NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State baseball team opens its 2010 season this weekend by hosting Big East opponent Villanova University for a three-game series at Marty L. Miller Field. The teams play Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m. each day.

NSU was picked to finish second in the MEAC in a preseason poll of head coaches and sports information directors. NSU returns 16 letterwinners from last year's team that finished 22-23. Among the returnees is two-time All-MEAC second-team outfielder John Lynch (Newport News, Va.), one of four returning Spartans who batted at least .300 last year. Also back are senior pitchers Chase Davenport(Wooster, Ohio) and preseason All-MEAC selection Jason Barker (Chesapeake, Va.), who tied for the team-lead with six wins last year.

Live statistics for the Friday's and Sunday's games will be available here. 

Click here to follow Brandon Hairston's blog at Ping! Baseball and read the junior first baseman's thoughts on the upcoming season.