CENTRAL — Twenty-eight home games, 21 games against 2009 nationally ranked teams and nine games against NAIA World Series participants highlight Southern Wesleyan's 53 game, 2010 baseball schedule released Tuesday.

The Warriors, who will play 11 of the first 13 games at Dr. C. Keith Connor Field, will play 21 games (40 percent) against teams that were ranked nationally in their respective division.

NCAA Division II opponents Erskine College, Anderson University and North Georgia College were ranked nationally at one time during the 2009 spring season. SWU and Erskine will open the 2010 campaign on Feb. 1, renewing their rivalry in Due West at 2 p.m. Anderson will visit SWU early in February and the Warriors will return the trip to nearby Anderson, SC in late March. The Warriors and Saints of NGCSU will play in Dahlonega, GA in early April.

The Southern States Athletic Conference, known throughout the country as one of the toughest in NAIA baseball, was well represented in the Avista-NAIA World Series last June as Berry College, Lee University and Southern Polytechnic State participated. Berry is moving to NCAA Division III status, but will play all SSAC teams this year and will host SWU in their final weekend series of the season just prior to the conference tourney. Berry finished last spring ranked 4th nationally. Lee University will open conference play with the Warriors on Feb. 27 & 28 in Cleveland, Tenn. The Flames have made visits to the NAIA World Series for the past three years and finished the 2009 season ranked 10th in the nation. Southern Poly will visit Central on March 19 & 20. The Hornets finished the 2009 spring campaign ranked 5th in the country.

The 2010 schedule will also feature two national champion squads in Bluefield College and Toccoa Falls College. Bluefield will visit on Feb. 5 & 6 and will play part in the home opener for the Warriors. Bluefield won the NCCAA Division I championship last May. Toccoa Falls College, winner of the NCCAA Division II championship, will visit Connor Field in late February. The Warriors will return the trip in late March.

The SSAC tournament will once again be held at Golden Park in Columbus, Ga. starting April 29.