WILMINGTON, North Carolina - Highlighted by 34 home games and home-and-home series with five teams that played in the NCAA tournament, UNCW has released its baseball schedule for the 2011 season.

"We're looking forward to a very challenging schedule in 2011," said UNCW Head Coach Mark Scalf. "Our opening weekends will provide us with solid opposition and help us prepare for conference play. In the Hughes Bros. Challenge, we have three quality opponents that give us an early opportunity to play in a similar format as our conference tournament."

The Seahawks will play home-and-home series with NCAA tournament programs the College of Charleston, UNC Chapel Hill, NC State, Coastal Carolina and Elon in 2011, along with home-and-home series against long time rivals East Carolina and Campbell.

"Our midweek schedule is probably as good as anyone's in the country. It's filled with annual regional tournament clubs and everyone one of those games is a hard-fought challenge."

UNCW will open its 20th season under the guidance of Head Coach mark Scalf on Feb. 18, against Jacksonville in the first of a three-game set with the Dolphins. The Seahawks and Dolphins opened last season in Jacksonville with UNCW taking 2-of-3.

The Seahawks will also host Marist, Miami (Ohio) and West Virginia the weekend of Feb. 25-27, in the Hughes Bros. Challenge.

The Colonial Athletic Association returned to a complete round robin schedule with all teams playing 30 games. The Seahawks open their conference schedule on Mar. 11-13 at home against Northeastern. Also visiting Brooks Field in CAA play will be Delaware (Apr. 8-10), William & Mary (Apr. 15-17), Georgia State (May 6-8) and defending CAA champion VCU (May 19-21). Road series for UNCW will include Towson (March 18-20), George Mason (March 25-27), Hofstra (22-24), defending CAA regular season champion James Madison (Apr. 29-May 1) and Old Dominion (May 13-15).

The CAA Championship will be held at Brooks Field (May 26-28) for the eighth consecutive time and will again be a four-team tournament.

The Seahawks, who compiled a 33-27 record in 2009, reached the championship game of the CAA tournament for the second consecutive year, but dropped an extra inning classic to VCU.

Season ticket sales will be announced later in the fall.