La Grande High School seniors work together on the new turf field at Pioneer Park on Oct. 13, 2021. The Eastern Oregon University baseball team plays its first home game there in 2022 on March 5.

LA GRANDE — Baseball season is right around the corner in La Grande.

The Eastern Oregon University baseball program is set for its second season after being reinstated in 2020.

The Mountaineers announced their 2022 schedule on Tuesday, Jan. 11, setting the stage for a 51-game slate this season.

Eastern compiled a 5-31 record in its first season back on the diamond, with the pandemic limiting the scope of a potential full season.

Now heading into 2022, the Mountaineers have a full schedule that includes several top non-conference opponents — Eastern will open its season Jan. 27 against No. 22 MidAmerica Nazarene at the Coach Calderone Invitational in Glendale, Arizona.

The Mountaineers will conclude the four-game tournament against No. 23 Benedictine Mesa on Jan. 29.

Of Eastern’s 51 games, 27 are against nonconference foes.

Eastern begins its season with 19 straight games on the road, before returning home to the newly renovated Pioneer Park to host a series against the College of Idaho on March 5.

Pioneer Park has been undergoing a turf renovation to provide a premier baseball and softball facility in La Grande and improve local teams’ ability to practice and compete in the years to come.

The project involved the efforts of the city, La Grande High School and Eastern Oregon University, while numerous local businesses and contractors made major contributions. The new facility opens the door for tournaments and local tourism as the fields will serve as one of the top facilities on the east side of Oregon.

La Grande Parks and Recreation Director Stu Spence has said his department plans to bring back the Moonlight Tournament, an all-night adult softball tournament. And, with the improved fields, the department plans to host similar tournaments.

“I’m excited to have fields that will be durable for a number of teams to play on,” he said.

Prior to returning to La Grande, the Mountaineers will close out the opening road trip with four games against No. 4 Lewis-Clark State.

The Warriors will face off again with the Mountaineers for a four-game series in La Grande starting on April 8.

Eastern will play 16 home games and 35 away games. The Mountaineers conclude the regular season with a four-game conference series against Corban at Pioneer Park.

Head coach Mike McInerney and the Mountaineers are set for opening pitch against MidAmerica Nazarene at 9 a.m. on Jan. 27.