MIAMI SHORES, Fla. -- Barry University’s baseball team officially released the 2014 schedule and once against the Buccaneers will go toe-toe with the best programs that the South Region and NCAA Division II has to offer.
This spring the Buccaneers will play 29 of the scheduled 48 games at the friendly confines of Feinbloom field. Last season the Buccaneers finished with an 18-10 record at home and this year they’ll look to take advantage early on in the season with 21 of their first 24 games coming at home, including the first seven to start the season.
“Getting ten regional non-conference games off the bat will be very big for us,” head coach Marc Pavao said.
“The first seven games coming at home will certainly play to our advantage.”
The Buccaneers open with a three-game series versus Shorter University on Feb 1st, followed by a pair of doubleheaders against Alabama Huntsville on Feb. 7th and 8th before hitting the road for a series against Tuskegee.
Another long home stand follows after the Buccaneers return from Tuskegee. A series of 14 straight games at Feinbloom field begins on Feb 21st against Wisconsin-Parkside and includes the likes of Sunshine State Conference foe Florida Tech, Palm Beach Atlantic, Adelphi and American International.
“We’re looking forward to playing Adelphi and American International. They’re two competitive teams that we’ve played in the past and we’re going to have to be ready for some tough battles,” Pavao said.
“We’re also looking forward to hosting Wisconsin-Parkside who we haven’t played in the past, but they’re definitely a strong, up-and-coming program.”
In the midst of the 14 game home stand, the Bucs open up the conference slate of the schedule against Florida Southern College on Mar. 7th.
After facing off with rival Nova Southeastern on Mar. 15, the Buccaneers head to Tampa to take on the defending Division II National Champions Spartans of Tampa.
Barry then steps out of conference to face cross-town NAIA foe St. Thomas before conference matchups against Rollins and rival Lynn University.
St. Thomas visits Miami Shores on Apr. 8th for a one-game set before the Bucs hit the road for the longest road stretch of the season. The Bucs play three singles games at Palm Beach Atlantic and complete the road trip with a three game series in Melbourne, Fla. against Florida Tech University.
“If every coach in the conference had a choice they’d probably prefer to play three individual games as opposed to one single game and a doubleheader which is why the Palm Beach Atlantic series will be a nice change of pace,” Pavao said.
The remainder of the schedule includes a single game at home against Palm Beach Atlantic and the Bucs close out the season with a home series versus Eckerd on Apr. 25-26 and a road trip to Saint Leo on Mar. 4-5.
Coverage for both home and away games can be found on the Barry University athletics website, GOBARRYBUCS.COM, throughout the season.