Athletics

Penn State softball announces 2018 schedule

Penn State softball has announced its 2018 schedule. Credit: Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics / Penn State. Creative Commons

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State softball head coach Amanda Lehotak has announced the 2018 schedule: The 2018 schedule features 20 home dates, which includes 24 home games, four of which are doubleheaders at Nittany Lion Softball Park and Beard Field. The Nittany Lions will take on nine teams that earned a berth into the 2017 NCAA postseason and will also take on Texas A&M, who participated in the 2017 Women’s College World Series.

The Nittany Lions will play the first 20 games of a 55 contest schedule on the road in four different states. The Blue and White will first head to Gulf Shores, Alabama for five games at the Sand Dollar Classic, Feb. 9-11. Lehotak and her tribe will take on a 2017 Super Regional finalist in its first game of the season with a contest against Ole Miss before finishing off the tournament with Lipscomb, Georgia Tech, Central Arkansas and 2017 Super Regional contender, Alabama.

Penn State then travels to Duke University Friday, Feb. 16-Sunday, Feb. 18 for the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. The Blue and White will play the Blue Devils in their inaugural season as a program at the brand new Duke Softball Stadium. The Nittany Lions will also play Virginia Tech two times after defeating it twice at the 2017 Big Ten/ACC Challenge.

Lehotak will head back to familiar territory when Penn State closes out its first month of action in Jacksonville, Florida where she coached for five seasons and led the team to its first NCAA Tournament appearance. The Blue and White will take on UCF, Western Carolina and JMU one time each, while taking on the Dolphins two times from Feb. 23-Feb. 25.

Penn State then spends spring break in Houston, Texas with a short stop in College Station, Texas on Tuesday, March 6. The Nittany Lions will play a single game against Texas A&M, who participated in the 2017 Women’s College World Series, before heading to Houston for five games at the Houston Tournament, March 9-11. The Blue and White will meet up with a Big Ten foe from the west division with two games against Northwestern before taking on Lipscomb for the second time in the 2018 season and capping off the tournament with Iowa State and Houston.

After four weeks on the road, Penn State will play 10-straight home games at Nittany Lion Softball Park and Beard Field. The Nittany Lions open their home slate Wednesday, March 14 with a doubleheader against Hofstra before playing Mid-American Conference opponent Kent State in a three-game series Friday, March 16-Sunday, March 18.

The Blue and White opens the 2018 Big Ten Conference schedule Friday, March 23 when it welcomes Maryland to town for a three-game series before closing out its home stint with a doubleheader against Robert Morris on Wednesday, March 28.

The Nittany Lions travel to Piscataway, New Jersey for its first B1G road series when it squares off with Rutgers, March 30-April 1.

Penn State returns to Beard Field Tuesday, April 3 for a single game with in-state foe Pittsburgh before playing a three-game series with Big Ten Conference opponent Michigan, April 6-7. Next, the Nittany Lions take a short road trip out to Columbus, Ohio for a doubleheader with the Buckeyes Wednesday, April 11.

The tribe continues its home schedule Friday, April 13-Sunday, April 15 with a three-game series against the Michigan State Spartans before going up against 2017 NEC Champions Saint Francis Wednesday, April 18 in a doubleheader event.

Penn State will play its third Big Ten road series Friday, April 20-Sunday, April 22 against Indiana and then return to Beard Field for its final non-conference doubleheader against Bucknell, Wednesday April 25.

The Nittany Lions close out the month of April with a three-game home series that will honor its two seniors Friday, April 27-Sunday, April 29 against Illinois.

The Blue and White hits the road one final time in the regular season for a three-game series with defending Big Ten Champion Minnesota May 4-6 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Penn State will travel to Madison, Wisconsin, May 10-12 for the 2018 Big Ten Softball Tournament, hosted by Wisconsin.

Last Updated November 28, 2017