbus, Ohio 12:00 p.m. 2007 Record: 16-35 Mascot: Bulls Conference: MAC
Iowa at Iowa City, Iowa
Thu, May 15 7:00 p.m.
Fri, May 16 5:00 p.m.
Fri, May 16 7:00 p.m.
Sat, May 17 2:00 p.m.
Notes: The Hawkeyes hope to build on their successful 2007 season which found them an unexpected 31-23 (
Link); Iowa's 2008 recruiting class was ranked 3rd in the Big 10 by Baseball America (
Link);
Big Ten Tournament Wed, May 21 - 25 at the home park of the Regular Season Big 10 Champion
