AZUSA, Calif. -- Azusa Pacific’s 2009 baseball schedule was announced today by Cougar head coach Paul Svagdis. The Cougars will play 27 of their 46 games at home in their pursuit of a third consecutive trip to the NAIA World Series.

The schedule is highlighted by an exhibition game with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, the Class A-Advanced California League affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The 7-inning contest will be played Tuesday, April 7, at 6:00 p.m., at The Epicenter in Rancho Cucamonga.

“It’s been a great community outreach in terms of getting Azusa Pacific faculty, staff, and supporters involved,” said Svagdis, who has taken his squad to play the Quakes for the past 2 seasons. “It’s a great challenge for us, and it’s an opportunity for us to showcase our players at the next level.”

The 2009 season opens at home with a doubleheader against NAIA independent Patten on Thursday, January 29, at the Cougar Baseball Complex. Other non-conference opponents include Simpson, Dixie State (Utah), Whittier, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, Cal State San Marcos, and Trinity International (Ill.).

Azusa Pacific begins the 36-game GSAC schedule with a doubleheader against Point Loma Nazarene on Saturday, Feb. 7, at San Diego. The Cougars open GSAC play with 5 straight road games, and the regular season concludes with 4 more on the road, leaving 18 home and 9 away games in a 27-game stretch that makes up the heart of the conference schedule.

“It’s a strong, competitive schedule,” Svagdis said. “The main point of the schedule will be difficult because we are playing conference opponents that are all really strong.”

Worthy games of note include a home-and-away series with Cal State San Marcos, with the home date occurring on Tuesday, Feb. 17. Azusa Pacific faces Trinity International for the first time in program history on Tuesday, March 10. In addition, the long-time rivalry with Biola reignites with a doubleheader in Azusa on Saturday, March 14.

COUGAR SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN:

Home (27 games)

Away (19 games)

Day (39)

Night (7)

California opponents (15)

Out-of-state opponents (2)

Doubleheaders (12)

Single games (22)

GAMES BY DAY OF WEEK

Monday (2)

Tuesday (6)

Wednesday (6)

Thursday (9)

Friday (1)

Saturday (22)

GAMES BY MONTH

January (3)

February (16)

March (14)

April (13)

ROAD GAMES BY DISTANCE (miles calculated from Azusa Pacific campus)

Total distance (2,402 miles, round-trip)

Longest road trip (Fresno Pacific, 207 miles)

Shortest road trip (La Mirada, 28 miles)