With the majority of its hitting and several of the pitchers who were injured last year returning for Western Michigan University's baseball team, the players can't wait to start the season.

And they really, really can't wait to start the season because the Broncos' first three games are against the No. 1-ranked team in the nation, LSU, beginning on Friday afternoon at Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field in Baton Rouge, La., where more than 12,000 people are expected. The series will continue on Saturday afternoon and conclude on Sunday afternoon. All games are scheduled to be streamed on SEC Network+.

"For me, I couldn't be happier to go down there," redshirt junior pitcher Brady Miller said. "It's the Holy Grail of college baseball in front of 12,000 fans.

"It's going to be a crazy atmosphere and I'm super excited to play."

It's a tough non-conference schedule where besides LSU, Western Michigan will also play Iowa in a three-game series. In a preseason poll, the Hawkeyes were picked to finish third in the Big Ten. WMU also plays a home-and-home series with Michigan State as well as road games against Notre Dame and Michigan.

"This is another challenging schedule for our team this year, especially to play LSU," head coach Billy Gernon said. "The stars had to line up where we have three chances to beat the No. 1 team in the nation and we're not going to be intimidated, not going to go in there thinking we don't have a shot.

"We also know the task in front of us and we're going to take advantage of the opportunity."

Gernon's staff includes Cory Mee, Jordan Keur and Daniel Schlereth.

The Broncos (18-36 overall, 15-24 Mid-American Conference in 2022) will have the opportunity with returning players like redshirt sophomore outfielder Dylan Nevar, who was the MAC Freshman of the year, a Freshman All-American and an Academic All-MAC player who was also picked to the 2023 Perfect Game Preseason All-MAC Team. In 54 games last year, he hit .325 with a team-high .614 slugging percentage. He had 20 doubles, tied for second-most in a single season in program history, and added 11 home runs.

Also back is junior first baseman Cade Sullivan, who was a Second Team All-MAC selection and made the league's All-Defensive Team last season. He hit .315 with 16 doubles, 10 home runs and a team-high 52 RBIs. Returning on the infield are senior third baseman Gavin Doyle, who was second on the team in batting average last season at .343, led the Broncos in walks with 37 and had 18 doubles. The shortstop returning is senior Jimmy Allen, who also had a good season at the plate, hitting .315 with 11 doubles, a team-high three triples and five home runs.

Last season's outfielders all return. Besides Nevar, junior Josh Swinehart (.279 batting average) played in left field and junior Will Morrison (.266) was in center.

Gernon will be replacing two-time First Team All-MAC catcher Connor Charping (.348) and second baseman Justin McIntyre. The head coach is looking at sophomore Brendan Harrity and freshman Grady Mee at second base, while junior Greg Budig and senior Ben Campos will be in the mix behind the plate.

"Since the fall, the way we have been progressing makes me very confident about this team," Allen said. "From the fall, our defense is getting better, our pitching staff is looking good and our hitting is looking good.

"Everything is trending in the right direction."

There is a big smile on Allen's face when he talks about playing LSU.

"It's an exciting opportunity to play the No. 1 team in the nation and not many people can say they've done that," the shortstop said. "Hopefully we go in and play to the best of our ability, but at the end of the day, baseball is a game we've been playing our whole lives, it's just going be in front of a lot more people than usual.

"I think this schedule is great, setting us up for MAC play and our ultimate goal of winning the MAC championship. There are a lot of veterans back and we're excited to get this thing going."

One of the pitchers excited to get things going is Miller, who because of injuries, hasn't been on the mound in almost 18 months. As a freshman, he threw 61.0 innings with a 5-2 record, striking out 49 and walking just 11.

"Last year, we battled some injuries and it's nice to see a lot of those guys back healthy," he said. "I feel as healthy as ever and I'm ready to get back on the mound.

"For me personally, I learned a lot just watching games for the whole season, like pitch calling, what I would be thinking if I was on the mound and what pitch I would go to in certain counts."

Gernon and Schlereth, the volunteer pitching coach, are looking at a three-man rotation of Miller, senior Dane Armbrustmacher and sophomore Ethan Houghtaling, with juniors Drew Szczepaniak, Hayden Berg, Nick Crandell and Nolan Vlcek and sophomore Luke Thelen coming out of the bullpen. Sophomore closer Ryan Watt will be in the mix as well as he makes his way back from an injury.

Schlereth brings a boatload of major league experience to Western Michigan. A first-round draft pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2008, he also pitched for the Detroit Tigers and eight other major league organizations.

"Daniel is an immensely talented No. 1 pick who has a tremendous feel for pitching, our pitchers and for pitch calling," Gernon said. ''His strength is simplify to amplify.

"The No. 1 thing he brings is his arm care program."

MAC teams will be playing three-game league series this season, instead of four, which they did last season. That means everyone is scheduled to play against each other, with the top four teams making the MAC Tournament. Next season, the tournament will expand to six teams.

"I'm very happy to play three-game series in the MAC because a four-game series diluted the pitching," Gernon said. "It's going to mean starting the MAC season a little earlier, but it will define who the champion is because you have to play everyone."

The Broncos will start with an 11-game non-league schedule before opening MAC play against perennial powerhouse Ball State on March 10 in Muncie, Ind. The home-opener comes on March 17 against Eastern Michigan.

First up, though, is No. 1 LSU.