Breathe easily, Penn State Baseball team. There are no flights this weekend, no airports and no delays. Just the friendly confines of Beaver Field in all its springtime glory.

And, maybe more importantly, there is no Delaware either.

The Lions (18-16, 7-5 Big Ten) return to Big Ten play just three days after being swept by Delaware, as the Iowa Hawkeyes (10-23, 2-9) storm into town for a four-game set, the first of which gets underway today at 3 p.m.

Penn State will be anxious to rid itself of the bitter taste that losing two to the Blue Hens left. Only winning at least three of four this weekend will suffice.

The buzzword around Tuesday's sweep was "tired." The Lions were still feeling the affects of their emotional and long weekend trip to Minnesota, and failed to put up much of a fight. The coaching staff gave the team Wednesday off in an effort to make sure it's firing on all cylinders for this crucial series.

"You never want to be swept in a doubleheader, non-conference or not, like we were, especially at home," Penn State assistant baseball coach John Ramsey said. "First, we don't get to play that many games at home so we hate to lose in front of our fans, and second, those losses could hurt our chances at an at-large NCAA tournament bid."

With the hopes of sweeping the Hawkeyes, or at least taking three of four, the Lions will send their normal weekend rotation of Jim Farrell, Sean Stidfole, Aaron Tressler and Clayton Hamilton to the mound.

And although the Hawkeyes' record may be less than impressive, their lineup can still cause some damage. Jesse Brownell and Nate Yoho lead the Hawkeyes offensively, combining for 37 RBI this year.

Iowa also has, in Kris Welker, a very good all-around catcher, sort of in the same mold as Penn State's Matt Harter, someone who can get the job done, both with the bat and behind the plate.

"Kris is an outstanding catcher," said Jack Dahm, who is in his first year as Iowa's baseball coach. "He can swing the bat well, provides leadership and has the will to win."

It will be the job of the Lions pitching staff to keep him and any of the other Hawkeyes from repeating what Delaware's Steve Van Note did on Tuesday when he went 7-for-9.

"Sometimes hitters get in a zone and the ball looks as big as a beach ball and it doesn't matter what pitch you throw them," Ramsey said. "We have to be wary of the entire Iowa lineup. Their tough up and down it."

Of course, this is Blue-White weekend and for those geographically challenged Penn State fans, Beaver Field happens to be right next to Beaver Stadium. Accordingly, the crowds at the baseball games, especially on Saturday, may be a little larger than normal.

"We would like to follow the football team's example of having a winning tradition and being a national power," Ramsey said. "It's important for us to play well and positively expose people to Penn State baseball."