NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk State head baseball coach Claudell Clark announced his team's 2011 spring schedule on Monday. Included on the slate are 34 home games at Marty L. Miller Field, including contests with teams from the Big East, Big Ten, Ivy League and Colonial Athletic Association and MEAC series with defending champion Bethune-Cookman and rival North Carolina A&T. The schedule also features a second annual matchup against the Norfolk Tides, the Triple-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, at Harbor Park in early April.

“We are fortunate to have so many home games against quality opponents early in the season to prepare our ball club for a tough conference stretch," Clark said. “Having 34 home games also gives our team great exposure to our local fan base and will be key to attracting local talent to the program.”

The season starts with four straight home games against teams from the Big East. NSU hosts Villanova for a three-game series from Feb. 18-20, then Georgetown visits for a mid-week game on Feb. 23.

The Spartans have a three-game series at future MEAC opponent Savannah State on Feb. 26-27 before returning home to begin the March slate against two teams from the Colonial Athletic Association. Defending CAA champion Virginia Commonwealth visits Marty L. Miller Field for a mid-week game on March 1, then Hofstra visits for a pair of doubleheaders on March 5-6. After a mid-week road trip to face Longwood (March 8), the Spartans host Penn State of the Big Ten in a four-game set from March 11-13.

Penn of the Ivy League comes to Norfolk for a pair of doubleheaders on the weekend of March 19-20. Next, NSU will host William & Mary in a mid-week game on March 23.

The Spartans' last March weekend series represents the start of MEAC play. Long-time nemesis North Carolina A&T comes to Marty L. Miller Field for a three-game set March 26-27.

NSU concludes its March schedule in a return game at William & Mary on March 30. That begins a nine-game road swing for the Spartans, their longest stretch away from home during the season. NSU hits the road for a three-game MEAC series at Coppin State on April 2-3. Next, NSU faces the Norfolk Tides in an exhibition game at Harbor Park on April 5. The teams met for the first time last year, with more than 8,500 fans attending.

The very next night, NSU meets cross-town foe Old Dominion at ODU. The same weekend, the Spartans conclude their road swing with a three-game MEAC series at Maryland Eastern Shore (April 9-10).

The Spartans then return home for their next four games, starting on April 12 against Virginia State and continuing April 16-17 against Bethune-Cookman.

After a road game at Georgetown on April 19, NSU is home for two straight weekends, facing Delaware State (April 23-24) and Savannah State (April 29-30).

NSU has seven games in May before postseason play begins. The Spartans wrap up their home-and-home series with VCU on May 4 in Richmond, then conclude MEAC play at Florida A&M on May 7-8. The regular season wraps up with a three-game series against Longwood at Marty L. Miller Field, May 14-15.

The 2011 MEAC Tournament will be held at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach, Fla., for the third straight year. The tournament runs May 19-22.

“This will be one of the toughest Division I schedules that we have faced,” Clark said. “But I feel confident that with 10 seniors and a number of other talented returners, we will be up to the challenge.”

For a complete 2011 schedule, click here.