Colin Runt planted his jet-black cleats under the practice net yesterday, slightly wincing under a faded, gray backdrop to protect his eyes from the light drizzle.

It was 75 minutes until practice normally started, but there he was -- swinging away with Penn State coach Robbie Wine on the mound.

"I don't think we can afford another week like last week," Runt said while staring straight ahead.

"But I also don't think we're gonna have another week like last week either."

There's a steady conviction to Runt's voice -- he doesn't want a repeat disappointment. No one on the team does. Last weekend's series against Iowa was, by far, the ugliest conference set the Nittany Lions had been a part of. They lost three of four games.

"Mentally we lost focus a couple times, and this week we're just getting back to the basics," pitcher Alan Stidfole added.

Like most of Runt and Stidole's teammates, the Lions (22-15, 8-8 Big Ten) are looking forward to redemption today. It's their chance to prove last week was a fluke, and this weekend is reality when they take on first-place Illinois (24-12, 12-4) at 3 p.m. today at Beaver Field.

Runt, an experienced pinch hitter, has been struggling on offense. And it won't get any easier when Fighting Illini pitcher Brian Blomquist takes the mound. Blomquist is arguably the top pitcher in the conference. He leads the Big Ten with a 1.93 ERA -- all the better reason to show up early for batting practice.

Runt takes so many cuts during BP, it seems like he's trying to swing away some of his uneasiness in approaching such a crucial four-game stretch.

If he is apprehensive, he certainly has cause to be: The Lions won't even have their ace on the mound until Sunday. Wine said Alan Stidfole will get the nod today because the club's still "babying Sean [Stidfole's] head" ever since he was smacked with a foul ball earlier in the week.

Alan's twin brother, Sean, will act as the fellow bookend when he takes charge of the hill on Sunday. Craig Clark and Steve Cline will also start in tomorrow's doubleheader.

Penn State's offense will obviously have to be on top of its game to beat Illinois' pitching staff -- but the Illini's hitting isn't too shabby either.

Illinois leads the Big Ten in home runs (35) and is third with a .312 batting average.