April 4, 2008
The Nittany Lions will host their first home Big Ten Series of the year. It all begins Friday, April 4 at 6:00 p.m. as the Nittany Lions battle the Fighting Illini of Illinois. The two will battle again Saturday at noon before Illinois heads to Michigan for a doubleheader Sunday. Michigan will send its Friday-Saturday opponent to Happy Valley as Iowa comes to town following a two-game series with the Wolverines. Iowa and Penn State will play a doubleheader beginning at noon on Sunday with game two tentatively scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
Series History
Illinois is the newest member of the Big Ten softball family. The Fighting Illini picked up softball back in the 2001 season and have played the Nittany Lions every year since. Overall the two teams have split the series with nine wins a piece with Illinois getting the better of Penn State the last four meetings. PSU's last win in the series came back on April 16, 2005 at home as the Nittany Lions defeated the visiting Fighting Illini 3-2. Last season's series was a close one with Illinois edging PSU 4-3 and 7-4 at home.
Iowa has been a force against the Nittany Lions since 1997 and have won 17 of the 28 meetings between the two schools. PSU has won two of the last three meetings but lost six straight prior to those wins. Seven of PSU's 11 wins have been decided by just one run in the series while Iowa has outscored the Nittany Lions 79-52 in the 28 contests.