NEWARK, Del. - - The Wilmington University baseball team will once again make two trips south before returning home to square off against Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference opponents in hopes of returning to the NCAA Division II East Regional Tournament for the first time since 2015 as head coach Brian August announces the 2018 schedule.
The Wildcats finished last season 30-21 overall, going 17-5 in the CACC to finish in second place. But their bid for another trip to the NCAA Division II East Regional Tournament fell short in the CACC Tournament. The 2018 campaign features 16 games against 10 teams that competed in last season's Regional Tournament, including the defending NCAA Division II National Champions in West Chester.
This year, the Wildcats again start the season with a trip to Myrtle Beach, playing in the Northeast Challenge at the Ripken Experience the weekend of February 23-25.
Competition starts with a doubleheader on Friday, February 23, as the Wildcats will face New Haven and LIU Post in South Carolina. Both New Haven and LIU Post were in last season's East Regional Tournament. The Wildcats square off against Le Moyne on Saturday and then finish the opening weekend with NCAA East Regional participant Southern Connecticut State on Sunday.
The team heads back to Florida for a week for Spring Break starting in March, playing nine games in seven days. The week starts with a doubleheader against Stonehill on Sunday, March 4, with games at Barry, South Regional participant Nova Southeastern, Lynn, and St. Thomas (Fla.). The Wildcats then face Adelphi on Friday, March 9, before a doubleheader against last year's East Regional Tournament number one seed Southern New Hampshire to round out their Spring Break.
Once back north, the Wildcats head to Atlantic Regional participant Shippensburg to start the bulk of their schedule on Wednesday, March 14. Their trek through the CACC begins with their first home game of 2018, as they face Post in a doubleheader on Saturday, March 17, at Wilson Field.
The Wildcats will take a short trip to the NCAA Division II National Champions West Chester on Tuesday, March 20, before returning home to face in-state rival Goldey-Beacom on the 23rd. The month of March rounds out with CACC doubleheader at Nyack and at Jefferson.
April starts with a home doubleheader against East Regional participant and CACC rival Felician. Other home games throughout the month of April feature reigning CACC Tournament Champion and East Regional Tournament participant Dominican, Atlantic Regional participant Millersville, Chestnut Hill, USciences, Jefferson, and Caldwell for Senior Day. Road trips include games at Chestnut Hill, USciences, Concordia, Goldey-Beacom, Bloomfield, Kutztown, and Felician. The 2018 regular season ends with a single road game at Millersville on Tuesday, May 1.
The Wildcats will look to be one of the top four teams from the South Division to advance to the 2018 CACC Tournament. The single, nine-inning play-in game will be hosted at the higher seed and will take place on Saturday, May 5. The four winning teams will head to Waterbury, Conn., to take part in the double-elimination portion of the CACC Tournament from May 10-12, hosted by Post University.