The Penn State baseball team cancelled a game last Sunday against Indiana due to frigid temperatures and moved the Bucknell game, originally scheduled for yesterday, to today at 3 p.m. at Beaver Field for the same reason.

So it's not exactly the Grapefruit League.

"The last thing we want to do is put the athletes in danger," Penn State head coach Joe Hindelang said.

"We thought we would be putting the players at risk by having them play in such cold weather."

The Bisons are 10-8 and took three of four games from Slippery Rock over the weekend.

Russ Lindberg has provided the offensive spark for Bucknell, racking up a .429 batting average, five home runs and 19 RBI, all team highs.

The season has been a long and winding road trip thus far for the Lions, who are 8-15 entering today's game. After 23 straight road games, the team is looking forward to playing in Happy Valley.

"We played some good baseball last weekend," infielder Mike DeRenzo said.

"We want to carry that through at home. It's pretty big for us to try to establish something here."

The Lions kicked off their Big Ten slate with two wins and a loss at Indiana.

For the first time this season, all three facets of the game were working, creating the synergy that Hindelang has been looking for.

"It's pretty simple," DeRenzo said. "You need the three to work if you want to win. It makes sense."

DeRenzo has been an early season surprise for the Lions. Originally projected as a key reserve, he jumped at his chance when regular second baseman John Richmond struggled.

"Coach always juggles things around early in the year," he said. "When I got my chance, I wanted to take it."

He currently leads the team with a .410 average. His on base percentage is also the highest at .520.

And in 19 games, he has not committed an error at second base.

"He has been amazing," Hindelang said. "And anything that has happened to him, he has earned."

DeRenzo redshirted last season and worked on specific aspects of his game identified as needing improvement by the coaching staff.

"He has been fanatical about working on his weaknesses," Hindelang said.

"We told him he didn't get low enough on ground balls; now he gets lower than anybody."

For the Lions, ace Pete Yodis will get his first start since March 8. Yodis hopes to improve on his 1-4 record and 9.55 ERA. He has been watching film and working on getting his fastball and slider to move more.

"We're excited to see what Pete can do," Hindelang said. "He seems to be back to his old self."

Bucknell will counter with Zach Allen (0-1,7.63 ERA), a control pitcher. Bucknell will try to pitch around the beef of Penn State's order. Hindelang said the Lion hitters are "chomping at the bit."

"Penn State faced a tough schedule early," Bison head coach Gene Depew said. "But they're coming on and they're going to be tough. We need to find some consistency in our game. Defense has been our only strong point."