West Virginia University's opening day pitching-catching combo will feature a pair of former OVAC standouts Friday in St. Petersburg, Florida.

      Wheeling Park grad Corey Walter has been named the starting pitcher for the Mountaineer 10 a.m. opener against Northwestern, while Madonna alum Max Nogay is going to start at catcher.

     Walter is a sophomore, he went 2-4 last season with a 4.75 ERA, making 12 appearances, four of those starts.

     Nogay is a redshirt freshman. He served as the Mountaineers bullpen catcher last season.

       The game against Northwestern at historic Al Lang Field is part of the Big Ten/Big East Challenge.

      The Mountaineers will then make the short drive to Clearwater, Fla., and face Penn State on Feb. 18, at Bright House Field for a 4 p.m. first pitch. WVU will close out the weekend back in St. Petersburg with a doubleheader against Iowa at 8:45 a.m., and Michigan at 12:30 p.m. Both games will be played at the Walter Fuller Complex.

      The Challenge consists of eight teams from each conference. Connecticut, Cincinnati, Louisville, Notre Dame, Pitt, St. John’s, Seton Hall and WVU will represent the BIG EAST, while the Big Ten will be represented by Iowa, PSU, Minnesota, Ohio State, Illinois, Michigan, Michigan State and Purdue.