As a cold, blustery wind ran through Beaver Field yesterday, the only objects that didn't shiver or freeze were the Penn State baseball team's hot bats.

The Nittany Lions extended their win streak to five games by sweeping a doubleheader over Temple, 9-0 and 6-4. The streak began with a three-game sweep over George Mason last weekend.

After a spring break trip to Alabama to play tough teams such as the Crimson Tide and Auburn, and after a dismal 1-13 start to the season, the Lions now seem to be putting all the pieces together for a successful season.

"Coming off the Alabama trip when we were 1-13, we knew we weren't that bad," senior pitcher Tom Billek said. "We were playing the premier teams in the country and I guess we took a little bit of a breather with George Mason and Temple."

Coach Joe Hindelang said he felt the trip was a learning experience for the team.

"We were in all of those games," he said. "I didn't want to be 1-13. If we were 5-9, 1 would have been happy."

The Lions will now prepare to begin their Big Ten conference season with a pair of doubleheaders against Ohio State. The tearns will play at noon tomorrow and Sunday at Beaver Field.

The Lions are hoping for wins, especially since the Buckeyes have been struggling, losing eight of their first nine games and dropping out of the Collegiate Baseball poll.

The Lions' five-game spurt has given the team some confidence.

"We think we're ready for Big Tens. We know we're not as bad as 6-13," said Billek. "We're a quality team. Maybe we weren't quite ready for the national level yet.