Whenever Jesse Alfreno steps into Holuba Hall, he's usually equipped with shoulder pads and a white football helmet.

Wednesday, the football gear was swapped for a glove and a blue baseball hat.

Following the lead of Penn State football teammate Paul Cianciolo last year, the reserve cornerback and right-handed pitcher will pull double-duty this spring for Penn State football and baseball.

"Last year when I saw Paul trying out, he said he started missing baseball and thought he could help the team," Alfreno said. "I came and watched a couple games, and he was really enjoying himself. And I started feeling the same way."

Although he has not played organized baseball since his senior year at Grove City High School, the redshirt sophomore has been working out with the team all semester and feels he can contribute to the Nittany Lions out of the bullpen.

"I talked to some of the guys, and our pitching staff is great, but they said that they're definitely open to looking at guys who can throw the ball," Alfreno said. "I knew that I had the ability, so I came over here trying to start getting my arm back in shape."

With spring football practice beginning at the end of March, Alfreno's top priority remains football -- meaning he will not be available for every baseball game.

But baseball coach Robbie Wine said the transition may be a bit easier than Cianciolo's considering he doesn't have the workload of a quarterback.

"Once spring ball rolls around we may lose him every once in a while, but what he's done, it's just maturity," Wine said. "Coming from a football program like Penn State and the experience with the players, the competition, it's really not about baseball ability or football ability.

"It's just the maturity and the growth that's taken place. He's stepped in and handled himself pretty well."

And Wine said Cianciolo has given Alfreno a good example to follow.

In splitting time between the programs last year, the quarterback and right-handed pitcher made 12 relief appearances, finishing with a 6.27 earned run average in 18.2 innings. He is the only returning player to record a save last year with the loss of star closer Drew O'Neil.

As a senior, Cianciolo's days with the football team are in the past and he is now fully committed to baseball.

"It got tough at times last year because I'd be over here, and basically the deal was not to miss anything football related -- which is how I wanted it," Cianciolo said. "Obviously my first responsibility and commitment was to the football team, since that's what I came to the university for."

Alfreno related his return to the diamond as a pitcher to riding a bike, saying he just had to get his arm back into shape and then everything came back.

Now, Wine said the important thing is getting the rest of the fundamentals back, from pickoffs to bunts to all the other details of the game.

Despite all the responsibilities that come with being a football player, Alfreno spoke with an excited tone when talking about his decision and the support the football staff has given him.

"They've all been really supportive," Alfreno said. "They said if the coaches are going to give me a shot, take it. I'm just here to help out the team and do the best that I can and enjoy myself.

"You only go to college once, so I'm taking the opportunity."