STATE COLLEGE, Pa., April 19, 2001 - The Penn State softball team will close out its home slate this weekend with conference matchups against Michigan and Michigan State. These games are crucial to the conference standings as the Lions look to qualify for their third-consecutive Big Ten Tournament berth.

Eight Nittany Lions will also be honored on Sunday prior to the start of the game against Michigan State. Seniors Jenny Briz (Palo Alto, Calif.), Karen Gulini (Easton, Pa.), Colleen Kersey (Greensburg, Pa.), Adrienne Manzo (Levittown, Pa.), Kelly McCann (Pittsburgh, Pa.), Allison Medellin (San Pablo, Calif.), Keri Raffield (Ledyard, Conn.) and Laura Snee (Berwyn, Pa.) will be playing in their final regular season home games of their careers. Each helped to lift the program in the last four years to become one of the best teams in the Big Ten Conference. Last year, the Lions earned their first bid to the NCAA Tournament since 1985, then won their first-ever postseason game.

On Friday, Penn State will host the league-leading Wolverines in a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. The Lions will then play single games against Michigan State. On Saturday, the game will begin at 6 p.m. Afterwards, the Nittany Lions will stick around for an autograph session with the fans. Sunday's game against the Spartans is slated for 12 noon.

The Nittany Lions are 25-17 overall, 5-5 in the Big Ten and are currently sitting in fifth place in the standings. The top six teams participate in the conference tournament at the end of the season.

--LIONS--