The men's baseball team traveled down to Marietta, GA to open their season against (21) Southern Polytechnic State University. Shawnee State will open play against the Hornets at 12:00 pm in a double-header on Friday. The Bears will finish the three-game series Saturday at 1:00 pm in a nine inning duel.

In 2011, the Bears entered the Mid-South Conference and finished the regular season second in the Eastern Division. Shawnee State went on to an undefeated run in the conference tournament and advanced to the NAIA Championship opening round for the first time in 11 years.

For the Bears, Adam Wamsley will be returning after missing 2011 with injuries. Wamsley hit .361 with 43 hits, 27 runs scored, nine doubles, five homeruns and 28 RBI's. He also made 18 appearances with an RA of 5.93 on the mound.

Cody Morrison will also be returning for Shawnee State. Morrison hit .348 with five triples and 69 total hits a year ago. Morrison scored 41 runs and hit 10 doubles and six homeruns. Morrison earned All-MSC honors in 2011.

Austin Dunfee will be back for another season on the mound. In 2011, Dunfee compiled a 7-3 record with an ERA of 2.42 with 44 strikeouts in 24 appearances.

Danny Gesick will return for his senior year. Gesick started in all 62 games last year for the Bears. Gesick accumulated a batting average of .317 with seven homeruns, 55 RBI's and was second on the team with 13 doubles. Gesick earned Honorable Mention All-MSC in 2011.

Shawnee State's first 12 games are on the road featuring teams such as (21) Southern Polytechnic State University, (3) Lee University and (12) Union College. The Bears first home game will be played on Feb. 25 against Baldwin-Wallace College.