Lincoln – A non-conference home series against traditional SEC power Alabama and 25 games against NCAA Regional qualifiers highlight the 2006 Nebraska baseball schedule released Friday by Head Coach Mike Anderson.

The schedule, which includes Big 12 road series against national champion Texas and fellow CWS qualifier Baylor, will challenge the Huskers from the start, as Nebraska will square off against five NCAA teams in its first 10 games, including contests with North Carolina State, Notre Dame and Arizona.

“This team will be challenged in every game and every series this year,” Anderson said. “The scheduling fell into place to allow us to challenge this team throughout our preseason. The early road series and playing a series against an SEC opponent should help us get the quality competition we need to be ready for the Big 12.”

The series with the Crimson Tide, who went 40-23 and were ranked as high as 18th in the final national polls a year ago, marks the first time that an SEC team has come to Lincoln to take on the Huskers on the diamond and the first time NU has faced an SEC team in the regular season since 2000.

Before the home opener against Alabama on March 10, the Huskers spend the first three weekends on the road, traveling to early season tournaments in Charleston, S.C., Houston and Minneapolis.

Nebraska opens the 2006 season on Thursday, Feb. 16 against Charleston Southern before starting tournament play in the Homewoods Suites Shootout against NCAA Regional qualifier North Carolina State, The Citadel and Richmond. The following weekend, the Huskers make their annual trek to Houston to take on national power Rice, NCAA qualifier St. John’s and Texas State. The Huskers wrap up the trip one week later, as they travel to Minneapolis to compete in the Dairy Queen Classic against Arizona, Notre Dame and the host Golden Gophers.

The series against the Crimson Tide opens a 28-game home schedule for the Huskers, as they will spend most of March inside the cozy confines of Hawks Field. On March 10, the Huskers begin a 16-game homestand that also features Illinois State, South Dakota State and Western Illinois before the Huskers begin defense of their Big 12 crown with the conference opener against Kansas on March 24.

The Huskers will be tested in April, with conference road series at NCAA regional qualifier Missouri (7-9) and a three-game set at Texas (April 21-28). Other highlights of the April schedule include two games against in-state rival Creighton (April 4 and 18), a three-game series against Texas A&M (April 13-15) and a non-conference match-up against Wichita State on April 25.

In May, the Huskers make trips to Oklahoma State (series dates TBA) and Baylor (May 12-14) along with hosting Oklahoma during the final weekend of the regular season (May 19-21). In addition, the Huskers will wrap up the three-game series with Creighton on May 16 at Omaha’s Rosenblatt Stadium. In 2005, a crowd of over 20,000 was on hand for the contest between the state’s two Division I programs.

The Big 12 Tournament will take place at the SBC Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City May 24-28, with NCAA Regionals and Super Regionals taking place the following two weeks. The 2006 College World Series is scheduled for June 16-26 at Omaha's Rosenblatt Stadium.

-- Huskers --