IRVINE, Calif. (February 15, 2013) -- Baylor baseball begins the 2013 season this weekend by traveling to Irvine, Calif. to face UC Irvine in a three-game series at Anteater Ballpark.
The season opener is scheduled for Friday at 8:30 p.m. CT, followed by Saturday's 3 p.m. game and Sunday's series finale at 1:30 p.m.
Both teams are ranked in preseason polls as Baylor’s highest ranking is No. 23 in the USA Today/ESPN Preseason Coaches’ Poll and UC Irvine’s highest ranking is No. 30 in the Collegiate Baseball Preseason Poll. The Bears won both games against the Anteaters last season at Baylor Ballpark.
Baylor is 6-3 all-time against UC Irvine, and the Bears are 3-0 in games played in Irvine. Baylor took both games last year at Baylor Ballpark to even the series in Waco to 3-3 after UC Irvine swept a three-game series against the Bears in 2004 at Baylor Ballpark. The Bears knocked off fifth-ranked UCI, 4-3, in the second game of the 2009 QTI Baylor Classic. Baylor swept a three-game series in Irvine as part of an 11-game winning streak in 2003.
The Bears will send sophomore Ryan Smith (3-1, 3.14 ERA last seaosn) on the mound for Friday's opener. He will be opposed by Anteaters junior Andrew Thurman (8-3, 2.66 ERA last season).
