George Washington and Saint Joseph’s will christen Major League Baseball’s newest park, Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., on March 22. The Colonials will host Saint Joseph’s in Atlantic 10 Conference play eight days before the Nationals’ official home opener on March 30.

This is the second time that a George Washington team has participated in the opening of a local professional stadium. On October 7, 1961, the George Washington football team hosted VMI in the “Dedication Game” of RFK Stadium, then called D.C. Stadium.

The game will be considered a neutral-site contest, though it will count as a regular-season game for both teams. The game is considered a “test run” for Nationals staff.

GW head baseball coach Steve Mrowka said, "To be selected as the first team to play in the new stadium is really an honor. It's a great experience, not only for our players and the baseball program but for the entire GW community."

The game will not be open to the public.