They're probably just working for the weekend like everybody else.

When the Penn State baseball team hosts the Bucknell Bison (20-11) at 4 p.m. today at Beaver Field, it will be in an effort to erase the memory of recent mid-week woes.

While the Nittany Lions (13-19) rebounded from a six-game losing streak by taking three of four games from the Northwestern Wildcats in Happy Valley over Easter weekend, the team has had problems playing against non-conference opponents lately.

After winning several games at the Pepsi/Johnny Quik classic in early March, the Lions have gone winless in the four mid-week contests since then. Their Tuesday and Wednesday performances, however, have not been strong indicators of things to come on the weekend.

Following two losses in a doubleheader at Cornell, Penn State took three of four games at Purdue. Last week, the Lions dropped games at home against Maryland and George Washington, but rebounded for a solid performance against the Wildcats.

After Sunday's 11-1 win, which pulled his team to a .500 record in the Big Ten, Penn State baseball coach Joe Hindelang said he just wanted his squad to give a complete effort.

"I want them to come with their best effort and their best attitude and regardless of who we're playing to play the game hard and alert," Hindelang said. "You use that game to try to stay tuned."

Staying tuned is important, but a well-rested pitching staff is also a big bonus for a coach. In last weekend's series, the Lions were able to send seven pitchers to the mound while resting freshman Alan Stidfole and junior Jared Hopewell. Sophomore right-hander Josh Palm said that any time a team can conserve pitchers in a Big Ten series is an important boost.

Hopewell (0-1), will get his third start of the season today, while the Bison had not yet named a starter. While he lasted only 3.1 innings in his first start of the season, Hopewell pitched a decent game against Maryland last Tuesday. The Watsontown native took a 3-2 loss in the game, as the Lions left nine runners on base. Following Saturday's doubleheader split, Penn State senior second baseman Mike DeRenzo said the team needs to play better in the close games to have a shot at the Big Ten title.

"You've got to pull off the tight ones because as the season progresses and you play more games, you have to win the closer games to get further in the Big Ten," DeRenzo said.

The Bison come into today's contest after splitting a four-game series at home against Army last weekend.

Today's game was originally scheduled for April 1, but was postponed due to snowfall that left Beaver Field in unplayable conditions.