ANDERSON, S.C. – With Anderson head baseball coach P.J. Zocchi releasing the Trojans' 2023 schedule on Friday, the team will be looking to build on the momentum from a year ago, when the Trojans won their first eleven games,

With the season-opening win streak, the Trojans got off to their best start since at least the 1998 campaign and kept their postseason hopes alive into the final day of the regular season. Bidding for their first winning season since the 2003 campaign, the Trojans broke even with a 23-23 record a year ago, while becoming the first squad to reach at least .500 since the 2003 team went 31-22 and recorded the program's most wins since the 2018 squad posted 25 victories.

"Overall people were happy with the year but I think we underachieved - especially with how we started," said Zocchi. "As you build the culture within the team and the coaching staff you become more consistent. We want to be consistent every day."

AU will play four contests in 2023 against a pair of teams that reached the NCAA Division II Tournament last season, while also squaring off against Bluefield State, which reached the HBCU World Series for the second straight season a year ago.

The Trojans will also be looking for a return to the postseason after earning back-to-back berths in the 2014 and 2015 South Atlantic Conference Tournaments, then again in 2018 and 2019.

"I'm excited about seeing guys compete," added Zocchi. "I've seen them competing with each other and I want to see how they put everything together when you have outside competition entering the season. The expectations we have as a coaching staff have gotten higher, so we'll see how they respond to that."

Anderson's 50-game schedule is slanted in favor of contests at Memorial Stadium, with the Trojans scheduled to play 29 home games and featuring 21 games on the road. The slate also includes 24 grueling South Atlantic Conference games. The Trojans will also square off against Limestone in a three-game series that will not be league contests.

"I want a balanced schedule – I don't mind going on the road," noted Zocchi. "We're in a region where you never know about those first three weeks – it can be really good or it can be really bad. We try to play at home early in the year and try to mix in the road games later in the season. I like being on the road and playing good competition because I think it makes the team tougher."

AU will play host to three first-time opponents during the month of February, with the schedule including three opponents each from Conference Carolinas and the Peach Belt Conference, a twinbill against Lincoln (Pa.) from the East Coast Conference, and a three-game series with Felician (Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference), along with the second three-game series in two seasons against Bluefield State.

Anderson will begin the season in the spacious confines of Anderson Memorial Stadium for the 11th time in 13 years, with a seven-game homestand on the docket and will play 16 of its first 20 games in the Electric City.

"Our midweek (nonconference) schedule is challenging again this year," said Zocchi. "I want to challenge the players and our strength of schedule overall is going to be challenging. I think our players are prepared for that."

vs. Bluefield State (Feb. 4 - 1 p.m./4 p.m.) and (Feb. 5 – 1 p.m.)
Series Record: Anderson leads, 3-0
Notes: The Trojans and Big Blue met last season for the first time in program history, with AU sweeping the season-opening three-game series.
Bluefield State posted its first 20-win season in school history a year ago.
Last Time: AU 8-1 (2/06/22 – Anderson, S.C.)
2022 Record: 22-27, Conference Finish: N/A

vs. Southern Wesleyan (Feb. 7 – 4 p.m.)
Series Record: Anderson leads, 39-21
Notes: Series began in 1998
Southern Wesleyan has won two straight, with Anderson winning seven of the last nine and nine of the last 12
Last Time: SWU 8-7 (4/04/22 – Central, S.C.)
2022 Record: 2-28, 10-40 – Conference Carolinas Finish: 11th

at Augusta (Feb. 8 – TBA)
Series Record: Anderson leads, 22-21
Notes: Series began in 1998
Anderson has won three straight
Last Time: Anderson 13-8 (4/27/22 – Augusta, Ga.)
2022 Record: 14-34, 6-21 – Peach Belt Conference Finish: 9th

vs. Emory & Henry (Feb. 10 - 3 p.m.) and (Feb. 11 – 1 p.m./4 p.m.)
Series Record: N/A
Notes: First Meeting – Emory & Henry joined the South Atlantic Conference for the 2022-23 seasons
Last Time: N/A
2022 Record: 9-28, Conference Finish: N/A

at Lander (Feb. 14 – 4 p.m.)
Series Record: Lander leads 26-12
Notes: Series began in 1998
Lander has won two straight and 18 of the last 21
Last Time: Lander 11-9 (3/22/22 – Anderson, S.C.)
2022 Record: 22-29, 11-15 – Peach Belt Conference Finish: 8th

vs. Limestone (Feb. 17 - 4 p.m.)
Series Record: Anderson leads, 40-34
Notes: Series began in 1998
AU has won four straight and nine of the last 10
Last Time: Anderson, 5-4 (2/13/22 – Gaffney, S.C.)
2022 Record: 4-41, 1-23 – South Atlantic Conference Finish: 13th

at Limestone (Feb. 18 - 1 p.m./4 p.m.)
Series Record: Anderson leads, 40-34
Notes: Series began in 1998
AU has won four straight and nine of the last 10
Last Time: Anderson, 5-4 (2/13/22 – Gaffney, S.C.)
2022 Record: 4-41, 1-23 – South Atlantic Conference Finish: 13th

at Emmanuel (Feb. 21 – 3 p.m.)
Series Record: Emmanuel leads, 15-11
Notes: Series began in 1998
The two teams did not play from 2004-2015
Emmanuel has won six of the last seven and nine of the last 11 meetings
Last Time: EMM 7-6 (3/15/22 – Anderson, S.C.)
2022 Record: 17-32, 9-21 – Conference Carolinas Finish: 9th

vs. Lincoln (Pa.) (Feb. 25 – 1 p.m./4 p.m.)
Notes: First Meeting
Last Time: N/A
2022 Record: 5-35, 1-18 – East Coast Conference Finish: 8th

vs. Felician (Feb. 28 – 1 p.m./4 p.m.) and (March 1 – 4 p.m.)
Notes: First Meeting
Last Time: N/A
2022 Record: 26-22, 16-9 – Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Finish: 2nd (North Division)

vs. Lenoir-Rhyne* (March 3 – 4 p.m.) and (March 4 – 1 p.m./4 p.m.)
Series Record: Lenoir-Rhyne leads, 26-13
Notes: Series began in 2009
AU has won two of the last four meetings, while LR has claimed seven of the last nine
The Bears won the 2022 SAC Baseball Tournament Championship
Last Time: LR 13-1 (3/19/22 – Hickory, N.C.)
2022 Record: 46-13, 17-7 – South Atlantic Conference Finish: T-3rd

vs. Limestone (March 7 - TBA)
Series Record: Anderson leads, 40-34
Notes: Series began in 1998
AU has won four straight and nine of the last 10
Last Time: Anderson, 5-4 (2/13/22 – Gaffney, S.C.)
2022 Record: 4-41, 1-23 – South Atlantic Conference Finish: 13th

at Coker* (March 10 – 1 p.m.) and (March 11 – Noon/3 p.m.)
Series Record: Anderson leads, 43-32
Notes: Series began in 1998
AU swept last season's regular-season series
Last Time: Anderson 4-2 (4/9/22 - Anderson, S.C.)
2022 Record: 13-35, 8-16 – South Atlantic Conference Finish: T-9th

vs. Emmanuel (March 14 – 4 p.m.)
Series Record: Emmanuel leads, 15-11
Notes: Series began in 1998
The two teams did not play from 2004-2015
Emmanuel has won six of the last seven and nine of the last 11 meetings
Last Time: EMM 7-6 (3/15/22 – Anderson, S.C.)
2022 Record: 17-32, 9-21 – Conference Carolinas Finish: 9th

vs. Lincoln Memorial* (March 17 – 4 p.m.) and (March 18 – 1 p.m./4 p.m.)
Series Record: Lincoln Memorial leads, 18-14
Notes: Series began in 2009
The two teams did not meet last season
Last Time: LMU 9-7 (2/21/21 – Anderson, S.C.)
2022 Record: 27-18, 15-8 – South Atlantic Conference Finish: 6th

at North Georgia (March 21 – 5 p.m.)
Series Record: North Georgia leads 33-5
Notes: Series began in 2001
UNG has won the last 15 meetings
Last Time: UNG 13-5 (3/29/22 – Dahlonega, Ga.)
2022 Record: 31-20, 16-11 – Peach Belt Conference Finish: T-5th

at UVA Wise* (March 24 – 4 p.m.) and (March 25 – 1 p.m./4 p.m.)
Series Record: The overall series is even at 1-1
Notes: Series began in 2021
The Cavaliers joined the South Atlantic Conference in 2020
The two teams did not meet last season
Last Time: AU 18-7 (3/26/21 – Wise, Va.)
2022 Record: 18-32, 6-18 – South Atlantic Conference Finish: 11th

vs. Newberry (March 28 – 6 p.m.)
Series Record: Anderson leads, 36-23
Notes: Series began in 1998
Newberry has won seven straight and nine of the last 11
Last Time: Newberry 12-4 (4/02/22 – Anderson, S.C.)
2022 Record: 38-13, 19-5 – South Atlantic Conference Finish: 2nd

at Catawba* (March 31 – 6 p.m.) and (April 1 – 1 p.m./4 p.m.)
Series Record: Catawba leads, 36-11
Notes: Series began in 2001
Notes: Twelve-time SAC Regular-Season Champions; NCAA Southeast Regional (2021); NCAA DII College World Series (2019)
Last Time: CAT 11-3 (3/14/22 – Anderson, S.C.)
2022 Record: 31-24, 16-8 – South Atlantic Conference Finish: 5th

at North Georgia (April 4 – 7 p.m.)
Series Record: North Georgia leads 33-5
Notes: Series began in 2001
UNG has won the last 15 meetings
Last Time: UNG 13-5 (3/29/22 – Dahlonega, Ga.)
2022 Record: 31-20, 16-11 – Peach Belt Conference Finish: T-5th

at Carson-Newman* (April 7 – 6 p.m.) and (April 8 – 1 p.m./4 p.m.)
Series Record: Carson-Newman leads, 32-11
Notes: Series began in 2001
Last Time: C-N 2-1 (4/23/22 – Anderson, S.C.)
2022 Record: 28-24, 12-11 – South Atlantic Conference Finish: 7th

at Southern Wesleyan (April 11 – 6 p.m.)
Series Record: Anderson leads, 39-21
Notes: Series began in 1998
Southern Wesleyan has won two straight, with Anderson winning seven of the last nine and nine of the last 12
Last Time: SWU 8-7 (4/04/22 – Central, S.C.)
2022 Record: 2-28, 10-40 – Conference Carolinas Finish: 11th

vs. Augusta (April 12 – 6 p.m.)
Series Record: Anderson leads, 22-21
Notes: Series began in 1998
Anderson has won three straight
Last Time: Anderson 13-8 (4/27/22 – Augusta, Ga.)
2022 Record: 14-34, 6-21 – Peach Belt Conference Finish: 9th

vs. Mars Hill* (April 14 – 6 p.m.) and (April 15 – 1 p.m./4 p.m.)
Series Record: Anderson leads 22-15
Notes: Series began in 2007
Last Time: MHU 6-3 (3/26/22 – Mars Hill, N.C.)
2022 Record: 18-30, 9-14 – South Atlantic Conference Finish: 8th

at Belmont Abbey (April 18 – 4 p.m.)
Series Record: Belmont Abbey leads, 32-13
Notes: Series began in 1999 … Sixth meeting since the 2013 season
Last Time: BAC 10-6 (4/19/22 – Anderson, S.C.)
2022 Record: 34-19, 21-8 – Conference Carolinas Finish: 3rd

at Tusculum* (April 21 – 6 p.m.) and (April 22 – 1 p.m./4 p.m.)
Series Record: Tusculum leads, 27-15
Notes: Series began in 1998 … The two teams did not meet last season
Last Time: AU 6-5 (4/03/21 – Anderson, S.C.)
2022 Record: 17-30, 5-19 – South Atlantic Conference Finish: 12th

vs. Lander (April 25 – 5 p.m.)
Series Record: Lander leads 26-12
Notes: Series began in 1998
Lander has won two straight and 18 of the last 21
Last Time: Lander 11-9 (3/22/22 – Anderson, S.C.)
2022 Record: 22-29, 11-15 – Peach Belt Conference Finish: 8th

The 2023 South Atlantic Conference Baseball Championship is set to begin with opening rounds at campus sites around the league, April 28-30, with the championship series slated for May 7-8, at Smokies Stadium in Kodak, Tenn.