AMERICUS, Ga. -- Second-year head coach Josh McDonald and the Georgia Southwestern baseball team is gearing up for their 2020 season with a full slate of 50 games. The Hurricanes will play 28 home games this year at Hurricane Stadium, including the first four games to open their season.
The Hurricanes are set to return 22 players from last year, including reigning Peach Belt Pitcher of the Year and First-Team All-Conference player Tucker Smith. The Hurricanes went 14-16 in PBC play, winning five conference series and turning in their best conference record since the start of the NCAA Division II era in 2006.
GSW opens their season Feb. 1-2 as they will host Barry (Fla.) and Florida Tech on Feb. 5 before hitting the road for the first time. The Hurricanes will visit West Alabama, Feb. 8-9. They will then play a midweek game against Auburn-Montgomery on Feb. 11 before heading to St. Augustine, Fla. where they will open up Peach Belt Conference play at Flagler College, Feb. 14-15. GSW will take the short trip to play Albany State on Feb. 19 then turn around to host the 2019 PBC Champions Young Harris College, Feb. 22-23. Valdosta State invites GSW out for a midweek game on Feb. 25 as GSW will close out their February slate hosting USC Aiken, Feb. 28 - March 1.
GSW invites Albany State over to finish their home-and-home series on March 3 before heading up to take on North Georgia, March 6-8. GSW will then host Tuskegee University on March 10 before hosting newcomers Claflin University, March 14-15. Auburn-Montgomery comes to town for a midweek home-and-home series on March 17 as GSW will head out to play UNC Pembroke, March 20-22. The Hurricanes are set to host West Georgia on March 25 and Augusta University, March 27-28.
In April, GSW opens up hosting Georgia College, April 3-4 before taking the short trip to play West Georgia in a midweek game on April 7. From April 10-11, the Hurricanes will host Columbus State followed by Valdosta State on April 14. GSW travels to play Lander University, April 17-19 before returning back to Americus to host their final home game of the season in a midweek matchup against Embry-Riddle (Fla.). The Hurricanes will close out their season on the road against Francis Marion, April 24-26.
GSW went 23-30, going 14-16 in PBC play as they competed in the PBC Tournament where they defeated North Georiga and Georgia College before falling to Young Harris to cap their 2019 campaign.
The Peach Belt Tournament, hosted by Georgia College, will be held May 8-10 in Milledgeville, Ga.