Baseball Releases 2004 Schedule
9/18/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Sept. 18, 2003
WACO, Texas - Baylor baseball head coach Steve Smith announced the team's 2004 schedule Thursday. The Bears finished 2003 having played the second-toughest schedule in the nation, according to the NCAA, and the 2004 schedule looks to be no easier.
"We are excited even now as we prepare for another outstanding cast of opponents," head coach Steve Smith said. "With the most home games we have had in several years, our fans will have the opportunity to see some of the best college baseball has to offer right here in Waco."
The Bears open the year with a weekend series against six-time West Coast Conference champion Loyola Marymount, Feb. 13-15. Four of Baylor's five non-conference weekends in 2004 are at home, as the Bears host LMU, Arizona, UC-Irvine and Vanderbilt; all four are making their first-ever trips to Waco. The lone road series mixed in comes Feb. 20-22, when Baylor heads west to Long Beach State.
Eight of the Bears' 2004 opponents qualified for the NCAA Tournament a year ago: Arizona, Houston, Long Beach State, Missouri, Nebraska, Rice, Texas and Texas A&M. Of those, Rice and Texas advanced to the College World Series, with the Owls coming home with the national title.
Rice (No. 1), Texas (No. 4), Long Beach State (No. 9), Nebraska (No. 13), Texas A&M (No. 14) and Houston (No. 22) each finished the 2003 season ranked in Baseball America's top 25. Baylor concluded last year at No. 11 in the polls.
Baylor's home schedule includes a late-season showdown with the defending national champion, Rice. The non-conference schedule also includes regional rivals Houston, TCU, Texas-Arlington, Texas-San Antonio, Texas State-San Marcos (formerly Southwest Texas), Northwestern State, Sam Houston State and Dallas Baptist. Baylor's 35 regular-season home games are their most in Smith's 10 seasons at the Bears' helm.
The postseason begins with the 2004 Big 12 Tournament, which returns to The Ballpark in Arlington for the second time in the conference's history, followed by NCAA Regional and Super Regional rounds at campus sites to be determined and concluding with the College World Series in Omaha, Neb., June 18-28.
The 2004 season kicks off for the Bears Feb. 13 at 6 p.m. when Baylor hosts Loyola Marymount at Baylor Ballpark.
