STATE COLLEGE, Pa., May 16, 2002 - The Penn State baseball team will close out the regular season this weekend as it hosts Big Ten rival Michigan State in a four-game conference series this weekend at Beaver Field.

The Lions and Spartans will open the four-game slate on Friday beginning at 2:00 p.m. (ET). The first 300 fans in attendance at Friday's contest will receive a free CD Wallet courtesy of Rider Auto.

Penn State seniors Brian Bishop (Reading, Pa.), Matt Lindert (Pensacola, Fla.), Justin Nash (Hunt Valley, Md.), John Richmond (Pittsburgh, Pa.), Mike Watson (Altoona, Pa.) and Chris Wright (State College, Pa.) will be recognized prior to Saturday's scheduled doubleheader as part of Senior Day festivities.

In addition, a pre-game presentation will take place Saturday to recognize Harry "Zip" Rogers and the family and friends of former Nittany Lion baseball player Dennie DeWitt. Rogers and his family contributed $25,000 earlier this week to initiate the endowment of a Penn State Baseball Scholarship in the memory of DeWitt.

The 1952 Penn State squad, which advanced to the 1952 College World Series, will be recognized in a ceremony between game one and two of Saturday's scheduled twinbill.

Sunday's series finale will feature an appearance by the mascot of the Philadelphia Phillies - the Phillie Phanatic. The first 200 fans in attendance will receive a free t-shirt courtesy of Battaglia's.

In addition, numerous prizes will be awarded throughout the weekend including Nike Penn State t-shirts, a Nokia Cellphone with calling plan, Auntie Anne's Pretzel Kits as well as numerous other prizes from local area businesses.

Penn State enters this weekend's action 23-26 overall and 11-15 in Big Ten play. The Lions are currently in ninth place in the Big Ten standings - one and a half games behind sixth place Northwestern. The top six teams qualify for the 2002 Big Ten Tournament scheduled for May 22-25 at a site to be determined.