UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State baseball team, led by head coach Rob Cooper, has announced its 2023 schedule. The slate includes matchups with five teams who were NCAA Regionals participants in 2022. It also includes 24 games at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
The Nittany Lions open the 2023 campaign with a three-game series at Miami on February 17-19. The Hurricanes went 40-20 last season, including 20-10 in the ACC, and hosted an NCAA Regional.
Penn State then returns to Cary, N.C. to the USA Baseball Complex on February 24-26. The Nittany Lions will take on Maine on Friday, Northern Illinois in a doubleheader on Saturday and Monmouth on Sunday. Maine finished first in their division in the America East with a 27-22 record.
The Nittany Lions continue play in Cary the following weekend, March 4-6. Penn State battles Wagner at 11 a.m. and Dartmouth at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Holy Cross on Sunday and Monday. Dartmouth recorded a 24-19 mark, including 14-7 in the Ivy League, in 2022.
Penn State takes on North Carolina in a midweek contest in Chapel Hill on Wednesday, March 8. The Tar Heels went 42-22 in 2022. UNC won the ACC Tournament and the Chapel Hill regional before falling to Arkansas in a Super Regional.
The Blue and White meet Brown on March 10-12 in Cary for a four-game series, including a Saturday doubleheader. The Bears finished sixth in the Ivy League last season.
Penn State makes its home debut on Wednesday, March 15 against Navy. The Midshipmen went 19-26 in 2022.
The Nittany Lions host Georgetown for a three-game series on March 17-19. The Hoyas went 32-24 overall and finished fourth in the Big East last season.
Penn State welcomes Binghamton on Tuesday, March 21. The Bearcats won the America East tournament and competed in the Palo Alto Regional, hosted by Stanford.
The Nittany Lions begin Big Ten play in Ann Arbor against Michigan on March 24-26. The Wolverines had a 34-28 record in 2022 and won the Big Ten Tournament after entering as the No. 5 seed. Michigan was selected to play in the Louisville Regional.
Penn State takes on Pitt at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park on Tuesday, March 28. The Nittany Lions visit Pitt on Wednesday, May 16. The Panthers finished the 2022 campaign with a 29-27 record.
The Nittany Lions host Indiana on March 31-April 2 for a three-game series. The Hoosiers finished eighth in the Big Ten in 2022.
Penn State continues its homestand with a mid-week contest against Bucknell on Tuesday, April 4. The Bison reached the Patriot League Championship game last season.
The Nittany Lions welcome Delaware State on April 6-8 for a three-game series. The Hornets won the MEAC Regular Season Title last year, going 19-14 in league play, and reached the MEAC Championship game.
Penn State finishes its homestand on Tuesday, April 11 against West Virginia. The Nittany Lions make the trip to Morgantown on Tuesday, April 25. The Mountaineers went 33-22 overall and finished fifth in the Big 12 last season. The Nittany Lions split two games against the Mountaineers in 2022, falling 8-4 in Happy Valley and earning an 8-4 victory in Morgantown.
The Nittany Lions resume Big Ten action at Purdue on April 14-16. The Boilermakers went 29-21 overall and placed seventh in the conference. PSU took two of three games against Purdue in 2022.
Penn State hosts Youngstown State on Tuesday, April 18. The Penguins finished fifth in the Horizon League last year.
The Blue and White welcomes Ohio State for a three-game series beginning on April 21. The Buckeyes finished 11th in the Big Ten last season. Penn State hit six homers in a 13-7 series-opening win in Columbus last year.
Penn State stays at home to host Iowa on April 28-30. The Hawkeyes finished third in the Big Ten in 2022 with a 17-7 conference mark. Penn State opened the Big Ten Tournament with a 5-2 win over the Hawkeyes.
PSU travels to Rutgers for a series beginning on May 5. The Scarlet Knights had a 44-15 record, including 17-7 in the Big Ten, to finish second in the conference. Rutgers advanced to the Big Ten Championship game. Penn State took one game in the series against Rutgers last year and fell 5-4 in 10 innings in the Big Ten Tournament.
The Nittany Lions visit Omaha for a mid-week contest on Wednesday, May 10. Omaha finished fourth in the Summit League and reached the conference championship game. Penn State earned two wins over the Mavericks last season.
Penn State takes on Nebraska for a three-game series on May 12-14. The Huskers tied for eighth in the Big Ten in 2022.
The Nittany Lions conclude the regular season against Maryland on May 18-20. The Terrapins won the Big Ten regular season title with a 18-5 mark in conference play and a 48-14 overall record. Maryland hosted an NCAA Regional in College Park. Penn State earned a 6-4 road win over the No. 23 Terrapins in 2022.
The Big Ten Tournament begins on May 24 at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha.
The Nittany Lions won 26 games in 2022. Penn State made its first Big Ten Tournament appearance since 2012.
Penn State won Big Ten series against Purdue, Minnesota and Michigan State, sweeping the Spartans. The Nittany Lions also earned a win in each series against Rutgers, No. 23 Maryland, Northwestern and Ohio State.
The Nittany Lions return 32 members from the 2022 squad. Including transfers, Penn State welcomes 11 newcomers.
At the plate, All-Big Ten second-team selection Josh Spiegel returns after leading the Nittany Lions with 17 doubles to go with 10 homers, 43 RBI and a .300 average. Jay Harry batted .333 with 71 hits, 40 runs and 26 RBI in 2022.
On the mound, Penn State set a program record with 503 strikeouts as six members of the pitching staff recorded at least 40 strikeouts. Travis Luensmann led the squad with 78 strikeouts in 67.2 innings. Jordan Morales tallied 60 strikeouts in 42 innings, while Jaden Henline collected 56 strikeouts.
