Every time they stroll to home plate, the first three hitters for the Penn State baseball team have just one goal in mind: Spark the offense.

"Our role is to be a spark," Blackburn said. "All the way down the lineup, we have to set the tone."

After this past weekend's series with Central Connecticut State at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, the top of the Nittany Lions' lineup accomplished its goal.

The seasoned trio -- senior infielder and leadoff hitter Matt Cavagnaro, junior outfielder Brian Ernst, and junior infielder and designated hitter Joe Blackburn -- was responsible for a large chunk of the Penn State offense, as well as spurring its team to blowout victories against the Blue Devils on Friday and Saturday.

Cavagnaro, Ernst and Blackburn set the tone by going 12-for-32 with the bat in their hands -- a .375 average -- during the three games. Throw out Sunday's 2-0 loss, in which they mustered only one hit, and the top three spots of the Lions' batting order were an efficient 11-for-22.

More importantly, the trio scored nine times and batted in six of the 17 runs Penn State tallied in the home-opening series.

"They're at the top of the order for a reason," Penn State head coach Robbie Wine said following Friday's win.

The reason is that these hitters are both incredibly productive and knowledgeable when at the plate. Also, each has the ability to go on a serious hot streak. When all are on a tear at the same time, the result is what Central Connecticut had to endure this past weekend.

Cavagnaro, a prototypical leadoff hitter, especially after hitting first 27 times last season, is a valuable asset to the Lions. He is fast, has great hands and always seems to either deliver a hit or reach base.

Coming into this year, he had a three-game hitting streak that he wasted no time in stretching to 12. So far, he has hit safely in 14 of 17 games and has an on-base percentage of .359, good for second on the team.

Following behind Cavagnaro this year has been Ernst, who Wine inserted into the No. 2 spot of the order out of sheer necessity.

"We feel Brian can do some things with the bat," Wine said. "That's one thing we're searching for right now is a two-hole, and he did a good job."

Ernst had the best weekend of the top three hitters by scoring four runs, driving in another and going 5-for-11 at the plate. He also had the honor of recording the first intercollegiate hit at Medlar Field.

For him, however, the highlight of the Lions' wins was not the personal success but rather that the top of the order did its job.

"Anytime you're in the top of the lineup, your main focus should just be to try to get on base," Ernst said. "That's what I've been doing anyway I can. Just trying to get on base for those guys behind you is the main goal."

Blackburn, sitting in the third spot, drove in three runs over the weekend, clearly benefiting from Cavagnaro, Ernst and other Lions reaching base. Having played in all 17 games this season, he is tied with Ernst for second on the team with 19 hits.

To Blackburn, producing runs and reaching base is important to his role as one of Penn State's first three hitters, but he feels that the top of the order also has the duty of working both the count and the pitcher.

If the Lions' leadoff hitters accomplish each of their goals, their opponents can expect results similar to this past weekend's.

"Try and see some pitches," Blackburn said of his role as the third hitter. "Try and get that pitcher working so that everyone down the lineup has a chance to see all of his pitches by the time he gets to the plate."