Some games they play like a team that will contend for the Big Ten Championship. During other games they make mental mistakes and fail to get clutch hitting and pitching. After engaging in an offensive war with St. Bonaventure and coming out with an 11-9 victory, the Lions will try to play more controlled baseball when they take on Ohio State in a four game series this weekend at Bill Davis Stadium in Columbus. And as if those numbers weren't intimidating enough, Bill Davis Stadium is generally considered the toughest ballpark to play in the Big Ten. The five-year old, seven million dollar jewel regularly draws a raucous crowd of close to 5,000 people.
Baseball is a big deal there, and the fans are into it.
Penn State senior catcher Chris Netwall is a veteran of Big Ten battles with the Buckeyes. It's just another thing to deal with. But the toughest thing the Lions have had to deal with this year is themselves. They do things in streaks, whether it is at the plate, on the mound or in the win column. But we just cannot put the parts of our game together enough.