The University of Delaware baseball team will face five NCAA tournament teams from a year ago, including a late season trip to North Carolina State University, in 2017. The schedule was announced by Blue Hens head coach Jim Sherman.

The Blue Hens, who went 32-22 overall and 10-14 in the Colonial Athletic Association last season, are scheduled to play 25 games at Bob Hannah Stadium, including two early season tournaments and a pair of contests against Big 10 opponent Penn State.

UD will kick off its season with four games in the Pittsburgh Tournament at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee, Florida, beginning with a game against the Panthers on Feb. 17. The Blue Hens will take on Ohio State, a 2016 NCAA tournament participant, and Kansas State the following day, before again facing Pitt on Feb. 19.

UD will head to the Old Dominion Tournament for the second straight year on Feb. 24-26, when the Blue Hens will face the host Monarchs along with Saint Joseph’s and Kentucky.

UD will then open its home schedule on March 3-5 by hosting the Bob Hannah Invitational, featuring a double round robin format with Rider and Delaware State.

Following a home game against the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) on March 7, the Blue Hens will host another double round robin tournament on March 10-12 with Wagner and defending America East champion Binghamton.

The following weekend will feature a four-game series with Penn State, with the first two games in State College before the squads face off at Bob Hannah Stadium on March 18-19.

UD will open CAA play on March 24-26 at James Madison, and after a Liberty Bell Classic first round game on March 28 will host its first conference series by welcoming defending league champion William and Mary to Newark on March 31-April 2.

The Blue Hens will head to UMBC for a non-conference matchup with the Retrievers on April 5 before traveling to Boston for a three-game set at Northeastern on April 7-9. UD will then host a five-game homestand by taking on Penn on April 12, Hofstra on April 14-16, and Saint Joseph’s on April 19.

UD will then play 11 consecutive games outside of Newark, beginning with a three-game series at Elon on April 21-23. After a non-league game at Delaware State on April 25, the Blue Hens head to the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW), the 2016 CAA regular season champion and an NCAA tournament participant, on April 28-30.

UD will travel to Saint Joseph’s on May 2, before its three-game weekend series at Atlantic Coast Conference power North Carolina State on May 5-7. The Wolfpack hosted an NCAA regional last year and was ranked No. 20 in the final USA Today Coaches Poll.

The Blue Hens will conclude their regular season with a pair of league home series against Towson on May 12-14 and the College of Charleston on May 18-20. The league tournament will be held May 24-27 at Brooks Field on the campus of UNCW.