2013 Media Guide - University of North Dakota Athletics

North Dakota
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2013 NORTH DAKOTA BASEBALL
The University of North Dakota baseball
team plays its nal season in the Great
West Conference before heading to the
Western Athlec Conference in 2013-14.
A young UND squad returns coming o
a third-place showing at the GWC tournament
a season ago. Several freshmen
were key in UND’s success last year and
they will now be expected to provide
leadership for a team that’s suered
some early injuries and was picked sixth
in a ght league preseason poll.
“We sll have some of the same names
last year that did a lot of good things for
us last year,” UND head coach Je Dodson
said. “Andrew Thome, Je Campbell,
Sam Alt, among others; a lot of
guys that did a lot of good things for us.
Zack Trygstad and Kris Kwak had good
fall camps as well. But, we’ve added some
talent as well in Taylor Peterson, Jacob
Threlkeld, Ryan Reese-- all guys who have
made a big impact this fall.”
SCHEDULE
The 53-game slate includes 12 games at Mall of America Field at the Hubert
H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, trips to Kansas, Wichita
State and the home of the NCAA College World Series, T.D. Ameritrade
Park (Creighton).
Head coach Je Dodson (right) and assistant coach J.C. Field are both in their h year in the UND dugout.
“We’re looking forward to another excing schedule,” Dodson said. “We
are playing some good teams and geng to play in the Metrodome
which will allow our kids to play in front of friends and family. It helps
keep us in class, which is a high priority for our program.”
The schedule gets underway Feb. 18 with the rst of a dozen at the
Metrodome, the former home of the Minnesota Twins and the current
home eld of the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings. The nal four UND games
scheduled for the Metrodome are slated against in-state rival North Dakota
State with doubleheaders on Mar. 29 and 30.
“We’re excited about the connued series with NDSU at the Metrodome,”
Dodson said. “Hopefully, if the weather cooperates as it did last
year, we can switch those games back to campus sites.”
Other non-conference trips include playing the Jayhawks in the rst
outdoor game listed on the schedule on Mar. 4. That trip nishes with a
two-day stop in St. Louis, Mo. to play Tennessee-Marn and Saint Louis
before a Mar. 8-10 series against former North Central Conference foe
Nebraska-Omaha.
Two days later, it’s o to Wichita, Kan. for a two-game series with the
perennial-NCAA Tournament qualier Wichita State Shockers. The
nale of the road swing is a stop at T.D. Ameritrade Park to play the
Creighton Bluejays in their home park and the new home to the College
World Series.
“The KU, Wichita State and Creighton games are excing,” Dodson said.
“It gives the kids a chance to play at the home of the CWS at the end
of that trip. Then we play the Bison and conference play opens so it’s a
prey tough schedule from there on out.”
The Great West schedule opens at Houston Bapst Apr. 4 with the rst
of four mid-week, non-conference games against South Dakota State
mixed in the league calendar. The home opener comes Apr. 19 against
last season’s undefeated league champion, Utah Valley.
Sophomore Andrew Thome is expected to be the ace of the pitching sta.
ROTATION
The pitching rotaon certainly was the strength of UND’s young squad,
but some key injuries will open holes for untested players to earn a
spot.
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OUTLOOK