While there will be many new faces, like those of freshmen Matt Cavagnaro and Jim Leitgeb, on the diamond today for the Penn State baseball team, there will be a very familiar face on the mound -- Clayton Hamilton.

Hamilton, who hasn't started a game for the Nittany Lions since March 28 against Miami, will get the ball when Penn State (12-11, 2-2 Big Ten) takes on St. Bonaventure (7-8, 2-1 Atlantic 10) at 3 p.m. at Beaver Field.

Hamilton is trying to shake off his last start in which he gave up 10 hits and five earned runs in just three short innings of work.

While Hamilton hasn't been starting, he did pitch in the Lions first Big Ten game of the year, relieving fellow senior Jim Farrell in the sixth inning. Hamilton gave up just two hits and one run in the loss.

But the Penn State coaching staff is hoping that Hamilton's first home start of the season will rejuvenate the senior.

"It kind of changes the routine a bit," Penn State pitching coach Randy Ford said. "It sure is nice to play at home though."

Hamilton has a bloated 6.84 ERA this season, but has struck out 22 batters and walked 10.

Ford said that, offensively and defensively, the Lions will look a lot like they did this past weekend against Purdue.

Cavagnaro and Leitgeb will once again start at third and second base, respectively, while the big bats of Mike Milliron and Clint Eury will play shortstop and first base.

Milliron leads Penn State with a .333 batting average and 29 hits this season, and is one of two players on the squad to start all 23 games. Eury has also had success at the plate with his team-high 17 RBI and five doubles.

The Bonnies, the 2003 Atlantic 10 East Division champions, come to Penn State after a shaky start.

They are led by a pair of freshmen -- first baseman/pitcher Matt Agostonelli and outfielder/pitcher Brian Pellegrini. While Agostonelli has started only 10 games for St. Bonaventure, he is batting .400, and Pellegrini's 20 hits and a .574 slugging percentage are both team highs.

But playing a non-conference game a weekend after starting the Big Ten season can throw a team off kilter, especially a team that is struggling to stay above the .500 mark like the Lions are. That isn't true, according to Ford, who insists that all opponents are nameless.

"You're playing against the game of baseball," Ford said. "And you're trying to play the best you can that day. Hopefully we'll put together a good effort [today]."