SACRAMENTO -- Six programs that reached the NCAA Tournament a season ago and a home-friendly start to the season highlights the 2023 slate for the Sacramento State baseball team as Head Coach Reggie Christiansen released his schedule for the upcoming campaign on Friday.
"I'm really excited about this year's schedule," Christiansen said. "We have a terrific slate of non-conference match-ups at home and the Dodgertown Classic will be a great early test for our team. The Western Athletic Conference should be much improved as well."
This year's 56-game lineup for the Hornets features 32 total home games — including 17 of the team's first 21 contests to open the season. Sacramento State will take on College World Series participant Stanford and three NCAA regional qualifiers during non-conference play in UCLA, Louisiana Tech, and Central Michigan, while facing off against Western Athletic Conference rivals Grand Canyon and New Mexico State, who also reached the postseason.
In all, the schedule features opponents from eight different conferences, including three each from the Pac-12 and Mountain West, two from the Summit League, and one each from the American Athletic Conference, the Big West Conference, the Mid-American Conference, Conference USA, and the West Coast Conference.
Seven of those opponents also finished in the top 100 in the final NCAA RPI rankings: Stanford (No. 3), Louisiana Tech (No. 32), UCLA (No. 48), Grand Canyon (No. 50), Central Michigan (No. 71), Nevada (No. 82), and Tulane (No. 87).
The only Division I program in the state of California to win 30-or-more games in each of the last 10 seasons, Sacramento State officially opens the 2023 season with nine straight at home beginning with a four-game series against North Dakota State on Feb. 17-19, followed the next weekend by four straight against the University of St. Thomas on Feb. 24-26.
The Hornets then host Nevada on Feb. 28 for the first of two mid-week clashes with the Wolf Pack before heading to Southern California to join USC, UCLA, and Tulane, for the 2023 Dodgertown Classic. Sacramento State will play the Trojans (March 3) and Bruins (March 4) on their respective home fields before meeting the Green Wave in the finale at UCLA's Jackie Robinson Stadium at 10 a.m. on March 5.
A trip across the Causeway greets the Hornets upon their return home, facing UC Davis on March 7 before hosting eight straight games — including their Western Athletic Conference opening series. Central Michigan pays a visit to John Smith Field for four games from March 9-11, followed by a mid-week clash against Fresno State (March 14) and three games against Grand Canyon to start league play on March 17-19.
From there, Sacramento State plays its next seven on the road, sandwiching conference series against Abilene Christian (March 24-26) and Stephen F. Austin (March 30-April 1) around a mid-week game at Louisiana Tech (March 28), then settling in at home, playing eight of their next nine within the friendly confines.
The Hornets host San Jose State (April 4) and a three-game conference series against Utah Valley (April 6-8) before making the short drive south for a single-game at Pacific on April 10. UC Davis then comes to town the very next day before UT Arlington pays a visit for a three-game league series on April 14-16.
This season's longest stretch of road contests follow as Sacramento State weaves non-conference mid-week games at Stanford (April 18), Nevada (April 25), and Fresno State (May 2), in between league series at Seattle U (April 21-23) and New Mexico State (April 28-30).
Seven of the Hornets' final 10 games will be at home as Sacramento State hosts UT Rio Grande Valley (May 5-7) and UC Davis (May 9) before taking off for Southern California for a three-game league series at California Baptist (May 12-14), The Hornets then host Utah Tech (May 18-20) to close out the regular season before the Western Athletic Conference Tournament on May 24-27 at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, Ariz.
2023 SACRAMENTO STATE BASEBALL SCHEDULE
Feb. 17-19 vs. North Dakota State
Feb. 24-26 vs. University of St. Thomas
Feb. 28 vs. Nevada
March 3 at USC (Dodgertown Classic)
March 4 at UCLA (Dodgertown Classic)
March 5 vs. Tulane (at UCLA - Dodgertown Classic)
March 7 at UC Davis
March 9-11 vs. Central Michigan
March 14 vs. Fresno State
March 17-19 vs. Grand Canyon*
March 24-26 at Abilene Christian*
March 28 at Louisiana Tech
March 30-April 1 at Stephen F. Austin*
April 4 vs. San Jose State
April 6-8 vs. Utah Valley*
April 10 at Pacific
April 11 vs. UC Davis
April 14-16 vs. UT Arlington*
April 18 at Stanford
April 21-23 at Seattle U*
April 25 at Nevada
April 28-30 at New Mexico State*
May 2 at Fresno State
May 5-7 vs. UT Rio Grande Valley*
May 9 vs. UC Davis
May 12-14 at California Baptist*
May 18-20 vs. Utah Tech*
May 24-27 at Western Athletic Conference Tournament (Hohokam Stadium, Mesa Ariz.)
* denotes Western Athletic Conference games
All home games in BOLD and played at John Smith Field on campus
Dates and times subject to change
