WMU baseball announces 2017 schedule
Photo credit: WMU Intercollegiate Athletics
KALAMAZOO, Mich.—The Western Michigan University baseball Broncos will play five Big Ten teams, including Michigan State, Illinois, Michigan and Northwestern, in its upcoming 2017 season.
The baseball Broncos are coming off a record-breaking 2016 season that included their first Mid-American Conference Tournament appearance. WMU made it to the NCAA Regional Tournament for the first time since 1989 and was the only program from the state of Michigan to make the field of 64.
Home schedule
The home slate this season includes MAC series versus Ball State April 7-9, Eastern Michigan University April 21-23, Ohio University April 28-30 and Buffalo May 18-20. The Broncos also host Southeast Missouri State for a three-game series May 5-7.
On the road
The Broncos will officially open their 2017 season in the Atlanta Challenge for the second year in a row, playing Kennesaw State first Friday, Feb. 22. The team also faces Georgia State and Georgia Tech. The second weekend is a three-game series at East Tennessee State.
WMU will take its annual spring trip to participate in the Stetson Tournament in Deland, Florida, and play University of Connecticut, St. Joseph's College and Stetson University. The Broncos will play the Detroit Tigers Top Prospects Team in Joker Marchant Stadium for the sixth season in a row at 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 8, in Lakeland, Florida.
"We try to create a competitive balance in our schedule while fighting for as many home games as we can," says head coach Billy Gernon. "We have a nice blend of competition this year while playing five games against teams that were in the NCAA Tournament this past season in Georgia Tech, Stetson and Southeast Missouri State. After winning the first MAC Tournament title in school history, it is very important to continue to build upon our success and put our program in environments that best prepare us to win the MAC and the MAC Tournament."
Upon returning from their annual spring break trip, the Broncos will travel to Evansville for a three-game series to play the Aces of the Missouri Valley Conference March 17-19. WMU will then open MAC play with two straight series on the road at Miami March 24-26 and Toledo March 31 to April 2.
The Broncos will play the MSU Spartans twice, once in East Lansing in late March and the other at Comerica Park in Detroit May 9.
The MAC Tournament is set for May 24 in Avon, Ohio, at All Pro Freight Stadium. Gernon has led his squad to the MAC tournament five of his six seasons and has a record of 9-9 including the only tournament title in school history in 2016.
For more on Bronco baseball, including rosters, schedules, statistics, interviews and more, visit wmubroncos.com.
For more WMU news, arts and events, visit wmich.edu/news.