STATE COLLEGE, Pa., March 26, 2001 The Penn State softball team is scheduled to open the home slate on Tuesday, March 27 in a doubleheader against St. Francis (Pa.) at 6 p.m. The final decision to postpone the game because of weather will come tomorrow morning. Fans are asked to go to Penn State's official athletics web site at www.GoPSUsports.com for updates. Game one of the doubleheader can be heard on WMAJ, while game two will be webcast at www.pennlive.com/wmaj.

The Lions are coming off of a 3-3 weekend and a second-place showing at the Who's Hoo Tournament hosted by the University of Virginia. The Lions split a doubleheader against Bowling Green and picked up two shutout victories against Liberty. On the final day of action at the tournament, Penn State dropped two games, including an 8-7 decision, to the Cavaliers.

Penn State is 16-10 overall and is led by a couple of seniors in all-American Karen Gulini (Easton, Pa./Easton Area) and pitcher Kelly McCann (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin). Gulini has started all 26 games in right field for the Lions and is hitting at a .434 clip. McCann is the team's top pitcher and boasts a record of 10-5 and has a low 1.62 ERA in 18 appearances.

The Lions are coming off of their best season in school history. Penn State was 38-19 overall last year and finished third in the Big Ten for the second-consecutive season. The Lions return 17 letterwinners, including eight starters.

--LIONS--