NEWARK, DE -- The University of Delaware announced its 2008 baseball schedule on Thursday, which is highlighted by two series against teams that participated in last year's NCAA Regionals.

In addition to the team’s 30-game conference schedule, Delaware will play 25 non-conference games, including 15 at Bob Hannah Stadium. The Hens, who are led by head coach Jim Sherman (at right), currently have 30 games scheduled at home with the possibility of another one depending on the outcome of the Liberty Bell Classic.

The Blue Hens face two teams that participated in the NCAA Regionals last year, including Lafayette, who fell in the postseason after battling eventual-champion Oregon State in the first round. Delaware also faces Maryland and Princeton in key non-conference contests.

The Hens open the 2008 campaign on the road against the Citadel from February 22-24 before returning home to face Princeton, a perennial Ivy League power, for back-to-back doubleheaders on March 1 and 2.

Delaware continues its early March homestand with games against UMBC (March 4) and Rider (March 5). The Hens then travel to Old Dominion to face the Monarchs in the team’s first conference series of the season from March 7-9. They remain on the road to do battle with Maryland on March 11 and 12.

The Hens follow up the road trip with their longest homestand of the season. Delaware faces Northeastern for its first home conference series from March 14-16, then plays non-conference foes Temple (March 18), Lafayette (March 20-22), and Saint Joseph’s (March 25).

Delaware returns to the road for a conference tilt with William & Mary in Williamsburg from March 28-30. The Hens then travel back home to face Hofstra from April 4-6 and Delaware State on April 7.

The Hens then trek to James Madison (April 11-13) and Temple (April 15) before wrapping up April with seven of their last eight games at home. Delaware battles UNC Wilmington (April 18-20), George Mason (April 25-27) and Wilmington College (April 29) in Newark while facing Delaware State on April 20 in Dover.

Delaware closes out its regular season with nine of its last twelve games coming against conference foes. The Hens travel to Georgia State from May 2-4 before going to UMBC on May 6. They return home to face Temple on May 7 and Towson from May 9-11 before concluding the home portion of their schedule against Maryland on May 13.

Delaware will then wrap up its regular season in Richmond when the team faces Virginia Commonwealth, the Colonial Athletic Association’s postseason representative last year, from May 15-17.

Last season, the powerful Delaware offense led the conference in home runs (67) and slugging percentage (.490). The Hens also finished third in batting average (.303) and fourth in on-base percentage (.380).

The Blue Hen pitching staff also had a successful season, leading the league in batting average against (.256), while finishing second in strikeouts (399) and third in earned run average (4.59).

Along with captains Alex Buchholz, Adam Tsakonas, and Mike McGuire, the Hens return a solid corps of players led by closer David Slovak, who was a second-team CAA selection last year after setting the Delaware record for most saves in a season with 11.

AGATE:

2008 Delaware Baseball Schedule:
Feb. 22 The Citadel, 5 p.m.; 23 at The Citadel (DH), 12 noon; 24 at The Citadel, 1 p.m.;

Mar. 1 Princeton (DH), 12 noon; Mar. 2 Princeton (DH), 12 noon; Mar. 4 UMBC, 2:30 p.m.; Mar. 5 Rider, 2:30 p.m.; Mar. 7 at *Old Dominion, 3 p.m.; Mar. 8 at *Old Dominion, 1 p.m.; Mar. 9 at *Old Dominion, 1 p.m.; Mar. 11 at Maryland, 4 p.m.; Mar. 12 at Maryland, 4 p.m.; Mar. 14 *Northeastern, 2:30 p.m.; Mar. 15 *Northeastern, 1 p.m.; Mar. 16 *Northeastern, 1 p.m.; Mar. 20 Lafayette, 3 p.m.; Mar. 21 Lafayette, 3 p.m.; Mar. 22 Lafayette, 3 p.m.; Mar. 25 #Saint Joseph’s, 3 p.m.; Mar. 28 at *William & Mary, 7 p.m.; Mar. 29 at *William & Mary, 4 p.m.; Mar. 30 at *William & Mary, 2 p.m.

Apr. 1 Liberty Bell Classic 2nd Round, tba; Apr. 4 *Hofstra, 3 p.m.; Apr. 5 *Hofstra, 1 p.m.; Apr. 6 *Hofstra, 1 p.m.; Apr. 8 Delaware State, 3 p.m.; Apr. 9 at Rutgers, 3:30 p.m.; Apr. 11 at *James Madison, 3 p.m.; Apr. 12 at *James Madison, 1 p.m.; Apr. 13 at *James Madison, 1 p.m.; Apr. 15 at Temple, 3:30 p.m. Apr. 18 *UNC Wilmington, 3 p.m.; Apr. 19 *UNC Wilmington, 1 p.m.; Apr. 20 *UNC Wilmington, 1 p.m.; Apr. 22 at Delaware State, 3 p.m.; Apr. 25 *George Mason, 3 p.m.; Apr. 26 *George Mason, 1 p.m.; Apr. 27 *George Mason, 1 p.m.; Apr. 29 Rutgers, 3 p.m.; Apr. 30 Wilmington (DE), 3 p.m.;

May 2 at *Georgia State, 6 p.m.; May 3 at *Georgia State, 6 p.m.; May 4 at *Georgia State, 1 p.m.; May 6 at UMBC, 7 p.m.; May 7 Temple, 3 p.m.; May 9 *Towson, 3 p.m.; May 10 *Towson, 1 p.m.; May 11 *Towson, 1 p.m.; May 13 Maryland, 3 p.m.; May 15 at *Virginia Commonwealth, 7 p.m.; May 16 at *Virginia Commonwealth, 7 p.m.; May 17 at *Virginia Commonwealth, 2 p.m.; May 21-24 Colonial Athletic Association Championships at Wilmington, NC, tba;

*=Colonial Athletic Association Games
#=Liberty Bell Classic
Homes Games Played at Bob Hannah Stadium