PHOENIX, Ariz. — The Saint Mary's University baseball team kicks off its season at the Russ Matt Invitational. SMU will play nine games in seven days, beginning Sunday against Concordia University-Chicago.

Spring Trip Schedule and Opponents:
Sunday, March 6: vs. Concordia University-Chicago 10 a.m.
Sunday, March 6: vs. The College of New Jersey, 1 p.m.
Monday, March 7: vs. Concordia University-Chicago, 9:30 a.m.
Tuesday, March 8: vs. Wesleyan, 2:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 10: vs. Presentation, Noon
Friday, March 11: vs. Concordia-Wisconsin, 10 a.m.
Friday, March 11: vs. Rockford, 1:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 12: vs. Marian, 9 a.m.

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Cardinals vs. Spring Trip Field:
Concordia-Chicago is the only team on SMU's spring trip schedule that the Cardinals have previously faced. SMU and CUC squared off most recently in 2010, with the Cougars winning 4-2, and the Cardinals returning the favor with a 10-1 victory. Both games were played in Dallas, Texas.

Saint Mary's Cardinals Around The Horn:
2010 Overall Record: 12-18 | 2010 Ovearll Statistics
In their second year under coach Nick Winecke, the Cardinals finished with their most wins since the 2005 season, the SMU finished 16-15 overall. … Joe O'Neill (St. Paul, Minn.) hit a team-leading .313 and was one of three Cardinals to hit above .300 — Vince Lulic (Mendota Heights, Minn. / .305) and Curt Swanson (Woodbury, Minn. / .302) were the other two. … Swanson led the team in home runs (3), RBIs (31), total bases (55) and slugging percentage (.437). … Swanson also shared the team lead in hits (38) with graduated senior Kyle Ryan (St. Paul, Minn.), who also posted team-bests in at-bats (141), runs (27), and stolen bases (17). … Ryan's 141 at-bats this season and 463 career at-bats were both SMU single-season and career records, respectively. … Ryan's 17 stolen bases tied the single-season record, set by Kevin Black in 2008, and his 51 career stolen bases shattered the career stolen base mark of 41, held by Brian Doll. … Ryan also sits atop the school record books in assists with his 134 assists in 2010 and 394 career assists. … Ryan was the only player to start all 40 games for the Cardinals this season. Ryan also started every game in his four-year collegiate career — a span of 138 straight starts. … Swanson and Ryan each had 12 multiple-hit games in 2010, while graduated senior Ryan Archambault boasted a team-leading eight multiple-RBI games. … Graduated senior Bret Ferschweiler enjoyed a career season in 2010, closing out the year with four straight complete games — including two in a four-day span in the final week of the season. The right-hander posted team- and career-bests in wins (3), complete games (6), innings pitched (56.0) and strikeouts (33). … The Cardinals erupted for a season-high seven third-inning runs in beating Gustavus 10-3 in the first game of their MIAC doubleheader on April 10. … SMU's 5-4, 11-inning loss to Hamline on April 25 was the fourth extra-inning game of the season for the Cardinals — and the longest game since beating St. Olaf 3-2 on April 23, 2003. … The Cardinals won more games (7) when their opponent scored first than they did when they scored the game's first run (5). … SMU went 10-1 when leading after six innings, but were winless (0-25) when trailing heading into the seventh inning. … Sixteen of the Cardinals' 40 games were decided by two runs or less — SMU was 7-9 in those 16 contests.

The College of New Jersey Lions Around The Horn:
2010 Overall Record: 23-19 | 2010 Overall Statistics
TJNC reached the championship round of the New Jersey Athletic Conference Tournament, falling to Kean University 14-1. … The Lions closed out 2010 7-2 in their last nine games. … TCNJ was picked to finish fourth in the New Jersey Athletic Conference's 2011 preseason poll. … The 2011 Lions' pitching staff will be led by 2010 First Team ALL-NJAC performer Connor Henderson. The right-hander was 7-2 last season, and has a career record of 15-3. … Joe Marchitelli (2.80 career ERA) posted a career-high 15 strikeouts in a rare start in last year's NJAC playoffs. … TCNJ returns its entire infield from a year ago, with Jimmy Ruzich (.344, 36 RBIs) at first, Scott Kelly (.293, 51 H, 30 BB, 19 SBs) at second, Jason Zegarski (.388, 71 H, 50 R) at short, and Nick Cifelli (.293, 44 H) at third. … Catcher Mike Galeotafiore returns for his third year starting behind the plate. He had an exceptional season at the plate a year ago, leading the Lions with a .397 average, 39 RBIs, 13 2B, and a .500 OB%. … The Lions scored 10 or more runs 14 times a year ago, including a season-high 20 runs twice.

Marian Sabres Around The Horn:
2010 Overall Record: 12-26 | 2010 Overall Statistics
The Sabres have been picked to finish 8th in the Northern Athletics Conference this season. … Marian returns their leading hitter and First-Team All-NAC selection Conference selection, Tim Holtz. Holtz led the team in hits (62), runs (47), home runs (4), on-base percentage (.517), and slugging percentage (.648). … The Sabres return eight of their top 10 hitters from a year ago, when they hit .328 as a team. … Marian collected 415 hits in 2010, including 105 for extra bases — 80 doubles, 12 triples and 13 home runs. … Marian returns starters at every position except right field, where freshman Garrett Dorn will look to step in. … Jesse Blum struck out a team-high 37 batters in 2010, while also leading the team in innings pitched (45.0) and games started (8). … Marian scored 10 or more runs 11 times, going 7-4. On the flip side, Marian was 0-6 when held to two runs or less. … Marian was 8-2 when leading after six innings, but just 2-21 when trailing after the sixth.

Concordia University-Chicago Cougars Around The Horn:
2010 Overall Record: 31-9 | 2010 Overall Statistics
Concordia-Chicago is coming off its third straight 30-win season — the Cougars went 32-13 in 2008 and 33-15 in 2009, a year in which they made their first-ever NCAA Division III regional appearance. … The Cougars lost back-to-back games just once last season, while CU-C put together winning streaks of two (twice), three, four (three times), five and six games. The Cougars closed out the season 10-2 in its last 12 games. … Offensively, Concordia University must find a way to replace First-Team All-NAC and All-Region first baseman Brandon Isaac. Isaac, a four-year starter and two-time winner of the Rawlings Gold Glove award, hit .352 for the Cougars in 39 games last season. He led the NAC with 13 home runs and 59 runs batted in while posting a .673 slugging percentage. …Nick Skala is the Cougars' top returning offensive threat, after hitting .416 with 52 runs, 38 RBIs, a .643 slugging percentage and a .519 on-base percentage. … The Cougars pitching staff will be without NAC Pitcher of the Year Jason Jusk. Jusk finished the season with a perfect 7-0 record including wins over 2010 NCAA tournament teams Aurora University and Webster University. The right-hander led the conference with a 1.80 earned run average over 60 innings. Jusk struck out 49 batters while walking just 14, and opponents hit .199 off him. … As a team, the Cougars hit .337 a year ago. … Concordia belted 33 home runs and collected 153 extra-base hits. … Cougar pitchers compiled a 3.80 ERA, while striking out 284 in 343.0 innings. … Concordia recorded six complete games and six shutouts. … Concordia scored 10 or more runs 13 times last season, including a season-high 21 in a 21-0 win over Maranatha Baptist on April 3.

Wesleyan Cardinals Around The Horn:
2010 Overall Record: 22-14 | 2010 Overall Statistics
The Cardinals are coming off an NESCAC playoff appearance in 2010, where Wesleyan was eliminated with back-to-back losses to Tufts (5-4) and Bowdoin (14-7). … Wesleyan returns its top three pitchers — who combined to go 16-7 — its entire starting infield and two of its three outfielder starters. … All-NESCAC First-Teamer Julian Sonnenfeld is back for his senior season, after hitting .418 with eight home runs a year ago. … Fellow senior Jon Sheehan returns after hitting .333 a year ago, while Joe Gianimo not only boasted a .376 batting average, but also saw some time on the mound a year ago, striking out seven in six innings of work. … Alex Meadow and Brice Kelly each boasted 17 multiple-hit games, while Sonnenfeld had a team-best 13 multiple-RBI games. … Kelly put together a team-best 14-game hitting streak in 2010. … Brett Yarusi, a First-Team All-NESCAC selection in 2010, was the team's leader in ERA (3.81), wins (7) and complete games (5), while Mike Barsotti is also back, after going 5-4 with a 5.43 ERA. He also led the team in innings pitched (68.0) and strikeouts (76). … Sixteen of Wesleyan's 22 wins came away from home — the Cardinals were 6-5 on their home field in 2010. … Wesleyan was 18-4 when leading after six innings, but the Cardinals were winless (0-9) when trailing heading into the seventh inning.

Presentation Saints Around The Horn:
2010 Overall Record: 18-19 | 2010 Overall Statistics
The Saints are coming off a record-breaking season in 2010. PC broke team records for batting average (.320), hits (361), doubles (72), triples (14), and home runs (16). … Michael Babcock broke the single season hits record finishing with 50, while Dillon Naumann tied the RBI record with 36. … The Saints open 2011 without their all-time wins, innings pitched and strikeout leader due to the graduation of Andy Bauer, while Josh Cunningham — and his program-leading 10 career home runs — also graduated. … One of the strengths of the 2011 Saints squad will be the pitching staff, which returns all but one starter. … Spencer Sudbeck was Presentation's most consistent starter in 2010, finishing with a 4-4 record, while posting a 3.90 ERA in 62.0 innings. … Mike Babcock is back for his senior year, after earning All-UMAC First-Team honors, when he hit .357 with 50 hits and 22 RBIs. … The Saints also added transfer catcher Justin Kline, who started for two years at North Dakota State. Kline was an All-American at NDSU in 2009 as a freshman and was having a solid sophomore season before an injury ended his season early. In his freshman campaign, Kline finished seventh amongst all NCAA Division I players with a .432 batting average.

Rockford Regents Around The Horn:
2010 Overall Record: 27-14-1 | 2010 Overall Statistics
The Regents qualified for the NAC post-season tournament a year ago, opening with an 8-5 win, before bowing out with losses to Aurora (7-6) and Edgewood (8-2). … Rockford opened its 2010 season with five straight wins — scoring 10 or more runs in all five games. … The Regents squared off against three MIAC schools a year ago, beating Saint John's 30-7, and going 0-1-1 vs. Macalester (L, 5-1, T, 5-5). … Rockford scored 10 or more runs in 21 of its 42 games — including a season-high 24 runs in a 24-8 win over Wisconsin Lutheran on April 10. … The Regents plated 10 or more runs in 20 of their 27 wins. … Rockford enters 2010 without its top four offensive leaders in Kyle Standridge (.473 BA, 69 runs, 89 hits, 9 triples, 51 RBIs, .644 slugging percentage), T.J. Stanfield (.407, 49 runs, 53 hits, 48 RBIs), Eric Nicholson (.405, 46 runs, 53 hits, 11 doubles, 5 triples, 8 home runs, 46 RBIs, 18 stolen bases), and Tyler Clay (.386, 58 runs, 59 hits, 11 doubles, 33 RBIs, 11 stolen bases). … Jimmy Dercks opens 2001 as the team's top offensive returning, hitting .379 in 2010. He also collected 61 hits, 52 RBIs, 42 runs scored, 26 walks and nine stolen bases. … Rockford lost 17 wins from its 2010 pitching staff to graduation — including the 8-2 record, 4.72 ERA, 60 IP and 68 strikeouts from Kevin Patterson. … Ben Korth and Will Kuchelmeister return as the anchors to the Regents' pitching staff. Korth appeared in 14 games, compiling a 3.41 ERA with 27 strikeouts, while Kuchelmeister went 3-0 with a 3.92 ERA in 39 innings. … Rockford was 24-1 when leading after the sixth inning, but just 1-12-1 when trailing heading into the seventh inning. … The Regents went 6-2 against left-handed starters and were 21-12-1 vs. righties. … Rockford did not play an extra-inning game in 2010.