FACTS AND FIGURES
Construction Groundbreaking: March 28, 2010
Ceremonial Groundbreaking: May 7, 2010
Opening: March 27, 2011 vs. Wisconsin (PSU win, 8-5)
Cost: $10.2 million
Capacity: 1,084
Dimensions: 200' (LF), 220' (CF), 200' (RF)
AMENITIES
- 1,084 permanent seats with terrific sight lines as well as handicap accessible seating
- New clubhouses and dugouts
- Permanent press box with dedicated broadcast booths as well as working space
- Full concourse with concession stands and bathrooms and merchandise areas
- New scoreboard
- State of the art lighting system
- Ability to host NCAA Tournaments as well as PIAA competition]
- Softball-specific building that houses...
- New locker rooms
- Training room
- Media center with adjoining telecom and video room
- Study space and players' lounge
- Outdoor and indoor training areas including batting cages and bullpens
NITTANY LION SOFTBALL PARK & BEARD FIELD FIRSTS
All firsts are from Mar. 26 vs. Wisconsin unless noted
Game: Mar. 26, 2011; Penn State 8, Wisconsin 5
Pitch: PSU's Jackie Hill to Wisconsin's Jennifer Kreuger, called ball at 2:02 p.m.
Strikeout: Jackie Hill, Penn State vs. Kreuger
Hit: Karla Powell, Wisconsin
Single: Karla Powell, Wisconsin
Double: Cassidy Bell, Penn State
Triple: Mary Massei, Wisconsin
Home Run: Lisa Akamine, Penn State
Out of Park HR: Karla Powell, Wisconsin (Mar. 27, 2011)
Run: Cassidy Bell, Penn State
RBI: Kailyn Johnson, Penn State
Stolen Base: Cassidy Bell, Penn State
Error: Lauren Rossi, Penn State
Winning Pitcher: Lisa Akamine, Penn State
Losing Pitcher: Cassandra Darrah, Wisconsin
Extra-Inning Game: Mar. 27, 2011 - Penn State 3, Wisconsin 2 (8 inn.)
Sacrifice Fly: Michelle Mueller, Wisconsin (Mar. 27, 2011)
Passed Ball: Whitney Massey, Wisconsin (Mar. 27, 2011)
Walk-Off Hit: Alyssa Sovereign, Penn State (Mar. 27, 2011)
Walk-Off Run: Shannon Hutchinson, Penn State (Mar. 27, 2011)
Shutout: Morgan Melloh, Indiana (Apr. 9, 2011)
Penn State Shutout: Lisa Akamine vs. Purdue (May 1, 2011)
Tie: Penn State 0, Purdue 0 (8 inn., May 1, 2011)
NCAA Game: May 21, 2011 - Oregon 3, Albany 1
NITTANY LION SOFTBALL PARK & BEARD FIELD RECORDS
Updated through 2015 season
Runs Scored: 12; April 14, 2012 - Indiana 12, Penn State 6
Combined Runs: 18; April 14, 2012 - Indiana 12, Penn State 6
Longest Game: 16 innings; (3 hours 35 minutes) - May 21, 2011; Penn State 5, Fordham 2
Shortest Game: 1 hour, 28 minutes - April 10, 2011; Indiana 1, Penn State 0
Attendance (PSU): 751; May 21, 2011 - NCAA Regionals: PSU 6, Albany 1; PSU 5, Fordham 2
Attendance (Any): 1,600; June 14, 2011 - Philipsburg-Osceola 1, Brandywine Heights 0 (PIAA Championships)
Attendance (All Day): 2,800; June 14, 2011 - PIAA Championships, all games
QUOTABLES
"Bill and I are both very pleased to be a small part of this very impressive facility. For us, the decision to give to this facility, to this program, was easy because one of our big passions is certainly the students of this university, but in particular the softball program. Our passion to help the softball program is because we've watched this program grow. There are some common links to this group [of donors]: Fran and George [Vanden], the Stine Family, Peter and Ann Nagle, Bill and I all have in common a link in believing that this is a program that deserves the typical Penn State, first-class facility to be successful."
Lee Beard, Lead Benefactor
"Nittany Lion Softball Park will benefit our student-athletes by providing them with a centrally located locker room, training room, practice and competition facility. It will greatly enhance our coaches recruiting efforts and allow us to host softball tournaments and championship events. We are thankful to all of our donors who are helping to make this facility a reality for our softball program. Everyone is very excited for the 2011 opening of Nittany Lion Softball Park and the start a new era of Penn State softball."
Susan Delaney-Scheetz, Former Associate Athletic Director & Senior Women's Administrator