Feb. 14, 2008
IOWA CITY – The University of Iowa baseball and softball teams will each appear at least four times on the Big Ten Network (BTN) this spring. All of the BTN baseball and softball broadcasts will be available in high-definition (HD).
The Iowa baseball team’s first appearance on the BTN is Tuesday, April 8, against the 2007 NCAA Tournament qualifying Nebraska Cornhuskers at Duane Banks Field. Nebraska, who split a pair with Iowa last season, will come to Iowa City for a 6 p.m. start.
The Hawkeyes will be televised again Saturday, April 12, in a doubleheader against Indiana in Bloomington. The Black and Gold swept Indiana in 2007. The first game is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. (CST) with game two following 30 minutes after the completion of game one.
Iowa’s final regular season game on the BTN will be on Friday, May 2, against the Minnesota Gophers at Duane Banks Field. The Gophers finished second in the Big Ten last season. The game is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start.
“We are very excited to have games on the Big Ten Network,” Head baseball Coach Jack Dahm said. “This is a great chance for us to showcase both Big Ten and Iowa baseball to the rest of the country. I’m sure that Banks Field will look great in high-definition.”
The softball team will debut on the BTN Friday, April 4 when it travels to Ann Arbor to face Michigan, who made the super-regional round of the NCAA Tournament in 2007. The game will be broadcast live at 3 p.m. (CST).
The BTN will make two trips to Pearl Field, the first being Saturday, April 12, when the Hawkeyes entertain Michigan State. The game will start at noon and will be broadcast later that night at 7 p.m.
Both games of Iowa’s doubleheader against Minnesota at Pearl Field April 20 will be televised live on the BTN. Game one of the doubleheader will start at noon with game two starting approximately 30 minutes after the end of game one.
“The Big Ten Network is an absolutely wonderful addition to Big Ten softball,” Head softball Coach Gayle Blevins said. “We compete in one of the premier conferences in the country and now we have the opportunity to gain national television exposure at least four times during the season. This will definitely elevate Big Ten softball to a new level.”
The softball team opens the 2008 season this weekend at the Metrodome Classic in Minneapolis, MN, while the baseball team will begin play Feb. 22 in Clearwater, FL, at the Notre Dame Tournament.
2008 BIG TEN NETWORK BASEBALL SCHEDULE
Date Time Game Air Time (CT)Friday, March 28 5:30 p.m. Penn State at Ohio State LiveSaturday, March 29 noon Penn State at Ohio State (DH) LiveSaturday, March 29 3 p.m. * Penn State at Ohio State LiveSaturday, April 5 noon Minnesota at Ohio State (DH)LiveSaturday, April 5 3 p.m. * Minnesota at Ohio State LiveTuesday, April 8 6 p.m. Nebraska at Iowa LiveSaturday, April 1211 a.m. Iowa at Indiana (DH) LiveSaturday, April 122 p.m. * Iowa at Indiana LiveFriday, April 18 5:30 p.m. Michigan State at MichiganLiveThursday, April 24 5 p.m. Lansing Lugnuts at Michigan State LiveSaturday, April 26noon Ohio State at Northwestern (DH) LiveSaturday, April 263 p.m. Ohio State at NorthwesternLiveFriday, May 26 p.m. Minnesota at Iowa LiveSaturday, May 3 3 p.m. Michigan State at Penn State (DH) LiveSaturday, May 3 6 p.m. * Michigan State at Penn State LiveTuesday, May 6 2 p.m. Louisville at Indiana LiveFriday, May 96:30 p.m. Michigan at Minnesota LiveSaturday, May 102:30 p.m. Michigan at Minnesota (DH) LiveSaturday, May 105:30 p.m. * Michigan at Minnesota LiveSunday, May 11 1 p.m. * Michigan at Minnesota LiveSunday, May 11 1 p.m. Indiana at Northwestern 4 p.m.Thursday, May 15 5:30 p.m. Northwestern at Michigan LiveFriday, May 16 1 p.m. Purdue at Illinois (DH) LiveFriday, May 16 4 p.m. * Purdue at IllinoisLiveSaturday, May 171 p.m. Purdue at IllinoisLiveSaturday, May 24TBD Big Ten Tournament Championship LiveSunday, May 25 TBD Big Ten Tournament Championship
(if necessary) Live
2008 BIG TEN NETWORK SOFTBALL SCHEDULE
| Date | Time | Game | Air Time (CT) | |
| Sunday, March 30 | 10 a.m. | Penn State at Indiana (DH) | Live | |
| Sunday, March 30 | 12:30 p.m. * | Penn State at Indiana | Live | |
| Sunday, March 30 | 11 a.m. | Illinois at Ohio State (DH) | 7 p.m. | |
| Sunday, March 30 | 1:30 p.m. * | Illinois at Ohio State | 7 p.m. | |
| Friday, April 4 | 3 p.m. | Iowa at Michigan | Live | |
| Sunday, April 6 | noon | Indiana at Wisconsin (DH) | Live | |
| Sunday, April 6 | 2:30 p.m. * | Indiana at Wisconsin | Live | |
| Sunday, April 6 | noon | Purdue at Minnesota (DH) | 5 p.m. | |
| Sunday, April 6 | 2:30 p.m. * | Purdue at Minnesota | 7 p.m. | |
| Friday, April 11 | 6 p.m. | Northwestern at Illinois | Live | |
| Saturday, April 12 | noon | Michigan State at Iowa | 7 p.m. | |
| Sunday, April 13 | 11 a.m. | Ohio State at Purdue (DH) | Live | |
| Sunday, April 13 | 1:30 p.m. * | Ohio State at Purdue | Live | |
| Wednesday, April 16 | 6 p.m. | Illinois State at Illinois | Live | |
| Sunday, April 20 | noon | Minnesota at Iowa (DH) | Live | |
| Sunday, April 20 | 2:30 p.m. * | Minnesota at Iowa | Live | |
| Tuesday, April 22 | 3 p.m. | UIC at Northwestern | Live | |
| Friday, April 25 | 6 p.m. | Ohio State at Wisconsin | Live | |
| Saturday, April 26 | 1 p.m. | Ohio State at Wisconsin | 7 p.m. | |
| Sunday, April 27 | 11 a.m. | Northwestern at Michigan (DH) | Live | |
| Sunday, April 27 | 1:30 p.m. * | Northwestern at Michigan | Live | |
| Saturday, May 3 | 11 a.m. | Michigan at Penn State | Live | |
| Saturday, May 3 | 1 p.m. | Michigan State at Northwestern | Live | |
| Sunday, May 4 | 11 a.m. | Michigan at Penn State | Live | |
| Sunday, May 4 | 1 p.m. | Michigan State at Northwestern | Live | |
| Saturday, May 10 | noon | Big Ten Tournament Championship | Live |
DH = Doubleheader
*Game 2 of each doubleheader begins approximately 30 minutes after first game
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