The Southeastern Conference and ESPNU have big plans for college baseball in 2011. On the heels of back-to-back national championships in 2009 and 2010 by the
Whit Merrifield helped South Carolina claim its first national title in 2010
SEC, ESPNU will carry a Thursday night SEC baseball national game of the week during the upcoming 2011 season.
Of the unprecendented arrangement, ESPNU Vice President Rosalyn Durant said “ESPNU is thrilled to feature a seven-week SEC Thursday night baseball series. Showcasing the vast talent of SEC baseball is great for the sport, fans, league and ESPNU. We appreciate the partnership with the SEC in creating this consistent Thursday night national package.”
LSU won the College World Series in 2009 and South Carolina claimed its school’s first championship in any men’s sport this past season when it defeated UCLA to claim the CWS title. An SEC team has played for the national championship six times since 2000.
The national game of the week schedule begins on April 7 and runs through May 19. All 12 SEC schools will appear at least once during the run. The schedule is as follows:
ESPNU SEC Thursday Night Baseball Schedule (Schedule subject to change)
Date Time Game
Apr 7 7:30 p.m. South Carolina at Tennessee
Apr 14 7:30 p.m. Tennessee at Alabama
Apr 21 7:30 p.m. Ole Miss at Auburn
Apr 28 7:30 p.m. Kentucky at LSU
May 5 7:30 p.m. Florida at Arkansas
May 12 7:30 p.m. Mississippi State at Ole Miss
May 19 7:30 p.m. Vanderbilt at Georgia