Jan. 21, 2011
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Fans looking to root on the Penn State baseball team at the season-opening BIG EAST-Big Ten Challenge from February 18-20 in Florida can now purchase tickets through the tournament website at www.bigeastbigtenbaseballchallenge.com.
The event is in its third-year and will once again be hosted by the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Sports Commission. It features eight teams from each conference squaring off in 24 games over three days.
An all-tournament pass, which provides access to every game of the Challenge, can be purchased for $25. Individual day passes are available for $10 and admit a spectator to all games at all venues for that day. Alumni groups, youth and social organizations also can sell all-tournament passes with a portion of the proceeds going to the selling organization. Information about fundraising opportunities is available at the tournament's website.
Penn State will open the event on Friday, February 18 at 10 a.m. when the squad battles Seton Hall at historic Al Lang Field. The following day, the Nittany Lions will square off with West Virginia at 1 p.m. at Jack Russell Stadium before wrapping up the event on Sunday at 10 a.m. with a game against Notre Dame at the Walter Fuller Baseball Complex.
Penn State has been a force in the annual event for the Big Ten. During both years, the Nittany Lions won two of their three contests. Last season, PSU upended Cincinnati and Seton Hall after downing Northwestern and Seton Hall in 2009.
The Big Ten won the inaugural event in 2009 with a 15-9 record, while the Big East came out on top last season after posting a 17-13 mark.
This year, in addition to Penn State, the Big Ten will be represented by Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Ohio State, and Purdue. The BIG EAST will feature Cincinnati, Connecticut, Louisville, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, St. John's, Seton Hall, and West Virginia.
The 2011 Challenge will kick-off with tripleheaders at Jack Russell Memorial Stadium and Al Lang Field on Friday and Saturday, while the same ballparks will host doubleheaders on Sunday morning and afternoon. Friday also features an evening doubleheader at Dunedin Stadium, while Bright House Field hosts a twin bill on Saturday night. The Challenge also includes four games played on Sunday morning and afternoon at the Walter Fuller Baseball Complex.