Game Notes

University Park, Pa.; May 11, 2006- Very much in the thick of the race for a berth in the Big Ten Tournament, Penn State will close out its home schedule this weekend as the Nittany Lions host the Michigan Wolverines, who are currently tied for first place in the Big Ten. The series will be the final-ever games at Beaver Field, which will close after this weekend as the Nittany Lions move to the new Medlar Field at Lubrano Park beginning next season.

In addition to the series having big implications in the Big Ten race, there will also be a nostalgic feel to the park this weekend. Prior to Sunday's final game at the field, there will be a ceremony that will feature several former players and coaches from the entire Penn State baseball era at Beaver Field. The home to Penn State's oldest intercollegiate sport since 1966, Beaver Field has hosted one Big Ten Tournament, and Penn State teams playing on the field have qualified for five NCAA Regionals and one College World Series. Scheduled to be part of the ceremony, among others, are former player and coach Shorty Stoner, as well as members of Penn State's lone Big Ten Championship team, the 1996 squad. Posters commemorating the 31-year history of Beaver Field and Penn State baseball during this era will be handed out at Sunday's game. Sunday will also be senior day, and eight members of the current team will be honored as part of that ceremony.

The Nittany Lions enter this weekend's series with an 11-13 mark in Big Ten play, which ties them for fifth place along with Purdue and Minnesota. The top six teams qualify for the tournament. The three teams lead eighth-place Michigan State and Iowa by one game and trail fourth-place Illinois by a game as well. Penn State has done particularly well in series openers and series finales this year, posting 4-2 and 5-1 records in those such games, respectively.

Scott Gummo will enter this weekend's series having reached base in 23 consecutive games. He leads Penn State with a .472 on-base percentage. Craig Clark is scheduled to take the ball to the hill in the final game at Beaver Field on Sunday. He has won three straight games and has a 1:7.2 walks to strikeout ratio. He recently went 26.2 innings without allowing a walk.