As the sun began to set yesterday and practice came to a close, the Penn State baseball team huddled on the pitcher's mound.

With coach Robbie Wine in the center, and the outfield scoreboard emanating a dim light just above centerfield, the team received one final piece of advice before dispersing to into the dugout.

"Fundamentals," Wine said. "This week was all about fundamentals. We've been so inconsistent lately. There are times where we'll get a hit, then we will strike out. Our pitchers will throw a strikeout then walk the next guy. It was all about getting back to the basics."

This weekend the Nittany Lions (3-10) will put their fundamentals on display, as they will serve as host for a three-game series against Lehigh (10-9). The first game will take place at 3 p.m. today.

Though "getting back to the basics" has been a recurring theme for Penn State this season, today's game will be a first for the Lions. Through 13 games this season, Penn State has competed under sunny skies, warm temperatures and at times a slight breeze.

With series in Alabama, Florida and North Carolina, the Lions have become accustomed to playing ball down south, a far cry from the cold and changing weather conditions at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

"It was so great to get out on the field this week," catcher Joe Blackburn said. "It was a little chilly out there, but we were able to buckle down and we're always glad to be at home. Lehigh is definitely used to playing in the cold, too, so it'll be up to us to go out there and give it our best."

The stadium was a virtual wind tunnel for the Lions all week, as players sported long sleeve shirts underneath practice uniforms, and coaches stood on the sidelines wearing zipped-up track jackets.

Infield drills, base-running exercises and multiple trips to the plate were popular sights at practice, as the team will look to end its six-game slide. That losing streak has seen Penn State has commit 32 errors, compared to 17 by its opponents.

"Anytime you're losing, it's going to be frustrating," center fielder Brian Ernst said.

"But practice was really up-tempo, and being in the stadium this week gave us a chance to hop around and get into that game mode."

Senior Seth Whitehill will start for the Lions on the mound tonight, followed by Mike Lorentson tomorrow, and Mike Wanamaker for the series finale.

And with the doors to Medlar Field set to open for the first time this season, Wine and the rest of the Lions are simply glad to be home, getting back to the basics on their turf.

"It's going to be a different team out there this weekend," Wine said. "That's for sure."