ELON, N.C. -- Daunting. That is the word that comes to mind after looking at Elon's 2005 baseball schedule that was released by Elon Athletics and head coach Mike Kennedy today. The Phoenix will play 17 games against teams that participated in the NCAA Regionals last season, including a three-game set with College World Series participant Georgia. Those 14 other games include three with College of Charleston, three with The Citadel, three with Coastal Carolina, two with UNC Wilmington and one each with North Carolina, North Carolina State and Clemson.

The Phoenix opens the 2005 season with a Southern Conference series against Wofford at Latham Park on Saturday, Feb. 5 at noon. That date will be a doubleheader.

Non-conference opponents Delaware State, Duke, Columbia, Wake Forest, High Point and UNC Wilmington will all pay visits to Elon this season. Elon will travel to take on High Point, Georgia, Auburn, Duke, UNC Wilmington, North Carolina State, North Carolina, Clemson and Wake Forest.

In Southern Conference play, Elon will host Wofford, Davidson, Furman and UNC Greensboro and travel to The Citadel, East Tennessee State, Georgia Southern, Western Carolina and Appalachian State.

The Phoenix will also be playing five games at Burlington Athletic Stadium, home of the Burlington Indians, again this season.

Of this year's slate, Kennedy said, "We feel like this is as tough a schedule as we've ever played. When you look at the strength of the Southern Conference and then add in trips to Auburn, Georgia and Clemson, among others, you can see where this schedule will present a great challenge for our players. Traditionally we have played a very tough non-conference schedule and 2005 will be no different."

-- ELON --