“[We are] just trying to figure out certain spots and just trying to get a feel for the lineup,” White said. “Right now, we just need to start clicking...it'll come.”
Heading into the weekend, head coach Robbie Wine said there was no reason the Nittany Lions should not pick up three wins. However, after dropping the first game of the set with the Flames (4-2) on Saturday, 4-1, the Lions (1-5) lost both games of the doubleheader Sunday and were ultimately swept.
Although the Lions drew first blood in Saturday's game, they fell behind the Flames early in both contests in the doubleheader.
Liberty scored five runs across the first three innings in game one of the doubleheader before winning, 12-3, and the Flames followed that performance up with five runs in the first four innings en route to a 6-1 victory in game two of Sunday's action, which was only a seven inning affair.
Pitching coach Jason Bell said the Lions did not accomplish what they wanted to this weekend and said it is always hard when a team falls behind early and has to fight back.
“We just didn't make pitches when we needed to make them and it allowed them to capitalize and put some runs up early,” Bell said.
White noted the Flames played together well and had strong performances from the pitching staff and the bats as reason why they swept the Lions this weekend.
Despite the sweep, the Lions had some bright spots in the series in both pitching and hitting. Dave Walkling started Saturday's game and gave up only one run and three hits over six innings to earn a no decision as the Flames put up three runs in the seventh inning to break the tie.
White was responsible for batting in three of the Lions' five runs on the weekend and closed the series out with four hits.
White said the Lions have to work on some things over the next week of practice but the team still feels good in preparation for the UTSA Collegiate Baseball Classic in San Antonio, Texas next weekend.
“I know we'll start hitting and we'll start pitching,” White said. “Everything is going to click and we'll take off from there.”
