When the Penn State baseball team traveled to Winston Salem, N.C. this weekend to take on Wake Forest, it was pleased to open the season in a warmer climate.

Unfortunately, the Nittany Lions forgot to thaw out their bats.

Demon Deacon pitching held Penn State to just 10 hits and seven runs in two games at Gene Hooks Stadium, as the Lions bowed to Wake 10-5 on Saturday and 3-2 yesterday, proving that southern hospitality doesn't necessarily apply to the baseball diamond.

The Deacs jumped out to a 10-0 lead on Saturday on the strength of a six-run sixth inning. Penn State starting pitcher Pete Yodis (0-1) issued a one-out walk to Carlos Brackley, then gave way to reliever Mike Watson, who faced six hitters and allowed five runs, all earned, in one-third of an inning.

The Lions put five runs on the board in the top half of the eighth as Demon Deacon pitchers Josh Bartlett and Brad Comer walked four Penn State batters with the bases loaded and Wes Reohr scored on an error.

Wake Forest freshman Kyle Sleeth hurled six scoreless innings to pick up his first career win, while center fielder Cory Sullivan was 4-for-5 with three RBI and jump-started the Deacon attack with a leadoff homer off Yodis in the first.

"What is typical when you play outside for first time is that you usually struggle in terms of hitting," Penn State baseball coach Joe Hindelang said. "The opposing pitchers were way ahead of our hitters."

It looked as though the Lions would have their revenge yesterday, as junior Justin Nash scattered one run and five hits throughout five and two-thirds innings.

"We got a really good outing by Justin today," said third baseman Chris Wright, who scored in the third inning on an RBI double by first baseman Donnie Wright.

However, Penn State could not hold a 2-1 lead in the eighth. Sullivan led off and was hit by a pitch from Lions reliever Kevin Damiano, then later scored on a double by designated hitter Josh Hansen. Hansen advanced to third on a single by Corey Slavick, then Matt Price drilled a deep fly to center off freshman Aaron Tressler. Hansen tagged and trotted in with what turned out to be the game-winner.

"There were two strikes on the leadoff hitter," Hindelang said. "He turned out to be the tying run. That's what hurts. This one slipped away."

Hindelang credited Tressler with getting some tough outs in his collegiate debut, and also said he was pleased with the way his team played defense over the weekend, particularly in the infield.

It is clear that whatever success the Lions have in the early part of the season will hinge upon what they do at the plate.

"We'll go back to the batting cages this week," Wright said.