For the first three games of the series the Penn State baseball team's best offense was the Ohio State defense. But then that all changed.

The Nittany Lions' (10-12, 5-3 Big Ten) offense came alive and pounded out 11 hits and scored 10 runs en route to a 10-2 victory yesterday, to earn a split with the Buckeyes (13-10, 4-4) over the weekend at Beaver Field.

Ohio State won the series opener on Friday in 10 innings, despite seven errors, 4-3. On Saturday the Buckeyes made a key error, leading to both of the Lions' runs allowing Penn State to win a 2-1 decision, but battled back to win the second game of the doubleheader, 7-5.

Penn State baseball coach Joe Hindelang talked to his team before yesterday's game about playing "small ball."

In the second inning the Lions did exactly that, scoring five times. After a leadoff single by Arin Gelletly, Wes Reohr reached safely on an infield single in the hole between the shortstop and third baseman.

Willie Melendez laid down a sacrifice bunt to move both runners over, but Buckeyes pitcher Nate Smith launched the ball into the outfield, plating Gelletly. Mike Milliron drove in the second run on an infield hit as the ball was bobbled momentarily by Smith. Zack Smithlin then had a bunt single of his own plating another run. Derrick Barr capped the rally with a two-run single.

Hindelang wouldn't take all the credit for the Lions' game plan on Sunday.

"I have Coach [Dave] Jameson to credit," Hindelang said. "He said, 'What happened to our accomplished drag bunters?' Before the game we spoke about the small game, and the players rose to the occasion and executed."

It was a much-needed source of offense after leaving 22 runners on base in the first three games. Once the offense had been jump started the Lions continued to hit, scoring twice more in the third inning on a Reohr home run to left field, giving the Lions a 7-0 lead. Penn State tacked on three insurance runs in the eighth inning.

Penn State was never able to score enough insurance runs on Friday. Leading 3-1 heading into the eighth inning, the Penn State bullpen surrendered its first runs after the eighth inning this season. Jim Farrell gave up a run in the eighth inning and a leadoff home run in the ninth to Christian Snavely to tie the game. Snavely hurt the Lions again in the tenth when he tripled in the winning run.

Farrell blew the lead after Clayton Hamilton pitched a marvelous seven innings, allowing only three hits.

"I just feel bad because Clayton pitched a hell of a game," Farrell said. "I think I was ready for the situation. I just blew the game."

After the heart-breaking loss, Josh Palm turned in gutsy effort in the first game on Saturday. In five plus innings Palm scattered five hits, while walking four. Only one of the Buckeyes' base runners came across to score.

With runners on first and third and one out in the fourth, Lance Thompson hit a double play ball to Buckeyes' first baseman Snavely, who threw the ball high to the shortstop covering at second. Everyone was safe and one run scored. Barr came through with a single to left scoring the go ahead run.

"He's been coming through all year," Gelletly said. "He's doing a great job at lead-off. He just gets the job done all the time."