Sluggers hope for continued success at Iowa

After using and abusing Bucknell on Tuesday at Beaver Field, the Penn State baseball team dives head first back into Big Ten play at 2 p.m. today when it kicks off a four-game series at Iowa.

Penn State and Iowa also will play a doubleheader tomorrow and wrap up the series with a game Sunday.

Big Ten opponents have not been friendly thus far for the Nittany Lions (13-4, 0-4 Big Ten), who dropped four straight games last weekend to Michigan.

Penn State coach Joe Hindelang said he would like to see his players take care of facets of the game that were ineffective against the Wolverines -- namely starting pitching, relief pitching and scoring runs.

"I don't care what Iowa has or what they do," Hindelang said. "I'm concerned we play hard and improve what hurt us against Michigan."

Penn State took three of four games against the Hawkeyes (6-13, 4-4) last year at Beaver Field and holds an 8-4 all-time series lead with Iowa. Hindelang, however, is quick to forget about the past.

"This a different year," Hindelang said. "Last year means absolutely nothing."

But similar to last year's batch of Lions, the current Penn State squad has a core of power hitters and experienced pitchers who have yet to jell. And Penn State's 13-14 record is not far removed from the 9-17-1 mark the Lions took into the series with Iowa a year ago.

Right-hander Nate Bump (4-3, 5.27 ERA) will start today for the Lions in his first outing since allowing seven runs on nine hits in last Friday's 10-3 loss to Michigan. Bump said today's game is extra important because Penn State has yet to win in the Big Ten.

"Obviously, we have to be concentrating on getting that win," Bump said. "We definitely should be up for all four games."

A solid outing by Bump would get the ball rolling.

"They (my teammates) all know that I've been struggling," Bump said. "I've had a tender arm the past few weeks. But that's no excuse."

Right-handers Matt Weimer (1-2, 8.64 ERA) and Chuck Romig (1-2, 3.95 ERA) are scheduled to start Saturday for Penn State, with southpaw Greg Arnold (1-2, 7.28) getting the nod Sunday. Hindelang, though, said there is a possibility left-hander Matt Dalsey (4-1, 7.48 ERA) will start Sunday.

Leading the way for Iowa are senior pitchers Kurt Belger and Robert Holst. Holst posted a 3-1 record last season, while Belger, who redshirted the 1996 season, set a school record in 1995 with 20 saves.

Perhaps the biggest bat in the Hawkeye lineup is sophomore Brian Mitchell, who hit .296 last year with seven home runs and 27 RBIs.

Notes:

• Including Tuesday's slugfest against Bucknell, Penn State has now belted 36 home runs. Leading the pack is Jeremy Deitrick with seven, followed by Jared Sadlowski (6) and Carl Albrecht (5).
  

• Designated hitter Dan Beers, who did not play against Bucknell because of a sprained ankle, returns to the starting lineup against Iowa. Beers is hitting .359 with three home runs and 19 RBIs.