Not picking and choosing, the schedule is what is. But for those interested, below is a comparison of the non conference games played in 2017 and those scheduled for 2018 (in the sequence they are being played). I still contend that the 2018 non conference games shape up to be much more difficult as Cal State Fullerton and Missouri State are vastly better than the teams faced in the same slots last year (Ball State and Abilene Christian).
Surprise Tournament #1:
2017: Indiana, Duke, Duke, Indiana
2018: New Mexico, Gonzaga, Cal Poly, New Mexico
Cal Poly finished 2nd in Big West Conference in 2017 (beating Long Beach State and ahead of Cal State Fullerton) but finished only 28-28 overall. The 2018 squad, features 19 returning lettermen, including eight position players who started at least 25 games in 2017 and two starting pitchers (six or more starts), and nine pitchers in all.
Gonzaga finished tied for first in the WCC (at 20-7, 33-20 overall). However, they lost in their conference tournament and were not selected for post season play. Interestingly, OSU was scheduled to play the Zags twice last - once in Surprise and once in Goss - but both were cancelled due to rain (the Surprise tourament games had to rescheduled).
New Mexico was the Mountain West regular season champion (30-27-1 overall), lost in their conference tournament and was not selected for a regional birth.
Last year Duke was 30-28, including 2 losses to Gonzaga in Surprise. Indiana was a regional participant (34-34-2), including 2 wins over Gonzaga in Surprise.
Surprise Tournament #2:
2017: Nebraska, Ohio State, Nebraska, Ohio State
2018: Nebraska, Ohio State, Nebraska, Ohio State
This year features the same two participants (Ohio State and Nebraska) as last year. Time will tell if the 2018 teams are better, worse or the same as the 2017 version.
Non Conference Series #1:
2017: UC Davis (4)
2018: Hartford (4)
UC Davis plays in the Big West and finished 6th in the 9 team conference (10-14, 21-30 overall)
Hartford plays in the America East and finished last in the 7 team conference (8-13, 20-30 overall).
Non Conference Series #2:
2017: Ball State (4)
2018: Cal State Fullerton (4)
Ball State plays in the Mid American and finished 2nd int the Western Division (14-10, 30-28)
Cal State Fullerton advanced to the 2017 College World Series
Non Conference Series #3 (played during Pac-12 bye weekend):
2017: Abilene Christian (4)
2018: at Missouri State (3)
Abilene Christian plays in the Southland and finished last in the 13 team conference (3-27, 13-43)
Missouri State advanced to the Super Regionals where they were eliminate by TCU. They do return 2 All-Americans in Jeremy Eierman and Jake Fromson.
Mid-week Non Conference Games:
2017: Portland (3 - 1 game rained out), Oregon (2), at Saint Mary's (1), Gonzaga (1 - rained out)
2018: Portland (2), Oregon (2), Nevada (2), San Diego (2)
Saint Mary's plays in the West Coast and finished tied for 4th in the 10 team conference (18-9, 37-20 overall)
San Diego plays in the West Coast and finished tied for 4th in the 10 team conference (18-9, 35-18 overall)
Nevada plays in the Mountain West and finished 4th in the 7 team conference (13-16, 19-36 overall)
Having said that 222 
will have the undeniable urge to respond obnoxiously to you and me, as well, now that I participated. 222 might just ignore it to prove a point, though. We shall see.