Unless the official website is fooling around with us, the 2022 baseball season opens with 4 games at Sacramento State starting Feb. 18. Then 4 at Murray State, 3 at Lipscomb, etc etc etc. First homer (haha) is March 25 vs. Kent State.

Surrounded by MAC games, schedule sneaks in some singles (also haha) @ Purdue March 22, @ Notre Dame March 29, and @ Oakland April 15 and 16 (dh).

See for your ownself ...

https://niuhuskies.com/sports/baseball/schedule

It has been up for a couple of weeks. Looking forward to February 18. The Sacramento State website indicates the opening series will be carried on ESPN+. They are streaming all 29 of their home games.

https://www.hornetsports.com/sports/bsb/...1209qckd5a

(01-21-2022 07:51 PM)HuskieDave Wrote:  It has been up for a couple of weeks. Looking forward to February 18. The Sacramento State website indicates the opening series will be carried on ESPN+. They are streaming all 29 of their home games.

https://www.hornetsports.com/sports/bsb/...1209qckd5a

Noticed that, but since some said the board was getting bored (or boring) thought I'd throw it up here for discussion. Or whatever.

BTW ... not a big baseball fan here, but always for NIU success ... is this a strong o-o-c schedule? NIU chances against some? Any big-time baseball fans around?

20 away games before the first home game. Why do we even bother with having a baseball program?

Again, not a strong follower, but I recall NIU did not have it from 1983-90 or so, then brought it back in 1991 as an independent. Why drop and why back? Don't recall. Anyway, weather is why season opens with so many on the road (I think).

(01-21-2022 08:58 PM)pvk75 Wrote:  Again, not a strong follower, but I recall NIU did not have it from 1983-90 or so, then brought it back in 1991 as an independent. Why drop and why back? Don't recall. Anyway, weather is why season opens with so many on the road (I think).

At the time, we were required to bring baseball back as a requirement of re-admission to the MAC.

(01-21-2022 08:52 PM)epasnoopy Wrote:  20 away games before the first home game. Why do we even bother with having a baseball program?

Virtually every northern and eastern team in the country has the exact same situation regarding scheduling. We are not at all unique. It is the norm for cold weather schools.

(01-21-2022 08:34 PM)pvk75 Wrote:  

(01-21-2022 07:51 PM)HuskieDave Wrote:  It has been up for a couple of weeks. Looking forward to February 18. The Sacramento State website indicates the opening series will be carried on ESPN+. They are streaming all 29 of their home games.

https://www.hornetsports.com/sports/bsb/...1209qckd5a

Noticed that, but since some said the board was getting bored (or boring) thought I'd throw it up here for discussion. Or whatever.

BTW ... not a big baseball fan here, but always for NIU success ... is this a strong o-o-c schedule? NIU chances against some? Any big-time baseball fans around?

This does not appear to be as strong as the usual opening schedule they have played in the past. This is a big reason that they started 2021 at 1-10, 2019 at 4-16, 2018 at 4-15, 2017 at 4-16 and 2016 at 4-16. You get the picture. This is not to say that they are going to win these games as Sacramento State, Murray State and Lipscomb might be good, but not as good as Vanderbilt, Rice, U of I and Indiana who they have played in the last few years. It is hard to have a successful season when you bury yourself in a hole that deep to start.

(01-21-2022 09:17 PM)HuskieDave Wrote:  

(01-21-2022 08:52 PM)epasnoopy Wrote:  20 away games before the first home game. Why do we even bother with having a baseball program?

Virtually every northern and eastern team in the country has the exact same situation regarding scheduling. We are not at all unique. It is the norm for cold weather schools.

I just looked up UIC, ISU, and UofI baseball schedules. UIC plays 12 away games, ISU plays 13 away games, and UofI plays 9 away games before their first home games.

Within our own conference WMU plays 10 away games, BSU plays 12 away games, and KSU plays 9 away games before their first home games.

NIU is one of the rare ones playing 20+ away games every season before their first home game.

Good luck scheduling games the first week of March in Illinois. UI plays 15 of their first 17 on the road. UI, ISU, and UIC all have artificial fields, which helps immensely (ISU is infield only). Certainly having an artificial surface makes it much more likely to be able to play. It makes more sense to play where you are far more likely to get the games in.

Just get rid of the baseball program. If we aren't going to make the proper investments in facilities to compete and are always going to play 75%+ of our schedule on the road. This program is at such a huge disadvantage.

I'm kinda bleh on keep/cut the sport, but over the past couple years the alleged plan (??) was/is to put artificial turf in the infield first, then outfield, and I recall something in the last athletic fund-raiser about dugouts. But -- actually -- I don't know what the latest "plan" is. With this bunch, who the hell really knows?!

I still think if there's any investment, build a new stadium pointed in the right direction (home plate facing NE) on that 2014-15 plan site northeast of the Convo. Also frees up more space for The Yard.

But ... whatever.

(01-21-2022 08:52 PM)epasnoopy Wrote:  20 away games before the first home game. Why do we even bother with having a baseball program?

Are you suggesting they play home games in late February or early March?