One team is 1-4, the other is 0-2. But you won't see either Penn State or UNC-Charlotte panicking at this point in the season.

The 49ers will try to end a three-game slide tomorrow at Phillips Field, when they host the Nittany Lions for the first of two weekend games at noon. Sunday's first pitch will be at 1 p.m.

Penn State returns to North Carolina after losing both ends of a two-game series a week ago at Wake Forest. The Lions lost a one-run heartbreaker to the Demon Deacons last Sunday, a defeat that will not soon be forgotten.

"The last loss left a bitter taste in a lot of guys' mouths," said senior pitcher Pete Yodis, who will take the hill for Penn State tomorrow. "We lost the first two games last year too, but I want to be better than last year."

Yodis allowed three runs and six hits in five and one-third innings of work last Saturday.

He said that his trademark slider was "a little flat" against Wake, but he was happy with his implementation of a changeup, a pitch the senior added to his arsenal in the offseason.

"I used it about five times on Saturday and felt comfortable with it," Yodis said.

Penn State baseball coach Joe Hindelang and pitching coach Randy Ford will once again have Yodis and Sunday's starter — junior Justin Nash — on pitch counts this weekend in order to prevent any early fatigue or injuries.

"We want to stretch the pitch count a little bit more so that they can go the distance at Texas (A&M in two weeks)," Hindelang said.

UNC-Charlotte skipper Loren Hibbs said he will also be keeping a close watch on his starters, sophomore John Maine (1-1, 3.00 ERA) and junior Pat Gambale.

Maine, who picked up the 49ers' lone victory thus far against Furman, came on strong toward the end of last season, Hibbs said, and will be counted on to help lead a young staff.

"Maine is throwing very well for us this season," Hibbs said.

Hindelang, who is looking for his 499th and 500th career victories this weekend, called UNC-Charlotte "a good team", but said that the Lions must conquer themselves if they are to tally their first win of the season.

"The other team is nameless for us, we have to focus on what we're doing," he said. "The guys that didn't do so well last week have to pick up their game."

Hibbs pointed out that the 49ers' record is a bit deceiving — only one loss, to Texas Christian, was by more than three runs — and that his club has had its chances in the early going.

He added, however, that he is looking forward to two close contests with the Lions this weekend.

"They are very well coached," Hibbs said. "We'll have our hands full."