Baseball to open 2018 campaign in Auburndale, Fla. at RussMatt Invitational
By Caleb Scott
ADA — The Ohio Northern baseball team will open its 2018 campaign in Auburndale, Fla. during its annual Spring Break trip under seventh-year head coach Gene Stechschulte.
The Polar Bears will return to the RussMatt Invitational during Spring Break for the third consecutive season.
The contests in Florida have yet to be determined.
After returning home, the Polar Bears will open the northern portion of their schedule at area-rival Bluffton on Mar. 13.
ONU will then travel to Thomas More (Ky.) from Mar. 16-17 for a 3-game series with the Saints.
Other non-conference contests on the road feature bouts at Anderson (Ind.) on Mar. 21, Denison on Mar. 27, Kalamazoo (Mich.) on Apr. 3 and Ohio Wesleyan on Apr. 12.
The Polar Bears will open the home portion of the schedule on Mar. 20 as it hosts Trine (Ind.) at Wander Field.
Northern will also host Defiance on Mar. 28, Wittenberg on Apr. 24, and Olivet (Mich.) on May 1.
Ohio Athletic Conference action will begin on Mar. 24 as ONU hosts Heidelberg in a double header at Wander Field.
Other home OAC double headers will feature contests with Baldwin Wallace on Apr. 10, John Carroll on Apr. 14, Marietta on Apr. 21, and Wilmington on May. 5.
The Polar Bears will also compete in double headers on the road against Capital on Mar. 30, Mount Union on Apr. 7, Otterbein on Apr. 18, and Muskingum on Apr. 28.
Northern posted a 21-19 record in 2017 and finished seventh in the OAC with a 7-11 mark.