It was only fitting for the Penn State women’s softball team to square off against rival Ohio State for the final weekend series at Nittany Lion Field. Unfortunately, the Buckeyes traveled away with two victories, including a 5-0 win over the Nittany Lions on Sunday to mark the last game before the opening of the $10.2 million Nittany Lion Softball Park.

After a 3-1 loss on Saturday, the Penn State girls had high expectations for a victory on Sunday, but the No. 19/22 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes had different plans. Riding a Whitney Cooper home run in the third inning, the Buckeyes never looked back while building to their Big Ten second-place standing.

Before the game, seniors Ashley Griffith, Danielle Noll, and Kimi Wong were honored for the last time in a Penn State uniform, but it was freshman center-fielder Cassidy Bell who provided the only spark for the Penn State softball team. She ended the day with three singles.

Graham Spanier, athletics director Tim Curley, Board of Trustees chairman Steve Garban, head coach Robin Petrini, and lead benefactor Lee Beard spoke during last Friday’s ceremonial groundbreaking of the new softball center, which is expected to open in March of 2011.

“We will finally have a stadium that’s worthy of the program,” Petrini said before the weekend series . “Nittany Lion Softball Park will clearly impact our recruiting efforts in the future. It will bring recruits here who will find the complex and amenities accommodating to the level of the program. Where we can go from here is unlimited in terms of recruiting and success on the field year in and year out. I think people will really enjoy coming to a brand new facility, have a place to sit and see the games in a beautiful setting.”

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