After months of playing in the unnatural baseball environment of January and February in the northeast, the Penn State baseball team gets a little glimpse of hard ball heaven this week.

The Nittany Lions (2-2) will spend their spring break playing seven games in eight days in sunny Deland, Fla., in the Stetson Invitational.

"It's going to be great to go back to nice weather," catcher Matt Lindert, a Pensacola, Fla., native said. "It will be good to play baseball the way it's supposed to be played as opposed to what we're doing now."

The Lions begin tomorrow at 7 p.m. against Siena (N.Y). Monday at 2 p.m. they play Evansville before a 7 p.m. game against No. 25 Stetson Tuedsay night.

They face Central Michigan the next day, then Evansville (Ind.), Stetson and Central Michigan again in the next three days.

The Spring trip always serves as a measuring stick for the team in more ways than one because of the solid competition, and simply the drain of playing every day.

"Spring trip always shows a lot about a team," pitcher Mike Watson said. "It shows what guys can perform on a consistent basis by playing everyday, and it really lets us see where we're at as a team."

All four of the other teams in the Invitational will challenge the Lions. Stetson (8-1) has won 40 games in each of the past two seasons and appeared in NCAA regional finals. Central Michigan, beginning its season this weekend, was picked to finish second in the MAC's West division after finishing 35-24 last season.

Evansville (3-0) is receiving votes in the Baseball Weekly/ESPN Top 25 poll after finishing 36-21 last season, and though Siena is 0-5 two of those losses came to No. 1 Florida State and No. 6 Florida.

"We're going to be playing some great teams," Penn State baseball coach Joe Hindelang said. "We're going to have our hands full with teams that will have a good chance of being in the tournament."

Hindelang hopes to have a lot of questions about his lineup and pitching staff answered by week's end. The Lions will have to use at least three, likely four starters to get through the week. Of the Lions four games, seniors Mike Watson and Justin Nash have each started two.

Nash will try to recover from a tough outing last Sunday in which he gave up seven runs in 3.1 innings, including a grand slam.

"I'm just trying not to look to far into Sunday's game," Nash said. "It came down to one pitch."

"I know if I pitch the way I'm capable I can shut down any team's lineup. It just doesn't always work out that way."

Hindelang will also be trying to solidify the rest of his lineup. He has decided that right fielder Brian Bishop will be in the lineup, be it in right field or as the designated hitter. Junior Doug Rodio and senior Brett Showalter will alternate playing wherever he doesn't.

Hindelang is also planning on continuing to platoon right-handed senior Wes Reohr and left-handed junior Mike Hurey in center field in senior Zack Smithlin's absence. Lindert and sophomore Matt Harter will split time behind the plate during the invitational.