Sluggers seeking help on the mound

After trips to Ohio and Michigan the Penn State baseball team heads to Florida for an eight-game stretch.

Florida and baseball are synonymous this time of year.

An eight-game schedule will take the Penn State baseball team (2-7) down south for its annual spring break trip. After a stop in Deland for two games against Western Michigan and Miami (Ohio) tomorrow, the Nittany Lions will head down to Winter Park for the 51st annual Baseball Week tournament held at Div. II Rollins College.

Penn State will face Rollins (10-6) at 7 p.m. on Monday and Thursday nights. The Lions will also face Pennsylvania and Miami (Ohio) twice throughout the week.

Senior Nate Bump, who earn Co-National Player of the Week honors for his performance against Winthrop last week, is penciled in as the No. 1 starter, and rightfully so. Redshirt sophomore Dan Goebeler has been a "nice surprise" as the No. 2 man on the mound, Ford said.

"He's a student of the game," he said. "He's been working really hard for the last two years and is really into it. His mechanical problems are straightened out."

From here on out, it's anybody's guess.

"We're looking for a solid performance with each game," Ford said. "It all starts with pitching. It's what keeps you in games, along with defense."

Getting the nod in game three will be a young, but talented, freshmen Dan McCall.

McCall, who has only appeared in two and two-thirds innings thus far, said nervousness is not a problem.

"I'm excited to get to start rather than come in in relief," he said. "After (Bump and Goebeler) it's all up for grabs. Only time will tell."

Ford is leaning toward redshirt freshmen Peter Yodis to start game four. Yodis has emerged after completing an outstanding fall practice season.

Although this trip does showcase the baseball powerhouses like last season when the Lions faced Texas A&M and Creighton, it should be a great opportunity to get back on the winning track. Returning to State College with an above .500 record is certainly feasible, but Ford, ever cautious, isn't knocking the schedule.

"It doesn't matter who you play," Ford said. "Anybody can beat you at anytime. This (schedule) is something you can control."