STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (May 4 2003) - The Penn State baseball team, which is fighting for a chance to play in the Big Ten playoffs, will face another team on the brink of playoff contention in a four-game series versus Illinois at Beaver Field this weekend.

Friday's game has been moved up to 2:00 p.m., Saturday's doubleheader will begin at the normal 1:00 p.m. start and Sunday's contest is a rare 11:00 a.m. clash. All four games will be broadcast by ESPN Radio WMAJ 1450 AM and a link to listen will also be available at www.GoPSUsports.com.

This series is crucial for both teams with the Nittany Lions, who are 20-23 overall and 12-12 in the Big Ten, in a fifth-place tie with Indiana for the sixth and final playoff spot in the conference. The Fighting Illini are one spot out in seventh place with an overall mark of 24-21, but they are in desperate need of a series win with a 9-14 mark in the conference.

Penn State, which will play host to Villanova at 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, will close out its regular season at Michigan State next weekend. The Spartans are in eighth place. Illinois will place host to last place Iowa in its regular season finale also next weekend.

Saturday and Sunday are Fan Give-away days at Beaver Field with the first 300 fans receiving a free set of Penn State Baseball Trading Cards and the first 250 fans on Sunday will receive a free Penn State Baseball Helmet.