Santa Clara Baseball Announces 2012 Schedule

Santa Clara Baseball Announces 2012 Schedule

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - With three 2011 NCAA Tournament teams on its home schedule, Santa Clara baseball announced its 2012 schedule Tuesday. It also will be the first year under new head coach Dan O'Brien.

The NCAA Tournament participants are Fresno State (Apr. 3), Cal (Apr. 10) and Stanford (May 22). Cal advanced to the College World Series in Omaha, playing its Super-Regional at Schott Stadium, before falling 3-1 to Virginia in the quarterfinals.

"This spring will be a very special time for Bronco baseball," said O'Brien. "We're working hard, both on and off the field, to bring an old school style of baseball back to a program with an incredibly rich tradition. Our Bronco faithful will be proud of how our team competes and can be excited for an aggressive and fun style of baseball when the Broncos take the field."

The Broncos open the 2012 season at Texas State University in the Bobcat Invitational. Santa Clara will face the host-Texas State Bobcats as well as Louisiana Lafayette and Wichita State.

Both the Cajuns and Shockers have a storied NCAA history. Wichita State has made it to 27 NCAA Tournaments, seven College World Series and won one National Championship (1989). They currently have four active major league players, including Casey Blake of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Louisiana Lafayette has three former players on Major League rosters at this time, including Jonathan Lucroy of the Milwaukee Brewers who advanced to the 2011 National League Championship Series. The Ragin' Cajuns have appeared in the NCAA Tournament 12 times, most recently in 2010 in the Super Regional. The team's best finish was in 2000 when they advanced to the College World Series semifinals before losing to Stanford.

Santa Clara will play 28 games at Stephen Schott Stadium on the Mission Campus is 2012. The home-opener will come Fri., Feb. 24 at 6 p.m. against the University of Illinois-Chicago. From Feb. 24 through Mar. 10 the Broncos will play 11 of 12 games at home with the only road contest coming at local rival San Jose State.

In addition, the Broncos will welcome four West Coast Conference opponents to Schott Stadium in 2012. They host the Portland from Mar. 30 - Arp. 1, Pepperdine from Apr. 20-22, Saint Mary's from Apr. 27-29 and will wrap-up the season at home vs. Loyola Marymount from May 25-27.

Santa Clara will travel to Provo, Utah to take on WCC-newcomer BYU from May 17-19. The Broncos have never played in Provo. Santa Clara is 1-2 all-time vs. BYU with the last meeting coming in 2004 when the teams split a two-game series in Santa Clara.

Stephen Schott Stadium seats 1,500 and houses the entire Santa Clara baseball program, including its training, practice and equipment facilities. Also equipped with a 600 square-foot press box and VIP suite, Schott Stadium is one of the premier college baseball stadiums on the West Coast. Designed with player development in mind, Schott Stadium provides the Santa Clara baseball staff and players with every possible tool for success.

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