SCSU is coming off of their fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.
By: Zach Siggelkow
ST. CLOUD, MINN. - Upon the completion of their fall season last week, Pat Dolan announced the 2019 schedule for the St. Cloud State baseball team on Tuesday.
In a statement Tuesday morning, Pat Dolan touched on the strength of the schedule by saying, "I really think in my 12 years, this is the most competitive schedule that we have had... Hopefully the early strength of schedule will get us ready for another good run in the NSIC, starting with Mankato on March 16th."
The Huskies are coming off of their fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and eighth in program history. Head coach Pat Dolan is in his 12th season at the helm of the program where he owns a career 437-156-1 (.737) record at SCSU.Â
Dolan, alongside associate head coach Rob "Doc" Swendra and first-year pitching coach Kassidy Gaines will be returning 23 members from the 2018 roster. Of those 23, the Huskies are bringing back 12 seniors, five juniors, six sophomores and adding eight transfers. Six of the Huskies' returners started in 40 or more games last year, while every pitcher who recorded a start on the bump is also coming back.Â
The 2019 campaign commences from the confines of Minute Maid Park in Houston, Tex where the Huskies will be playing in the Winter Invitational. This will be the second time SCSU has participated in the event which is hosted by the Houston Astros. SCSU will face off against Texas A&M - Kingsville on February 1st for the season opener, then take on Tarleton State on Saturday, Feb. 2nd. The Huskies will close their weekend in Houston with a NCAA Regional re-match against the Central Missouri Mules on Sunday, Feb. 3rd.Â
Dolan also spoke on the opportunity for the Huskies to play in Minute Maid Park to open their season, saying "Playing at a major league park down in Houston will provide lifelong memories for our guys... It's something all of our guys and incoming recruits look forward to since we are able to do this every couple of years."Â
SCSU went 3-0 in their trip to Minute Maid Park in 2016
For the second consecutive year, St. Cloud State will travel south to St. Joseph, MO for a weekend series (Feb. 15-17) against NCAA regional opponent, Missouri Western State.Â
Following the trip to Missouri, the Huskies will embark on their annual journey to Tucson, Ariz. from March 4-10 for the Tucson Invitational Games. All of the Huskies' games in Tucson will be played at the Kino Sports Complex, the former Spring Training home of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Chicago White Sox.
After a third place finish in 2018, the Huskies will hit the road to kick off their conference season in the always rugged NSIC on March 16 against Minnesota State Mankato. The Huskies are 6-5 against the Mavericks in regular season games over the last four years.Â
Continuing on the road, SCSU will travel to Winona State for a mid-week double-header on Mar. 20, then head to Sioux Falls for a weekend set against the Sioux Falls Cougars from Mar. 23-24. The Huskies will play one mid-week set in Fayette, Iowa against Upper Iowa on March 27th before returning to St. Cloud for the home opener.Â
St. Cloud State will host the defending NCAA National Champion Augustana Vikings at Joe Faber Field on Mar. 30-31. The games against Augustana kick off the largest home stand of the year, where SCSU will welcome Wayne State (Neb.) and Concordia-St. Paul for mid-week's scheduled for Apr. 3 and Apr. 10 at Joe Faber Field. The Huskies close out their home stand against Minnesota Duluth the weekend of Apr. 13-14 before making the trek to Bemidji, Minn. for a mid-week against the Beavers on Apr. 17. The weekend of Apr. 19-20, SCSU will be in Crookston for the weekend to face the Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles before returning to St. Cloud for another home stand.
The 2018 NSICÂ regular season champion Minot State Beavers will come to St. Cloud on Apr. 24 for a mid-week, then Northern State will be in town Apr. 27-28 for the last home regular season weekend series of the year.
SCSUÂ will host the University of Mary for their last two regular season games at Joe Faber Field on May 1st, then head to Marshall, Minn. to close out the NSIC regular season against the Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs from May 3-4.
The NSICÂ Conference Tournament will be hosted in St. Cloud at Joe Faber Field and Dick Putz Field from May 8-11.
All of the Huskies' games in 2019 will be streamed on the KVSC Sports Stream with radio personality Thomas Breach.Â
