A Deep Dive into MT Baseball's 2022 Non-Conference Schedule

Middle Tennessee baseball faces perhaps one of its most challenging non-conference schedules in program history in 2022.

Non-conference opponents this season consist of three 2021 NCAA Tournament teams. Six of the 16 opponents have made at least one NCAA Regional appearance in the past three seasons. Vanderbilt won the College World Series in 2019 while Auburn was also among the teams in Omaha that season.

MT plays seven games against five Power Five schools in the SEC and Big Ten.

The Blue Raiders are scheduled to spend 16 of its first 17 games away from home, including eight games, to open the season.

Lipscomb, Austin Peay, Memphis, Tennessee Tech, UT Martin and Belmont are non-conference foes coming to Reese Smith Jr. Field in 2022.

Below is a breakdown of each team.

St. John's (19-21, 10-16 Big East)
Feb. 18-19 - Wilmington, N.C.
●      NCAA Tournament appearances in ('04, '05, '07, '08, '10, '11, '12, '15, '17, '18).
●      30-or-more wins in 14 of the past 18 seasons.
●      31 MLB draft picks since 2012.
●      Middle Tennessee has never faced St. John's.

UNC Wilmington (32-22, 13-8 CAA)
Feb. 18-20 - Wilmington, N.C.
●      10 NCAA Regional appearances since 2003 ('03, '04, '06, '08, '12, '13, '15, '16, '18, '19).
●      30-or-more wins in 14 consecutive full seasons and in 22 of the past 23 seasons.
●      29 players drafted into MLB since 2014.
●      Middle Tennessee has never faced UNC Wilmington.

Belmont (22-30, 14-16 OVC)
Feb. 22 - Nashville, Tenn.
April 19 - Murfreesboro, Tenn.
●      Two NCAA Regional appearances since 2011 ('11 and '12).
●      13 players drafted in MLB draft since 2013.
●      Middle Tennessee leads the all-time series 45-14.

Illinois (22-22 Big Ten)
Feb. 25 - Conway, S.C.
●      Four NCAA Tournament appearances since 2011 ('11, '13, '15 and '19).
●      32 MLB draft picks since 2010 (Two in 2021).
●      Five 30-plus win seasons since 2013.
●      Illinois leads the all-time series, 9-7.

Ball State (38-18, 29-11 MAC)
Feb. 26 - Conway, S.C.
●      One NCAA Tournament appearance in 2000s ('06).
●      12 MLB draft picks since 2014.
●      30-or-more wins in past eight full seasons.
●      Middle Tennessee leads the all-time series, 5-3.

Rutgers (21-23 Big Ten)
Feb. 27 - Conway, S.C.
●      Four NCAA Tournament appearances since 2000 ('00, '01, '03, '07).
●      16 MLB draft picks since 2007.
●      Three 30-or-more win seasons since 2010 ('10, '12, '14).
●      Middle Tennessee leads the all-time series, 1-0.

Lipscomb (18-29, 8-13 ASUN)
March 1 - Murfreesboro, Tenn.
April 12 - Nashville, Tenn.
●      Two NCAA Tournament appearances ('08, '15).
●      Four 30-plus win seasons since 2014.
●      Six MLB draft picks since 2016.
●      Lipscomb leads the all-time series, 31-27.

Western Carolina (28-21, 14-11 SOCON)
March 2 - Chattanooga, Tenn.
●      Two NCAA Tournament appearances since 2007 ('07, '16).
●      Six seasons of 30-or-more wins since 2009.
●      22 MLB draft picks since 2009.
●      Middle Tennessee has won two of three meetings.

South Alabama (36-22, 15-9 Sun Belt)
March 4-6 - Mobile, Ala.
●      Four NCAA Regional appearances since 2013 ('13, '16, '17 and '21).
●      30-or-more wins in past six full seasons.
●      Six alumni have reached the Major Leagues since 2004.
●      South Alabama leads the all-time series, 35-24.

Alabama (32-26, 12-17 SEC)
March 8 - Tuscaloosa, Ala.
●      Seven NCAA Tournament appearances since 2008 ('08, '09, '10, '11, '13, '14 and '21).
●      13 30-plus win seasons since 2005.
●      30 MLB draft picks since 2015.
●      Alabama leads the all-time series, 20-9.

Auburn (25-27, 10-20 SEC)
March 13 - Auburn, Ala.
●      Five NCAA Tournament appearances since 2010 ('10, '15, '17, '18 and '19). Played in the 2019 College World Series.
●      Nine 30-plus win seasons since 2007.
●      32 MLB draft picks since 2014. No. 1 overall pick in 2018 (Casey Mize, Detroit Tigers).
●      Auburn leads the all-time series, 14-3.

Austin Peay (23-33, 16-14 OVC)
March 15 - Murfreesboro, Tenn.
March 22 - Clarksville, Tenn.
●      Three NCAA Tournament appearances since 2011 ('11, '12 and '13).
●      Seven 30-or-more win seasons since 2007.
●      20 MLB draft picks since 2011.
●      Middle Tennessee leads the all-time series, 92-44.

Tennessee Tech (22-25, 15-15 OVC)
March 29 - Cookeville, Tenn.
May 10 - Murfreesboro, Tenn.
●      Three NCAA Tournament appearances since 2009 ('09, '17 and '18).
●      Eight 30-or-more win seasons since 2008. Four 40-plus win seasons since 2013.
●      15 MLB draft picks since 2014.
●      Middle Tennessee leads the all-time series, 87-36-1.

Memphis (18-39, 7-25 AAC)
April 6 - Murfreesboro, Tenn.
●      One NCAA Tournament appearance since 2007 ('07).
●      Six 30-or-more win seasons since 2011.
●      36 MLB draft picks since 2007.
●      Middle Tennessee leads the all-time series, 52-50.

UT Martin (19-29, 10-17 OVC)
April 26 - Murfreesboro, Tenn.
●      Four MLB draft picks since 2011.
●      MT leads the all-time series, 20-6.

Vanderbilt (49-18, 19-10 SEC)
May 17 - Nashville, Tenn.
●      15 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, five College World Series appearances ('11, '14, '15, '19 and '21) and two national championships ('04 and '19).
●      30-plus win seasons in 17 consecutive full seasons.
●      72 MLB draft picks since 2012.
●      Vanderbilt leads the all-time series 63-25.

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