FROM CBD NEWS SOURCE
SAN DIEGO, Calif.- Head Coach Rich Hill of the University of San Diego baseball has released the 2012 Torero schedule, which once again features some of the nation’s top programs in Vanderbilt, USC, Oregon State, and Kansas State.
“Once again we put together an outstanding schedule for the 2012 season,” stated Hill. “We always try to play the best non-conference schedule that we can, and this year is no exception with the likes of perennial powers Vanderbilt from the SEC, USC and Oregon State from the PAC-12 as well as Kansas State from the Big-12 to name a few. ”
The Toreros will play 27 home games, highlighted by an early season tournament in which USD will square off against national powers Oregon State, Kansas State, USC and the University of the Pacific from Feb. 23-23.
“I am excited about our tournament, which should be one of the top preseason tournament’s in the country,” explained Hill. “I am also really looking forward to the ever-challenging WCC schedule, which should be ever more challenging with the addition of BYU this year.”
For the first time in several years, the Toreros will open the season away from the city of San Diego, as they head to Huntsville, Texas to take on Sam Houston State University in the opening weekend of play. The Toreros will play a three-game set with the Bearkats from Feb. 17-19.
After hosting the impressive USD Tournament, San Diego will head up to the Inland Empire, to take on UC Riverside on Feb. 28, before taking part in the San Diego State Invitational from Mar. 1-4. In this tournament, the Toreros will clash with Cal State Northridge, Milwaukee-Wisconsin, and Cal Poly.
San Diego will then head to Nashville, Tenn. to play both Lipscomb and 2011 College World Series participant Vanderbilt. USD will play Lipscomb in a pair of mid-week games, before heading to Vanderbilt for a three-game set between Mar. 9-11.
The Toreros will then return home to begin a 10-game home stand between Mar. 13 and Mar. 25. USD will host Indiana (Mar. 13-14), Columbia (Mar. 16-18), cross-town rival San Diego State (Mar. 20) and they will open West Coast Conference play by hosting Santa Clara for three-games between Mar. 23-25.
USD will play half of the WCC slate inside the friendly confines of Cunningham Stadium with three-game series against defending regular-season champion Gonzaga (Apr. 5-7), Saint Mary’s (Apr. 20-22), and Loyola Marymount (May 11-13).
The Toreros will have WCC road series’ at NCAA Regional participant San Francisco (Mar. 30-Apr. 1), Portland (Apr. 27-29), WCC newcomer BYU (May 3-5) and Pepperdine (May-25-27).
Other non-conference highlights include a home and home match-ups against NCAA Super Regional participant UC Irvine, and resuming the cross-town rivalry with San Diego State, while also battling La Salle at Cunningham Stadium.
