Not often one for hyperbole, Penn State softball right fielder Meghan Wolfer said this weekend could be the most important stretch of games for the Nittany Lions this season.

"[It's] going to be huge for us because we're going to need these games to get into the Big Ten tournament," Wolfer said, "especially coming off the loss to Bucknell and [losing five of our last six]. It'll be very important for us to start out swinging and score some runs."

The Lions (22-18, 2-5 Big Ten) have the opportunity to rebound from their current slump with four games this weekend. Penn State faces Indiana (21-28, 1-13) at 6 tonight and noon tomorrow at Nittany Lion Field. Then, on Sunday, the Lions will conclude the weekend with a doubleheader against Purdue (28-29-1, 6-7) starting at noon, also at Nittany Lion Field.

Emotions will run even higher this weekend because it is the last time Penn State will play at home this year. The four departing seniors -- Wolfer, Kari Lucas, Kelsey Francisco and Jen Williams -- will play their final games in Happy Valley on Sunday.

"I can't believe how fast it went," Wolfer said. "I'm sure there will be a few tears, I'll really miss it."

As four careers come to a close, two other careers cross for the first time in five years.

Current Lions assistant coach Jocelyn Forrest played under current Purdue head coach Kim Maher at Cal. Maher was an assistant coach when Forrest pitched the Bears to the 2002 national championship.

Both said it won't be weird seeing each other in opposing dugouts and are excited to face off.

"If anything, it's a sense of pride," Maher said. "Jocelyn was a tremendous athlete with a lot of passion on the mound. She was a tremendous competitor, and I know she will rub off well on their team. I wish her the best of luck."

Forrest, however, said matching up against someone she called "one of my favorite coaches of all time" will be enjoyable.

"[Maher's] very, very competitive and I learned a lot from her," Forrest said. "I like a good challenge and I like facing off against people who are just as competitive as I am."

Forrest added Maher was always an aggressive player and she expects the Boilermakers to reflect that in the style of their play.

Both Penn State and Purdue will be playing to try to gain ground in the conference race and earn a better seed for the league tournament. Purdue, currently in sixth, is within striking distance of the top four. The Lions, on the other hand, fill the eighth and final playoff spot and need wins to secure themselves a berth in the tournament.

Wolfer said playing to extend their season is reason enough to go all out from the first pitch this weekend. She added that since Wednesday's doubleheader against Akron was rained out, everyone on the team is even more eager to get back on the field and release the frustration that's been building since the loss to Bucknell Tuesday evening.

It's that potential offensive outburst that has Maher worried about having to face the Lions this weekend.

"If we were in that situation, I know we would come in pissed off," Maher said. "And coach Petrini is a great coach and I know she's going to have her team fired up and ready to play, so we're going to have to prepare for a battle."