UIC Baseball Team to Meet Nebraska in NCAA Regional Opener

May 30, 2005

The University of Illinois at Chicago baseball squad learned on Monday morning that they will travel to Lincoln, Neb., to square off with third-ranked and top-seeded Nebraska in the opening game of the 2005 NCAA Baseball Regional Championship as the Field of 64 for the`Road To Omaha' was announced.




The fourth-seeded Flames (39-18-1), who captured both the Horizon League regular-season and tournament titles, will face the Cornhuskers at 1:05 p.m. (CST) at Hawks Field at Haymarket Park on Friday afternoon. The Flames' trip to the NCAA Regionals is their second in the last threeyears.




The NCAA Regional Championship is a double-elimination tournament and also features No. 2 seed North Carolina State and No. 3 Creighton. The Wolfpack and Bluejays will square off at 7:05 p.m. (CST) on Friday night.




"I have great respect for Nebraska's program for what they've done over the past seven or eight years," UIC Head Baseball Coach Mike Dee said. "I have heard nothing but great things about their fans, who support their program, while still being respectful of their opponents, and just love to watch great baseball.




"I'm really happy for the kids," Dee continued. "They've worked extremely hard and I'm happy they get a chance to experience this."




Nebraska, the Big 12 conference champion, has tied a school-record with 51 victories this season.