So far the baseball team is batting below .500 with the weather, but it's hoping for a change today in a doubleheader against Millersville at 1 p.m. at Beaver Field.
The Lions (8-7) haven't played a game since March 27, with the last eight cancelled. That brings the season total of missed games to 16 -- one more than the Lions have played.
"It's definitely frustrating," designated hitter Jeff Kavelak said. "It breaks the routine. You have to go inside than outside. The lights are different, the background is different."
"Nobody likes it," Coach Shorty Stoner said. "You can't get into a groove."
The adjustment is so drastic that the players did not bat yesterday, since Stoner said it will affect the players too much when they play outside today. He added that it is tough to keep the intensity up with games being cancelled and playing in this kind of weather.
"It's tough under this situation," he said. "It's just not the best way to do it."
"We'll have to pick it up a little once we hit the field," pitcher Gary Miller said.
If the weather permits, Miller and Greg Young will take the mound for the Lions against Millersville (14-7-1). Young (2-0) is pacing the team with a 3.00 ERA and has one shutout. Miller (1-1) has a 4.57 ERA and leads the team in strikeouts (25).
"I've been throwing a lot in practice," Miller said. "I feel strong."
Opposing Young and Miller will be Brad Everly (3-1, 3.10 ERA) and Bob Dickenson (1-0, 3.78).
The big guns for Millersville are outfielders Mike Van Gavree and Todd Garber. Van Gavree is hitting .525 in 59 at bats, with 10 doubles, two triples, one homer and 20 RBI. Garber leads the team in RBI (24) and is batting .438.
For the Lions, John Schreiner and Dave Hall are batting .467, followed by O.J. McDuffie (.423), who is currently on a 13-game hitting streak (third in Penn State history). Kavelak, who has been at the plate 53 times, leads the team in RBI (20).
One good thing about the game cancellations for the Lions is it has given some injured players time to heal. Pitchers Brian Ishler and Chris Church are both nursing injuries and Schreiner is recovering from a pulled thigh.
