FROM CBD NEWS SOURCE
The 2013 University of Minnesota baseball season marks a new beginning in Golden Gopher history. As Gopher baseball enters its 125th year as a University of Minnesota sport, it also is the first year of the newly constructed Siebert Field. With a combination of games at the Metrodome, Siebert Field and hosting the Big Ten Tournament at Target Field, the Gophers will kick off the season on Feb. 2 with the 19th annual Pro and Legends Alumni game. Minnesota begins play at Siebert Field on April 5 against Ohio State.
“The fact that we are opening the new Siebert Field on the 125th year of Gopher baseball makes it a special season,” head coach John Anderson said. “In looking at the overall schedule, I think we have a very challenging season ahead of us. We open at UCLA, which is a great team out of the Pac-12 and will be one of the top 15 teams in the country. We’ll also face Texas and Indiana State at the Dome as Indiana State will have one of the top 2013 draft prospects (Sean Manaea). Along with 22 games at the Dome, we look forward to getting back on campus with 16 games at Siebert Field. A great cap to the end of the season could be us playing and hosting the Big Ten Tournament at Target Field. Playing in that facility is not only a special event for our players, but one for all of the Big Ten. This year is an exciting time for Gopher baseball and we’re looking forward to it.”
Minnesota starts the regular season at UCLA, Feb. 15-17. Following the series with the Bruins, the Gopher baseball team will be in the Metrodome for their next 17 games. After hosting Western Michigan, Feb. 22-24, and North Dakota State on Feb. 27, Minnesota welcomes Dartmouth, Utah and Northern Illinois to the Metrodome for the 29th annual Dairy Queen Classic, March 1-3. After a mid-week game against Hamline (March 6), Minnesota hosts Western Illinois, March 8-10 and Nebraska-Omaha, March 12-13. Indiana State comes to town for a three-game series, March 15-17 to end the Gophers’ homestand. After a road trip to Kansas State, March 19-20, the Gophers welcome Texas to the Dome, March 22-25. Minnesota will also have one final tune up before the Big Ten season as the Gophers host South Dakota State, March 27, which will be the final Gopher game in the Dome this season.
Like the 2012 season, Minnesota opens the Big Ten Conference campaign against the Michigan Wolverines, in Ann Arbor, March 29-31. The Gophers open the new Siebert Field against Ohio State, April 5-7. After a home game against St. John’s University, Minnesota competes at Northwestern (April 12-14) and returns home to face Augsburg (April 16) and Michigan State (April 19-21). The Gophers then have four-straight road games at North Dakota State (April 23) and at Iowa (April 26-28) before playing St. Thomas on April 30. Minnesota closes out the Big Ten Conference regular season with a road series at Penn State (May 3-5) and home series against Nebraska (May 10-12) and Illinois (May 16-18).
The University of Minnesota and the Minnesota Twins will host the 2013 Big Ten Tournament, May 22-25 at Target Field. The 2013 tournament will be the seventh played in Minneapolis, as Minnesota hosted the event in 1984, 1986, 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2004. The event marks the first time the Big Ten Tournament will be played in a Major League Baseball facility.
