Sept. 13, 2007

UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - First-year head coach Mark McQueen has announced the University of Richmond's 2008 baseball schedule, highlighted by 28 home games and 13 against NCAA Regional qualifiers. The Spiders' 54-game slate begins at Jacksonville University Feb. 22-24 in a tournament with UNC-Wilmington, UW-Milwaukee and the host Dolphins. The home opener is Feb. 26 versus William & Mary.

"I'm very excited about our schedule," said McQueen. "I think the Jacksonville trip will be a nice way to open up the season against three very good teams. Jacksonville and Wilmington have both been to the NCAA Regionals in the last few years and that should give us a good early test."

The Spiders' schedule features a total of 13 games against seven teams that have advanced to the past two NCAA Regionals. Included in that are a home-and-home with in-city rival VCU (2007 NCAA), the past two Atlantic 10 champions (Charlotte and Saint Louis), the past two Ivy League champions (Princeton and Brown), Jacksonville (2006 and 2007 NCAA) and UNC-Wilmington (2006 NCAA).

Richmond's home-opener versus the Tribe begins a stretch that sees the Spiders play 10 of their next 11 games at home. Big East foe Seton Hall and 2006 Ivy League champ Princeton are at Pitt Field during that extended home stand. The game versus the Pirates is a doubleheader on Saturday, March 1, while the Tigers are in town for a three-game set beginning the following Saturday. Of Richmond's first 27 games, 18 are set to be played at Pitt Field.

"The ability to play at home is a benefit," said McQueen. "We have a great facility in a great location and we use that to our advantage."

Games at Duke (Wednesday, March 12) and a three-game set at Charleston Southern (March 14-16) highlight the Spiders' spring trip.

Atlantic 10 Conference play opens with back-to-back home weekends versus La Salle (March 20-22) and George Washington (March 28-30). The Spiders are away for three of the four weekends in April and finish the regular season with two of the final three series at home.

The other home conference sets are: Rhode Island (April 18-20), Saint Louis (May 2-4) and St. Bonaventure (May 15-17). On the road in A-10 play, the Spiders travel to Xavier (April 4-6), Temple (April 11-13), Dayton (April 25-27) and Charlotte (May 8-10).

Campbell's Field in Camden, N.J. - home of the Camden Riversharks - will host the 2008 A-10 Baseball Championship May 21-24. Campbell's Field, which offers views of the Philadelphia skyline, the Ben Franklin Bridge and the Delaware River, has been named one of Baseball America's best ballparks two years in a row.