PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The American Athletic Conference has reached an agreement with CBS Sports Network on a multi-year television package, beginning with the 2015 season. CBS Sports Network will air seven games in 2015, including five regular season games and the first two contests of the 2015 American Athletic Conference Baseball Championship.
The first of five regular-season games to be televised on CBS Sports Network will be Saturday, April 25, when USF hosts Houston at USF Baseball Stadium in Tampa. The Bulls have recorded two wins over top-25 teams this season, while Houston has been ranked as high as No. 3 in the Baseball America poll this season.
Houston will also be featured in the second and third games of the package, as the Cougars will travel to Tulane for a game at Greer Field at Turchin Stadium on Friday, May 1, and host East Carolina at Cougar Field in Houston Saturday, May 9. The two conference newcomers have combined for 45 NCAA Regional appearances in their programs’ histories.
The final two regular-season games of the agreement will be in-state clashes between UCF and USF at USF Baseball Stadium in Tampa on Thursday, May 14 and Friday, May 15. The Knights have been ranked as high as No. 6 in the Baseball America poll this season and feature an offense that ranks in the top 10 nationally in numerous offensive categories.
The seven-game package will conclude Tuesday, May 19, with the first two games of the American Athletic Conference Baseball Championship in Clearwater, Florida. The second game of the day will feature the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament as part of a double-elimination bracket that will crown The American’s automatic qualifier into NCAA Regional play.
Carter Blackburn will provide play-by-play for all seven games of the package, while analyst duties will be handled by a rotating group that consists of former major leaguers Darryl Hamilton and Ray King along with CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports Radio’s Brandon Tierney, a former college baseball player.
CBS Sports Network is available across the country through local cable, video and telco providers and via satellite on DirecTV Channel 221 and Dish Network Channel 158. To locate the channel in your area, visit www.cbssportsnetwork.com/channel-finder.
American Athletic Conference Baseball on CBS Sports Network
Houston at USF, USF Baseball Stadium, Tampa, Fla., Saturday, April 25, 4:30 p.m.
Houston at Tulane, Greer Field at Turchin Stadium, New Orleans, La., Friday, May 1, 7 p.m.
East Carolina at Houston, Cougar Field, Houston, Texas, Saturday, May 9, 5 p.m.
UCF at USF, USF Baseball Stadium, Tampa, Fla., Thursday, May 14, 6:30 p.m.
UCF at USF, USF Baseball Stadium, Tampa, Fla., Friday, May 15, 7 p.m.
The American Championship Game 1, Bright House Field, Clearwater, Fla., Tuesday, May 19, 3 p.m.
The American Championship Game 2, Bright House Field, Clearwater, Fla., Tuesday, May 19, 7 p.m.
American Athletic Conference Baseball Championship Schedule
Tuesday, May 19 - Game 1 (3 p.m.), Game 2 (7 p.m.) - CBS Sports Network
Wednesday, May 20 - Game 3 (11 a.m.), Game 4 (3 p.m.), Game 5 (7 p.m.) - The American Digital Network
Thursday, May 21 - Game 6 (11 a.m.), Game 7 (3 p.m.), Game 8 (7 p.m.) - The American Digital Network
Friday, May 22 - Game 9 (11 a.m.), Game 10 (3 p.m.) - The American Digital Network
Saturday, May 23 - Game 11 (10 a.m.), Game 12 (1:00 p.m.), Game 13^ (4:30 p.m.), Game 14^ (7:30 p.m.) - The American Digital Network
Sunday, May 24 - Game 15 (Noon) - ESPNU
All Times Eastern
^ If Necessary