Baseball coach Joe Hindelang is confident about the 5-9 Lions' chances against Atlantic 10 power West Virginia in two weekend doubleheaders.

"I'm going down there expecting to win all four games," Hindelang said. "If we maintain the improvement and work on our weaknesses, I believe we can do it."

The Mountaineers (8-7-1) have won the conference seven out of the last 10 years.

"If we get three or four (games), who knows what could happen," Junior second baseman Russ Mushinsky said. "That would be a big confidence builder."

West Virginia is anchored by a strong pitching staff that led them to a 33-20 record last year. Tomorrow, the Mountaineers will throw Keith Mathias (2-1, 3.08 ERA) and Joe Hudson (2-2, 5.47) against the Lions. On Sunday Mike Sube (2-1, 3.27) and Ryan Williams (2-1, 4.44) will get the call.

Hindelang, who is in his first year at Penn State, said that although he has never seen or coached against West Virginia, he is developing his game plan from scouting reports and statistics. The Lions will use Mike McRoberts (0-0, 6.91) and Jeff Burris (0-1, 3.00 in 27 innings). If Gary Miller is not used in relief on Saturday, he may start Sunday.

Hindelang said one of the keys to a solid performance this weekend is cutting down on errors. In the first 10 games, Penn State fielders botched 28 balls.

"If we can get good pitching and good defense and we can keep a team from getting the big inning, we'll be fine," Mushinsky said. He referred specifically to Temple's four-run outburst in the first inning of the first game Tuesday.

In that game, Penn State starting pitcher Randy Geis lasted just one-third of an inning and gave up four hits and all four Temple runs. Geis, who was out with an arm injury last year is 0-2 with a 9.45 ERA. Hindelang said that the sophomore's next appearance will probably be in middle relief.

Notes: Sophomore shortstop Chris Buzzi has an eight-game hitting streak . . . Mushinsky leads the team with 16 RBIs and is fourth on the team with a .333 batting average . . . After going 0 for 14 last season, Ryan Wheeler is hitting .375 in 40 at-bats and leads the team with a .538 on-base percentage.