UCI circling April 4-6

The UC Irvine baseball program has finalized its 2008 schedule, which includes six new opponents.

One familiar rival, Cal State Fullerton, where former UCI Coach Dave Serrano now guides the Titans, could be the most anticipated portion of the schedule. The Titans, a Big West Conference rival that UCI eliminated from the College World Series last season, visit Anteater Ballpark April 4-6 in what figures to be three intensely emotional games. Overflow crowds are expected.

The Anteaters open the season Feb. 22-24 with a three-game nonconference series against visiting Nevada.

UCI first-year coach Mike Gillespie will guide the Anteaters against his former team, USC, in nonconference contests Feb. 27, at UCI, and March 12, at Dedeaux Field.

UCI opens Big West play at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo (March 28-30).

The ’Eaters meet defending Big West champion UC Riverside at home (April 18-20). UCI’s final two home conference series are against Pacific (May 9-11) and UC Santa Barbara (May 5-23).

UCI meets Long Beach State April 11-13 at Blair Field in Long Beach. The Anteaters’ other conference road series are at Cal State Northridge (May 2-4) and at UC Davis (May 16-18).

San Francisco (Feb. 29 to March 2), and Hawaii (March 14-16) are the only two nonconference opponents to play three-game series at UCI.

The ’Eaters have additional three-game nonconference road series against Tulane (March 7-9) and New Mexico (April 25-27).

The Anteaters have their traditional home and away meetings with UCLA, coached by former UCI head man John Savage. UCI is at Jackie Robinson Stadium on April 8 and plays host to the Bruins May 13.

Additional home dates include San Diego (March 4), Harvard (March 25) and Loyola Marymount (April 29).

Arizona State, which UCI met twice in Omaha, eventually eliminating the Sun Devils on the way to its third-place finish, will play host to the ’Eaters March 23, as the capper to a three-game round-robin Arizona State Tournament in which UCI also plays Florida International and Northern Colorado.

From April 22 to May 6, UCI plays nine of 10 games on the road. It’s longest stretch at home is five games from Feb. 27 through March 4.

UCI finished the landmark 2007 season, with a 47-17-1 record, 15-6 in the Big West, and ranked No. 4 nationally.

The team returns 21 lettermen, including All-American pitcher Scott Gorgen and second-team All-Big West Conference selections Ollie Linton and Aaron Lowenstein.

— From staff reports