The Polar Bears baseball team openers its season on March 4 as they begin their 10-game slate in Florida at the RussMatt Invitational with a double header against Nebraska Wesleyan.
Other double headers in Florida feature matchups with Wentworth (Mass.) and Mt. St. Joseph. The Polar Bears will also take on Albion (Mich.), Aurora (Ill.), RIT and Nichols (Mass.) during the Florida trip.
After returning home, Northern will travel to area-rival Bluffton on Mar. 13 before a 3-game series at Thomas More (Ky.) from Mar. 16-17.
Other non-conference action on the road features contest at Anderson (Ind.) on Mar. 21, Denison on Mar. 27, Kalamazoo (Mich.) on Apr. 3, and Ohio Wesleyan on Mar. 12.
Northern will host non-conference foes Trine (Ind.) on Mar. 20 in its home-opener, Defiance on Mar. 28, Wittenberg on Apr. 24and Olivet (Mich.) on May 1.
ONU begins Ohio Athletic Conference play on Mar. 24 with a double header with Heidelberg at Wander Field.
The Polar Bears will also host Baldwin Wallade on Apr. 10, John Carroll on Apr. 14, Marietta on Apr. 21 and Wilmington on May 5 in double header conference action at Wander Field.
ONU will travel to Capital on Mar. 30, Mount Union on Apr. 7, Otterbein on Apr. 18 and Muskingum on Apr. 28 for OAC double headers.
The OAC Tournament is scheduled for May 10-12.
"Florida will be a good chance for us to see who fits where," said Stechschulte. "It's a good time for our guys to kind of get settled in and interact with one another. Florida is always a good measurement for where we are as a team and what we need to improve on. I think our out-of-conference schedule when we get back is tough but will be good for us. Thomas More (Ky.) is always a good test for us. They have a good program. For the most part, everyone in the conference returns a good majority of their teams. The OAC is much better this year and is going to be a tough test."
