2011 Horizon League Baseball Championship set to begin

2011 Baseball Bracket

INDIANAPOLIS –The 2011 Horizon League Baseball Championship is set to begin at Nischwitz Stadium in Dayton, Ohio, hosted by top-seeded Wright State.  The league’s top six teams will compete in a double-elimination format with the winner of the tournament earning an automatic berth into the 64-team NCAA Baseball Championship.

The tournament will begin with two games on Wednesday (11 a.m. & 3 p.m.), three contests on Thursday (11 a.m., 3 p.m. & 7 p.m.), three affairs on Friday (11 a.m., 3 p.m. & 7 p.m.) and two tilts on Saturday (11 a.m. & 3 p.m.). The "if necessary" game is slated for Sunday at 11 a.m.

Valparaiso and Butler will open tournament play on Wednesday at 11 a.m ET, followed by Milwaukee and Youngstown State at 3pm.

UIC will play its first tournament game on Thursday at 3 p.m., while Wright State begins play that day at 7 p.m.

Both Saturday affairs and Sunday's "if necessary" tilt will be shown live on the Horizon League Network (www.horizonleague.com).

Milwaukee posted a 6-3 win over Wright State in the 2010 Horizon League Tournament finale. The Panthers followed with two games in the NCAA Tournament -- losing to Arizona State and San Diego.

2011 HORIZON LEAGUE BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

Wednesday, May 25
Game 1      #4 Valparaiso vs. #5 Butler, 11 a.m. ET
Game 2      #3 Milwaukee vs. #6 Youngstown State, 3:05 p.m. ET

Thursday, May 26
Game 3      Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 11 a.m. ET
Game 4      #2 UIC vs. Highest seed of Game 1 and 2 winners, 3:05 p.m. ET
Game 5      #1 Wright State vs. Lowest seed of game 1 and 2 winners, 7:05 p.m. ET

Friday, May 27
Game 6      Game 3 winner vs. Lower seed of Game 4 and 5 losers, 11 a.m. ET
Game 7      Game 6 winner vs. Higher seed of Game 4 and 5 losers, 3:05 p.m. ET
(Note: If one of the Game 4 or 5 losers has already had a bye, then that team will play in Game 6, regardless of seed)
Game 8      Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 7:05 p.m. ET

Saturday, May 28
Game 9      Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 loser, 11 a.m. ET
Game 10    Game 8 winner vs. Game 9 winner, 3:05 p.m. ET

Sunday, May 29 -- if necessary
Game 11    Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 loser, 11 a.m. ET
(Note: If winner of Game 9 is also winner of Game 10, then winner and loser of Game 10 will play in Game 11 on Sunday)