WARRIORS GET SET FOR 1ST ANNUAL MIDWESTERN CLASH IN TENNESSEE

MILLINGTON, TN - The Warriors (2-0) are set for a busy opening weekend at the 1st Annual Midwestern Clash beginning on Saturday, Feb. 17. The Warriors will face four teams, beginning with #25 Freed-Hardeman (TN) on Feb. 17 at 1 p.m.

LIVESTREAM NOTE: All weekend games will occur on field 4. 

THE MATCHUPS

#25 FREED-HARDEMAN (6-1) - SATURDAY, FEB. 17 - 1 PM

The Warriors and Lions will face off for the first time since 2008, a matchup that Freed-Hardeman took 3-2 in Tennessee. The Lions, fresh off a 40-21 season last year, are looking to secure a Mid-South Conference title after a heartbreaking end to the season against Georgia-Gwinett. The Lions enter the season ranked #25, and have only one loss to #RV St. Thomas, taken in the Cajun Collision. 

INDIANA-SOUTH BEND (0-0) - SATURDAY, FEB. 17 - 4 PM

Rochester's second game of opening day will be against Indiana South Bend, who amassed a 24-25 record last season. This matchup will be the first ever between the two teams. 

INDIANA-KOKOMO (3-6) - SUNDAY, FEB. 18 - 12 PM

The final day of the weekend begins with a matchup between the Warriors and IU Kokomo - the third time the matchup has occurred. Kokomo has won both prior matchups against the Warriors, and come in off a 28-21 season. The Cougars have had an up-and-down start to the season, highlighted by a 10-9 win over #6 Tennessee Wesleyan University on Feb. 10. 

SAINT XAVIER (IL) (2-0) - SUNDAY, FEB. 18 - 4 PM

The final matchup of the Clash for Rochester will be against Saint Xavier, who comes in off two straight wins against Spring Arbor (MI) to begin the season. Saint Xavier is 3-0 all-time against Rochester, last defeating the Warriors in 2019. Last season, the Cougars were 31-27 overall. 

MONEYBALL

The Warriors got on base 441 times last season, and all five home-run leaders from the 2022-23 season have returned for the 2023-24 campaign. 

Hussein Murray - RU Athletic Communications