Sept. 24, 2002
WACO, Texas - Baylor baseball head coach Steve Smith announced the team's 2003 schedule Tuesday.
After opening with a home game against Southwest Texas, the Bears head to Arizona for a three-game set with the Wildcats (Feb. 7-9). The team then returns to Texas to participate in its third straight Astros College Classic, to be held at Minute Maid Park in Houston, home of the Houston Astros.
Nine of the Bears' 2002 opponents qualified for the NCAA Tournament a year ago: Houston, Long Beach State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Rice, Southern California, Texas and Texas Tech. Of those, Nebraska, Rice and Texas each advanced to the College World Series last year.
Baylor's home schedule includes two games against the defending national champions, the Texas Longhorns. Other top teams headed to Waco this season include Southern California, Long Beach State and Houston, along with Big 12 Conference rivals Kansas State, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas A&M (one game) and Texas Tech.
The postseason begins with the 2003 Big 12 Tournament, which returns to Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City after being played last season at The Ballpark in Arlington.
The 2003 season kicks off for the Bears Feb. 4 at 4 p.m. when Baylor hosts Southwest Texas at Baylor Ballpark. The team starts a series of 15 fall intrasquad games on Sept. 30.
For the complete schedule, click here.
