University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Baseball Heads to Charleston for Season-Opening Weekend
2/22/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
The Minnesota baseball program will start its season at Charleston, S.C. in the Homewood Suites Shootout in a field that will consist of host The Citadel, UNC-Asheville and Virginia Tech. The Golden Gophers first game of the season will be on Friday, Feb. 23 against UNC-Asheville at 11 a.m. (CT). The two teams will kick off the tournament, which will be at Riley Park from Feb. 23 to 25. Minnesota’s second game will be against the host Bulldogs on Saturday, Feb. 24 at 1:30 p.m. (CT). The Golden Gophers will finish tournament play against Virginia Tech on Sunday, Feb. 25 at 10 a.m. (CT). UNC-Asheville enters the week with a 3-3 record, after sweeping Campbell at home last week. The Bulldogs are out of the Big South Conference. The Citadel enters with a 4-2 record after defeating Richmond and No. 1 South Carolina at home last week, and falling to Liberty. The Citadel plays in the Southern Conference. Virginia Tech is 2-2 out of the ACC.
Minnesota’s trip down to Charleston, S.C. will mark the fifth year in a row that the Golden Gophers have started the season on the road. It is also the second time in four years that Minnesota has kicked off its season at a tournament. Last year, the Golden Gophers traveled to Tallahassee, Fla. to face then No. 6 Florida State in a three-game series. In 2005, Minnesota played a three-game series Fayetteville, Ark. against then No. 21 Arkansas. Minnesota last started the season with a tournament in 2004 when it faced No. 12 Florida Atlantic, Winthrop and No. 10 Notre Dame in Boca Raton, Fla. That year, the Golden Gophers also faced No. 4 Miami (Fla.) on the same trip. In 2003, the Golden Gophers played a three-game series at Arizona and also faced Oklahoma State once in a neutral site game. Minnesota also faced No. 7 Miami (Fla.) to start off its 2002 campaign.
Minnesota enters the 2007 season having put together a string of 44 straight winning seasons. The Golden Gophers last losing season came in 1962 when they went 14-16. Minnesota has also had a .500 or better record in Big Ten play every year since 1965 when they finished 5-7. The Golden Gophers have won 22 Big Ten regular-season titles, eight Big Ten Tournament titles, made 27 NCAA Tournaments, have made five College World Series and have won three National Titles (1956, 1960, 1964). All together, the Golden Gophers have had just three losing seasons since 1935. That gives Minnesota 69 winning season over the last 72 years.
