Expectations are rising, the fan base is growing and the Penn State baseball team is off to its best start in five years.

Whether that continues will hinge a lot on this weekend.

The Nittany Lions (17-10, 5-3 Big Ten) will face their toughest test of the season when they take on Minnesota (15-13, 7-1), winner of the last five Big Ten titles, at 3 p.m. today at Beaver Field. Today's game marks the first of a four-game set.

"We're going out to win [tonight], and then we'll adjust and make some changes," Penn State coach Robbie Wine said. "None of us would be happy with a split."

This weekend's series will feature two incredible pitchers on an even more incredible hot streak. Gopher ace Matt Loberg has pitched 25 straight shutout innings, while Penn State's hottest arm, Alan Stidfole, has gone 30 frames without surrendering a single run.

"For any college pitcher to go that length of scoreless innings, that's something special," Wine said. "But something's gotta give somewhere, and hopefully it gives [today] for us."

Loberg, a right-hander with a 1.54 ERA, isn't Minnesota's only weapon. The Gophers have pitching firepower; the staff currently boasts a 4.21 ERA.

Still, catcher Aaron Greenfield doesn't seem too worried.

"It's all about confidence," Greenfield said. "If I was facing Alan [Stidfole], I wouldn't be thinking about his 30 innings, I'd just be thinking, 'Let's get a pitch.' "

"Nah, you'd be thinking about my dirty slider," Stidfole interrupted, laughing.

Stidfole, slated to start on Sunday, has been unstoppable lately. He's coming off back-to-back complete game shutouts and currently has a 2.95 ERA.

"Whenever we get to Sunday, then I'll worry about it," he said. "But I'll do what I can to take care of it and see if we can keep the streak going."

With five possible starters and only four games, southpaw Steve Cline also looks to get the start over Josh Palm.

Wine believed Cline, known for his control, would be a better fit based on the scouting reports. Plus, Palm's addition as closer would only add depth to the bullpen.

In the dugout, the Lions' offense has the clear advantage. Penn State's batting average (.297) dwarfs that of Minnesota (.271), as the Lions have also scored 20 more runs than the Gophers.

"We were really strong last week," Stidfole said. "If we carry on what we were doing, we should be able to get a couple games."