Oct. 6, 2008
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State head softball coach Robin Petrini has announced the schedule for the upcoming 2009 season. The Nittany Lions will be on the road for six weeks before returning to University Park to take on Big Ten opponents. Their first home games will be Saturday and Sunday, March 28 and 29 in a Big Ten contest with Northwestern.
Penn State will start in Phoenix for the Kajikawa Classic Feb. 6-8. The Lions toughest opponent will likely be Arizona State, the defending 2008 national champions. From there, PSU will travel to Chapel Hill, N.C. for the Carolina Classic Feb. 14-15. A trip further south will find the Nittany Lions in Columbus, Ga. for the NFCA Leadoff Classic Feb. 27-28. Then the squad will head out to the west coast for the Stanford Louisville Slugger Classic (March 6-8) and the Judi Garman Classic (March 12-15), hosted by Cal State Fullerton.
Throughout these tournaments, Penn State will face 14 teams who played in the NCAA tournament last season, eight of which were ranked in the final Top 25 NFCA poll of the 2008 season.
"Our 2009 schedule is one of the toughest preseason schedules that we have ever put together for the Nittany Lions," said Petrini. "We are excited to challenge ourselves right out of the gates this year. I don't know what better way to start the year than at the home site of the 2008 National Champion.
"Each season brings about new chemistry, new talent and fresh faces. With so many talent packed tournaments that feature several 2008 NCAA tournament participants, we will use those opportunities to prepare for the always tough Big Ten conference season." The Nittany Lions will be in University Park for a week beginning April 11 for a conference series with Wisconsin followed by double-headers with Kent State and Saint Francis. Penn State will also begin a home series with Purdue on April 25 before closing out the Big Ten home schedule with Indiana on May 2.
Last year, the Nittany Lions finished the 2008 season with a 34-22 (6-12) record.