Kleberg Bank College Classic Features Stacked Field

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Baseball season officially opened last weekend and now it is time for the return of the Kleberg Bank College Classic. The 2017 edition begins Friday and runs through Sunday at Whataburger Field.
 
This season, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi welcomes Missouri of the SEC, Illinois of the Big Ten and Houston of the American Athletic Conference to round of the field of four at the Kleberg Bank College Classic. 2017 marks the 12th edition of the tournament and promises a weekend of top-tier baseball.
 
Missouri returns to Whataburger Field for the second time in three seasons after going 3-1 at the classic in 2015. The Islanders and Tigers split two meetings in 2015 and will once against face one another twice this season as the two will preview the weekend action Thursday at Chapman Field with a 6:30 p.m. first pitch.
 
Out of the Big Ten, Illinois will make its first appearance at the Kleberg Bank College Classic just a year removed from a 50-win season in 2015. The Illini were crowned conference champions and went on to the NCAA super regionals that season. The 11-time NCAA tournament participants will face the Islanders Friday night at 6 p.m. to cap the opening day of the classic.
 
Regional power Houston rounds out the field for the 2017 classic. The Cougars finished 2016 at 36-23 on the season and reached the American Conference Finals before fall to UConn by a single run. Houston is off to a 3-0 start this season with wins over Wake Forest and Nicholls.
 
2017 KLEBERG BANK COLLEGE CLASSIC SCHEDULE
 
FRIDAY, FEB. 24
Missouri vs. Houston – 2 p.m.
Islanders vs. Illinois – 6 p.m.
 
SATURDAY, FEB. 25
Illinois vs. Houston – 2 p.m.
Islanders vs. Missouri – 6 p.m.
 
SUNDAY, FEB. 26
Missouri vs. Illinois – 11 a.m.
Islanders vs. Houston – 3 p.m.
 
TICKETS
 
Tickets to the 2017 Kleberg Bank College Classic are available through the Corpus Christi Hooks box office. Fans can purchase tickets online at cchooks.com or by calling (361) 561-HOOK.
 
Full tournament packages are available for $26 for adults and $13 for youth ages 4-12. Daily tickets will cost $11 and $5.50. Children 3-and-under are free.