FROM CBD NEWS SOURCE
BOILING SPRINGS – Gardner-Webb announced its 2013 baseball schedule Tuesday, with 13 games on tap against teams that participated in last season’s NCAA Regionals.
The Runnin’ Bulldogs open the season against Atlantic 10 champion Dayton on February 15 at John Henry Moss Stadium / Bill Masters Field, battling the Flyers in a four-game series.
Gardner-Webb will also head to Wilmington, N.C., in early March for The Hughes Brothers Challenge (March 1-3), taking on 2012 College World Series participant Stony Brook, along with NCAA Tournament participants San Diego and UNC Wilmington.
The home schedule features a three-game set with Air Force (March 7-9). Gardner-Webb will also battle Wake Forest (March 13) and South Carolina (April 23) at Veterans Field/Keeter Stadium in Shelby, N.C.
The Runnin’ Bulldogs will also battle perennial Atlantic Coast Conference powers North Carolina (March 12) and Clemson (April 3) on the road.
“This is the most challenging schedule we have ever put together,” said Gardner-Webb head coach Rusty Stroupe. “Our players enjoy playing high quality teams, and look forward to the opportunity to match up against some of the nation’s best.
“Playing 13 games against teams who went to the NCAA Regionals last season will certainly test our team, but will also give our fans and students the pride of watching our program go up against some of the top teams in the nation.”
Gardner-Webb will open Big South Conference play on Friday, March 15, against Campbell in Boiling Springs.
The Runnin’ Bulldogs will host home league series against the Fighting Camels, Charleston Southern (April 5-7), UNC Asheville (April 26-28) and Presbyterian (May 16-18).
Gardner-Webb returns seven position starters and its top-five starting pitchers from a successful 2012 season that saw the Runnin’ Bulldogs post a 32-28 record.
