March 23, 2015
| PENN STATE vs. ROBERT MORRIS | |
| Wed. Mar. 25 - Gm 1 @ 5 pm / Gm 2 @ 7 pm | |
| NLSB & Beard Field | University Park, Pa. | |
| Live Stats | | | |
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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State softball team will take a brief break from B1G play when it hosts Robert Morris, Wednesday, Mar. 25 in a doubleheader scheduled for 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., at Nittany Lion Softball Park and Beard Field.
The Lions enter the double dip at 13-15 overall and 0-3 in the B1G and are looking to snap their three-game losing skid. The Colonials from RMU come to Happy Valley carrying a 12-11 record and have yet to play a Northeast Conference contest in 2015.
This is will be the first time in a dozen years the two schools, which are only separated by 150 miles will meet on the softball diamond.
Live stats for the contest will be available via CBS Gametracker and it will be dollar dog night at Beard Field for those planning to attend.
GAME NOTES
QUICK HITS
• Penn State will look to snap its three game losing skid by extending its two game win streak against Robert Morris, dating back to the 1998 season.
• The last time PSU hosted RMU was Mar. 29, 1991, which resulted in a 1-0 PSU win.
• Junior Lexi Knief has been red hot this home stand, going 7-15 (.467) with a double, a triple and four runs scored through its first four games. She has had multi-hit games in three of her first four games playing at Beard Field this season.
• Freshman catcher/DP Alyssa VanDerveer has smacked two home runs in as many games coming into Wednesday's doubleheader and she is currently tied for the team lead in long balls with teammates Macy Jones and Kristina Brackpool (5).
• Jones and Brackpool remain the only two Penn State players to start and play in every one of the 28 games this season. Mollie Sorenson is the next closest with 27 games played and 25 of them when she got the starting nod.
SERIES HISTORY vs. ROBERT MORRIS
These two intrastate rivals will be meeting up for the ninth time in each program's history but ironically enough for only the third time in the Commonwealth. To date the Lions and Colonials have played eight times with each school claiming four wins in the series. The last meeting between the two occurred Mar. 22, 2003 at a tournament in Charlottesville, Va., where PSU came out on top by way of an 8-0 score. The first meeting took place back on Apr. 15, 1990 in University Park, a 4-3 Penn State victory. The Nittany Lions are currently riding a two game win streak over RMU into Wednesday's double dip. It will mark the first time since Mar. 29, 1991 that the pair has actually played in the Keystone State.
SCOUTING THE COLONIALS
Robert Morris comes to Happy Valley sporting a 12-11 overall record, having yet to play a Northeast Conference game. The Colonials have won three in-a-row and four of their last five following a four game losing skid. RMU was most recently scheduled to play Niagara at home but the series was cancelled due to snow.
Sophomore catcher/infielder Jordan Gurganus boasts RMU's highest batting average (.423) and on base percentage (.438) She also is the team leader in hits (33), runs scored (15) and stolen bases (5). Supplying the power to the Colonial offense is the trio of Kristen Gabelt, Ashley Gerhart and Olivia Lorusso who each have two home runs apiece. Gabelt also boasts the team's highest slugging percentage at .537.
In the circle RMU is led by the arm of senior Nicole Sleith who is the reigning NEC Pitcher of the Week, her fourth such honor of the season. Sleith is tops on the Colonial staff in wins (9), ERA (1.56), strikeouts (150) and innings pitched (103.0). She has compiled a 9-7 record thus far, starting in 14 games and appearing in 14.
COVERAGE
For those not in attendance, live Stats will be available via CBS GameTracker and in game updates through the team's official Twitter feed @PennStateSB
TICKETS
Admission to the game is just $6 for the general public. Tickets to 2015 home softball games can be purchased by calling 1-800-NITTANY or by logging on to gopsusports.com. Fans can also buy tickets the day of the game by walking up to the Beard Field Box Office.
PROMOTIONS
From home run and double play innings to koozie and inflatable beach ball giveaways there is a little something for every Penn State softball fan to enjoy during the 18 home dates the team has at Nittany Lion Softball Park and Beard Field this season. Throughout the season there will be several reoccurring promotions such as dollar dog and winning weeknights (Mar. 25, Apr. 1, 7, 22) as well weekend games where kids can create signs at specially designated stations to cheer on the team or their favorite player. The team will also hold special autograph sessions following each Sunday contest and kids 12 and younger can run the bases following each Saturday home date. During each game fans will be able to participate in inning-by-inning promotions such as the Home Delivery Home Run and Double Play innings as well as Uncle Chen's Trivia Challenge. For a complete list of the promotions that fans can expect to see at Nittany Lion Softball Park and Beard Field this season click here.
ADMISSION & LIMITED BAG POLICY
Fans attending Penn State softball games at Beard Field will have to comply with Penn State University's Bag Policy. Fans are advised that no backpacks or briefcases may be brought into the stadium and all bags must be searched. For more information visit the Safety Policy SY44 Page or Penn State's Bag Policy Page.
TRAVEL TESTED
Penn State went 12-12 playing its first 24 games on the road before coming home to take part in its 2015 home opener Wednesday night at Nittany Lion Softball Park and beard Field. Last season the Lions were 6-15 through their first 21 games on the road, featuring stops in Arizona, Mississippi, Florida and California before returning to Happy Valley.
NEW NAMES AND NUMBERS
2015 brings with it a new season but also some new names and numbers to the Penn State program. This season a half-dozen freshman litter the Lion lineup and roster as Jessica Cummings (#1), Mia Monopoli (#13), Rebecca Ziegler (#15), Gianna Arrizurieta (#21), Mollie Sorenson (#22) and Alyssa VanDerveer will all call Happy Valley home for the first time. Junior transfer Erin Pond (#2) also makes her debut in the Blue and White.
SOPHOMORE SEASON
Although it's been a while since head coach Amanda Lehotak was a sophomore playing at Ole' Miss, she enters her sophomore season on the bench as the leader of the PSU program. In her first season the Lions went 14-35 with a 5-18 B1G mark. Here's a look at how second year coaches have fared at Penn State over the years.
| Coach | Year | Record | Pct. |
| Pat McTarsney | 1966 | 2-2 | .500 |
| Pat McTarsney | 1975 | 8-7 | .533 |
| Sue Rankin | 1983 | 25-13 | .658 |
| Robin Petrini | 1998 | 21-28-1 | .430 |
| Amanda Lehotak | 2015 | 13-15 | .464 |
ROUGH ROAD
Penn State's 2015 schedule is a challenging one, with 56 games on the slate against opponents in conferences such as the SEC, ACC and the Big 12. The Lions will take on a total of four teams (Michigan, Georgia, Texas A&M and Missouri in the Pre-Season Top 25 as well as another four (Wisconsin, Mississippi State, James Madison, Northwestern) who are receiving votes in both the USA Today/NFCA and the ESPN/ USA Softball Top 25 polls.
NATIONAL PROGRAM
This season the Lions boast a total of 18 players from states other than the Commonwealth. Two from Hawaii, one from Washington and five from California dot the western edge of the States, while four from N.Y. and N.J. join other ones from Maryland, Ohio, Virginia and Florida to make-up the eastern part of the country. Three Pennsylvanians (Marlaina Laubach, Christy Von Pusch and Mary Ward) bring some instate pride to the program while, one from Arizona and another from Texas add unique flair to an already diverse group.
A HALF CENTURY OF TRADITION
Penn State softball is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2015, making it the oldest program among the schools in the power five conferences (ACC, B1G, Big 12, Pac- 12, SEC). The Lions started up in 1965 under head coach Pat McTarsney and went 2-2 in their first season with wins against Elizabethtown and Wilson colleges. PSU defeated both in-state schools by a combined 46-4 score. The second oldest program among the power five is Arizona State, which began play just two years later in 1967.