Pairings set for 2009 Horizon League Baseball Championship

INDIANAPOLIS -- The University of Illinois at Chicago will be the top seed in the 2009 Horizon League Baseball Championship presented by U.S. Army after claiming its eighth straight regular-season title. The winner of the League's seven-team tournament earns an automatic berth into the 64-team NCAA Baseball Championship.

The Horizon League Baseball Championship will be hosted by Cleveland State University and all games will be played at the Pipe Yard Stadium in Lorain, Ohio.

UIC, 26-21 overall and 17-6 in Horizon League action, has captured four of the conference's past six tournament crowns (2003, 2005, 2007 and 2008). The Flames also own the circuit's last NCAA Tournament victory in 2008.

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (26-25, 14-9) earns the tournament's No. 2 seed after winning four of its last five League affairs. UWM's conference winning percentage (.609) is its best since 2002.

Wright State University (29-27, 14-12), which has won seven of its last 10 tilts overall, earns the tournament's No. 3 seed.

Valparaiso University (27-22, 12-11), in just its second season as a Horizon League member, earns the tournament's No. 4 seed. Valpo will enjoy its first .500 season since 1999.

No. 5 Cleveland State (20-29, 12-13), No. 6 Youngstown State University (16-34, 10-14) and No. 7 Butler University (12-39, 6-20) round out the field.

The 2009 Horizon League Baseball Championship is a double-elimination affair after Tuesday's 6/7 play-in game, which features Youngstown State and Butler at 3 p.m. ET.

The remaining schedule includes 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 Cleveland State will open tournament play on Wednesday at 11 a.m, while Wright State will take on the winner of the opening-round contest Wednesday at 3 p.m.

Milwaukee jumps in the action on Thursday at 3 p.m., while UIC 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.HorizonLeagueNetwork.tv).

UIC posted a 16-3 win over Milwaukee in the 2008 Horizon League Tournament finale. The Flames followed with three games in the NCAA Tournament -- a loss to Texas A&M University, victory over Dallas Baptist University and loss to the University of Houston.

  

2009 HORIZON LEAGUE BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP -- presented by U.S. Army

Tuesday, May 19
Game 1      #6 Youngstown State vs. #7 Butler, 3 p.m. ET

Wednesday, May 20
Game 2      #4 Valparaiso vs. #5 Cleveland State, 11 a.m. ET
Game 3      #3 Wright State vs. Game 1 winner, 3 p.m. ET

Thursday, May 21
Game 4      Game 2 loser vs. Game 3 loser, 11 a.m. ET
Game 5      #2 Milwaukee vs. Higher seed of Game 2 and 3 winners, 3 p.m. ET
Game 6      #1 UIC vs. Lower seed of Game 2 and 3 winners, 7 p.m. ET

Friday, May 22
Game 7      Game 4 winner vs. Lower seed of Game 5 and 6 losers, 11 a.m. ET
Game 8      Game 7 winner vs. Higher seed of Game 5 and 6 losers, 3 p.m. ET
(Note: If one of the Game 5 or 6 losers has already had a bye, then that team will play in Game 7, regardless of seed)
Game 9      Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 7 p.m. ET

Saturday, May 23
Game 10      Game 8 winner vs. Game 9 loser, 11 a.m. ET
Game 11      Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 3 p.m. ET

Sunday, May 24 -- if necessary
Game 12      Game 11 winner vs. Game 11 loser, 11 a.m. ET
(Note: If winner of Game 10 is also winner of Game 11, then winner and loser of Game 11 will play in Game 12 on Sunday)