They almost beat a minor league team. Every game from here on out should be a walk in the park then, right?

Of course, the Penn State baseball team knows better than to think that its impressive showing in a 3-2 loss to the Altoona Curve Wednesday night guarantees anything about how the rest of the season will go, especially this weekend.

The Nittany Lions (9-11, 1-3) will travel to state-of-the-art Bill Davis Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, today to begin a four-game series with Ohio State (15-5, 3-1). The series begins a with today's game under the lights at 6:35 p.m. Tomorrow, they start a doubleheader at 4:05 p.m., before closing out the series with a game at 1:05 on Sunday afternoon.

The Buckeyes may not be part of a Major League system, but they are the premier Big Ten baseball program of last 11 years.

After a 23-year drought, the Buckeyes pulled in their ninth Big Ten title in 1991, and proceeded to win five more in the next decade, bringing their total to 14 with last season's regular season title.

"Ohio State has been the standard in the league over the past 11 years," Penn State baseball coach Joe Hindelang said. "They're the barometer by which a lot of teams in the league gauge themselves."

This year, Ohio State is favored to bring home the title again. They began their defense by taking three of four from Northwestern.

They had to play the greater part of three games on Saturday thanks to a game that was suspended due to rain Friday

"We had a long day of baseball, and I'm not sure you can evaluate the team the way you want to," Ohio State coach Bob Todd said. "We're not as good defensively as we'd like to be, but overall I'm pleased with where we are right now."

The Buckeyes return four of the eight players they put on the three All-Big Ten teams last season, including three of their four first teamers.

Most notable among them is first baseman/outfielder Nick Swisher. Swisher (.300, 4 HR, 20 RBI) is a member of Team USA, a returning All-Big Ten first team selection, and a preseason All-American, according to some publications.

"He's unbelievably talented, a real five-tool player," Penn State baseball coach Joe Hindelang said. "He's just an all-around player and he plays the game hard. He switch hits. I mean, what else does he do? He probably dates a model."

Swisher is just one of six Buckeyes with a batting average over .300. Spearheading the bunch is second baseman Christian Snavely, who is hitting .420 out of the leadoff spot, and right fielder Doug Deeds, batting .395 with three homers and 21 RBI.

"They've got a real solid lineup," said Lions pitcher Mike Watson, who will start Friday. "You have to be really focused when you face them. You can't make too many mistakes. You just have to go right at them." The pitching is just as sound.

Their team earned run average is second best in the conference thus far at 4.04. Three of their starters ERA's under 3.00, including ace E.J. Laratta, who is 4-0 with a 1.50 ERA.

This is where the experience against the Curve comes in handy for the Lions, however.

Their hitters should be prepared for anything after standing in against AA quality arms with AA quality breaking pitches.

"In games like that, you know you're going against the best of the best," freshman first baseman Clint Eury said. "Their breaking balls are sharper, and you're seeing a lot more movement. It really prepares you well for games like we'll have this weekend."

And like coach Hindelang says, the game is still the same no matter the opponent.

"The bottom line is, we have to play good defense, and get good starting pitching, and we'll be fine," Hindelang said.