Dec. 1, 2016
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State softball head coach Amanda Lehotak announced the 2017 schedule Monday, Nov. 7. The 2017 slate features 17 home games at Nittany Lion Softball Park and Beard Field, while taking on seven teams that were ranked in the top-50 RPI and six teams that made a 2016 NCAA postseason appearance.
"I'm really looking forward to this schedule," said head coach Amanda Lehotak. "We play seven teams that finished in the top-50 RPI in 2016 and six that made the NCAA Tournament. I can't wait for softball to start."
Penn State will kick off the season in Baton Rouge, La. for the LSU Tournament Friday, Feb. 10-Sunday Feb. 12. The Nittany Lions will take on McNeese State, Oklahoma State and NCAA Women's College World Series participant LSU. The Blue and White will play two contests against the Cowboys as well as the Tigers and take on Oklahoma State one time.
The Blue and White will make its way south for when it travels to Atlanta, Ga. for the second annual ACC/Big Ten Softball Challenge, Feb. 17-19. The annual event, which debuted last season, will feature eight schools from each conference, playing four games at four campus sites over the course of the three-day period. Penn State will take on host Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech two times each with one game on Friday, two on Saturday and a final game on Sunday. Last season, the Big Ten posted a 20-12 record in the inaugural challenge with all eight participating schools picking up at least one win.
The Nittany Lions will wrap up the month of February in Conway, S.C. for the Coastal Carolina Tournament, Feb. 25-25.
Following a 10-game stint in the south, the Blue and White will head out west for nine games in nine days. First, Penn State will participate in the Colorado State Classic where it will go up against Idaho State, Colorado State and Buffalo, Mar. 3-5. From there, the Nittany Lions will head to Seattle, Wash. for a mid-week doubleheader against Seattle, Mar. 8. Finally, Penn State will cap off the week-long trip Friday, Mar. 10 with a game against South Dakota and 2016 NCAA Tournament participant Washington.
Lehotak and her squad open the 2016 home slate Wednesday, Mar. 15 when in-state foe Saint Francis comes to Happy Valley for a mid-week doubleheader starting at 5 p.m. The Nittany Lions will remain at Nittany Lion Softball Park and Beard Field for the rest of the week and play Robert Morris in a doubleheader Wednesday, Mar. 22 at 5 p.m.
The Blue and White kick off Big Ten Conference play Friday, Mar. 24-Sunday, Mar. 26 when it travels to Ann Arbor, Mich. for a three-game series against 2016 NCAA Softball World Series runner-up Michigan. The Nittany Lions and the Wolverines will square off Friday at 4 p.m. with game two starting Saturday at 2 p.m. and the series finale Sunday at 1 p.m.
Penn State returns to Pennsylvania Wednesday, Mar. 29 for a single road game against Pittsburgh starting at 6 p.m.
The Nittany Lions host their first Big Ten Conference series when they take on the Hoosiers of Indiana, Mar. 31-Apr. 2. Friday's match is set to start at 6 p.m., while the two teams will clash at 3 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday.
After a short stint at home, Penn State travels to East Lansing, Mich. for a three-game conference series with the Spartans of Michigan State, Apr. 7-9. Last season, the Nittany Lions swept the Spartans at Beard Field, outscoring MSU 26-13 and capping off its 6-0 start in B1G play.
The Blue and White continue its B1G slate Tuesday, Apr. 11 with a doubleheader against Ohio State starting at 5 p.m. at Beard Field before traveling to Lincoln, Neb. for a three-game series against the Cornhuskers Friday, Apr. 14-Sunday, Apr. 16.
Penn State concludes its non-conference slate Wednesday, Apr. 19 when it takes on in-state foe Bucknell in a 5 p.m. doubleheader at Beard Field. The Nittany Lions conclude its short home stretch with a weekend series against the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers Friday, Apr. 21-Sunday, Apr. 23.
The Nittany Lions will play its final conference road series Apr. 28-Apr. 30 when it travels to College Park, Md. for three contests against Maryland. Game one of the series with the Terrapins is slated for 6 p.m. on Friday, while game two will be at 3 p.m. on Saturday and the series will conclude at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
Lehotak and the rest of the team will return to Nittany Lion Softball Park and Beard Field for one final Big Ten Conference series Friday, May 5- Sunday, May 7 when they take on defending Big Ten Tournament Champion Minnesota in a three-game series.
Penn State will travel to the Great Lakes State for the third time when it goes to Ann Arbor, Mich. for the 2016 Big Ten Softball Tournament Thursday, May 11-Sunday, May 13.