Well before the season started, Penn State baseball coach Joe Hindelang had an empty weekend to fill with a game before the team's home opener. Having several options before him, Hindelang decided to consult his team before making a decision.

"We could play either an Ivy League team at home, travel to Indiana State, or play at Miami," Hindelang said.

As his anecdote goes, Hindelang asked his squad to give a show of hands to vote on which team they would play.

"Who wants to get an Ivy League team to come here?"

No hands.

"Alright, who wants to play at Indiana State?"

No hands.

Hindelang hardly needed to ask the last question at that point, but did so for posture. Here's a hint: there was no one undecided.

And so the Nittany Lions (8-6) find themselves heading to Coral Gables, Fla., for the weekend and a three-game set against No. 5 Miami (19-5).

The series will be the culmination of a rigorous non-conference schedule for the Lions before they face Cornell at home on Tuesday and start Big Ten play next weekend.

While the Hurricanes are the highest-ranked team the Lions have faced -- and likely will face -- this season, Penn State has certainly built its schedule in such a way to have the team prepared for the series against Miami.

Penn State lost three games to ranked opponents during its spring break trip -- two to Notre Dame and one to Arizona -- but played well against the Fighting Irish in the second meeting, losing 4-2. The Lions also hold a road win against No. 25 Virginia and are on a three-game winning streak that includes two wins on the road against Richmond.

"Beating a team like that twice is big," senior catcher Matt Harter said of the wins against Richmond. "To come out of there with two wins is great."

The Lions will need that confidence against the Hurricanes, a team that swings the bat as well as anyone Penn State has played. Miami has scored 229 runs and hit 30 home runs in its first 24 games, and will present a serious challenge for the Lions pitchers.

Penn State's projected starters for the weekend are Sean Stidfole, Jim Farrell and Clayton Hamilton.

"The entire pitching staff has been looking forward to this series," said Farrell, the starter in game two of the series.