UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State baseball team announced its 2022 schedule on Monday. The 56-game slate includes 27 games at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park and seven games against 2021 NCAA Regional teams.
"We are very excited about the 2022 schedule and welcoming fans back at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park," said Head Coach Rob Cooper.
Penn State opens the 2022 campaign in Cary, N.C. at the USA Baseball Complex. The blue and white will take on Monmouth on Friday, Feb. 18, LIU in a doubleheader on Feb. 19 and Northeastern on Feb. 20. Northeastern won the CAA Title in 2021, with a 36-12 record, and competed in the Fayetteville Regional of the NCAA Tournament.
The Nittany Lions return to Cary the following weekend for a four-game series, including a Saturday doubleheader, against Maine. Maine finished fourth in the America East conference.
Penn State takes on College World Series participant Virginia in Charlottesville on March 4-6. The Cavaliers went 36-27 overall while winning the Columbia regional and super regional to advance to the College World Series.
The blue and white stays in the state of Virginia to battle VMI on Tuesday, March 8 in Lexington.
Penn State heads back to Cary on March 11-13 for a three-game series against UMass.
The Nittany Lions open their home schedule on Tuesday, March 15-Wednesday, March 16 against Niagara. Both games will begin at 5 p.m. That ignites an 11-game homestand.
Penn State welcomes Milwaukee for a three-game series on March 18-20. Friday's contest is slated for 5 p.m. Saturday's game starts at 1 p.m. and Sunday's begins at 11 a.m. The Panthers reached the Horizon League Championship game in 2021.
The Nittany Lions host Youngstown State for a midweek matchup on Tuesday, March 22 for a 6 p.m. first pitch.
The blue and white opens Big Ten play against Rutgers on March 25-27. Friday's first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. with Saturday and Sunday's games both starting at 1 p.m.
Penn State hosts Pittsburgh on Tuesday, March 29 for a 6 p.m. first pitch and then welcomes St. Bonaventure on March 30, also for a 6 p.m. contest. Pitt went 23-20 in 2021.
The Nittany Lions travel to Maryland for a three-game Big Ten series on April 1-3. The Terrapins were 30-18 last season and played in the Greenville Regional.
Penn State hosts Bucknell for a mid-week game on Wednesday, April 6 (6 p.m.) before going on the road to Northwestern on April 8-10.
The Nittany Lions take on West Virginia at home on Tuesday, April 12 at 6 p.m.
Penn State welcomes Purdue on April 14-16. Thursday and Friday's games are set for 6 p.m. with Saturday's beginning at 1 p.m.
The Nittany Lions host Mount St. Mary's on Wednesday, April 20 (6 p.m.) before heading to Minnesota for a three-game conference series on April 22-24.
Penn State welcomes Bucknell for a second mid-week game on Tuesday, April 26 (6 p.m.) and then travels to West Virginia on April 27.
The blue and white battles Omaha on April 29-May 1. Friday's contest is set for 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday's matchups will be played at 1 p.m.
Penn State hosts Michigan State on May 6-8 at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. Friday's game will start at 6 p.m. while Saturday and Sunday's contests will begin at 1 p.m.
The Nittany Lions travel to battle Georgetown for a midweek contest on Tuesday, May 10 before heading to Columbus for a three-game series at Ohio State on May 13-15.
Penn State takes on Pittsburgh in PNC Park on May 17. It is Penn State's third trip to PNC Park since 2017.
The Nittany Lions close out the regular season hosting Illinois on May 19-21. Thursday and Friday games will begin at 6 p.m. with Saturday's matchup starting at 1 p.m.
The Big Ten Tournament will be played at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha on Wednesday, May 25-Sunday, May 29.
Penn State returns 24 members from the 2021 squad that won 18 games, playing against exclusively Big Ten opponents. The Nittany Lions welcome 17 newcomers, including four transfers. Penn State's returners include second team All-Big Ten catcher Matt Wood.
The Nittany Lions finished the 2021 season with 18 wins, playing against exclusively Big Ten opponents. The wins included a 3-2 victory over No. 18 Michigan on March 26 and a series sweep over Michigan State in which Penn State out-scored the Spartans, 39-13. Penn State scored 10 or more runs in six games, the blue and white's most against Big Ten opponents since 2008 (8) and the most in a season since 2016.
Penn State led the Big Ten in doubles (93) and doubles per game (2.21), ranking 11th in the country in doubles per game. The Nittany Lions sat third in the conference in batting average (.269). Penn State hit 34 home runs, its most since 2012, and had five players with four or more homers.
