Since coming back from its spring break trip to Florida, the Penn State club baseball team has rarely been challenged.

Last week the Nittany Lions (14-3, 9-0 New Penn Conference), exploded for 49 runs in three games against Lafayette, holding the Leopards hitless in all three games.

Over Easter weekend, Penn State swept a three-game series at Pennsylvania, scoring 56 runs in the process.

This weekend Penn State hosts the University of Massachusetts (11-1) in non-conference games tomorrow at noon at Shaner Fields and Sunday at 11 a.m. in Bellefonte. Both games are doubleheaders.

It isn't that the recent routs weren't enjoyable; it's just that UMass will provide a challenge.

And Penn State's players like that.

"It's good competition for us with [conference foe] Rutgers coming up in a couple weeks, then the regional playoffs," infielder Dan Hileman said. "We really want to go up against someone who has a really strong team because we know Rutgers is going to come at us with a really strong lineup. Playing UMass this weekend keeps us in check."

Senior pitcher Chris Rayburg is happy he'll get to face a tough offensive lineup.

"It's nice to go out against good hitters and see how you fare against them," Rayburg said.

While the Lions are not looking past this weekend's opponent, they're also chomping at the bit to return to league play Tuesday and Wednesday against Bucknell University. A few days later, Penn State will take on Rutgers University.

"This is really what we need," Rayburg said.

"Playing those other games, it's nice to get runs up on the board and play five-inning games, but we need to play these tough teams. It's nice to get these games in."