- Northwestern Series Notes(.PDF)
| Drew O'Neil is part of a Penn State bullpen that has compiled a 0.51 ERA over the last two Big Ten weekends. |
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; April 19, 2007 - After winning their first Big Ten series since the second weekend of the 2005 season last weekend at Michigan State, the Nittany Lion baseball team returns to Big Ten action this weekend by hosting the Northwestern Wildcats in a four-game series. Game times are scheduled for 6:35 p.m. on Friday, 4:35 p.m. on Saturday, and 1:05 p.m. on Sunday.
Ironically, Northwestern was the last team that Penn State won a Big Ten series from until last weekend, as they topped the Wildcats in three out of four games in Evanston in 2005. This will be Northwestern's first trip to Happy Valley since the 2004 season, as Penn State also traveled to Evanston last year, gaining a split of the four-game series with the Wildcats.
Penn State enters the weekend with a 12-19 overall record and a 5-5 mark in the Big Ten, which is good for sixth place. In addition to it being an important Big Ten series for the Nits, this weekend will also feature several festivities that will coincide with Blue-White Weekend as well as the Baseball Alumni Reunion and Celebration Weekend.
A fireworks show is scheduled for after Friday night's game. An alumni game is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on Saturday for all baseball alumni that are attending this weekend. During this game, which is scheduled to last until 11:30 a.m., the stadium will be open for all fans. The gates will be closed after the alumni game and will reopen at 3:00 p.m. for the 4:35 p.m. doubleheader. Prior to game one, State Senator Jake Corman is scheduled to throw out the ceremonial first pitch along with Anthony P. Lubrano, whom half of Medlar Field at Lubrano Park is named after. In-between games of the doubleheader, all baseball alumni in attendance will be recognized on the field and the stadium will be officially dedicated. Following the second game, another fireworks show is planned.
There will be no re-entry policy enforced at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park for this weekend's games. Tickets are still available for this weekend and can be purchased online at GoPSUsports.com, by calling 1-877-SPIKES, or by purchasing them at the box office at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park prior to any game of the weekend series, subject to availability.