Quite a few Harvard students will head down to Florida for a relaxing spring break this weekend. The Harvard baseball team is heading to the Sunshine State on business.

Hoping to shake off a bit more of its offseason rust, the Crimson (2-3, Ivy 0-0) will play five games in Bradenton, Fla., this weekend as Harvard's pre-Ivy League schedule continues. The team will take the field against Vermont this afternoon and Northwestern in the nightcap.

Saturday's doubleheader will feature another round with Northwestern and a clash with perennial powerhouse Ohio State. The team will conclude its southern swing on Sunday with another game against the Buckeyes.

"There were games we felt should have been won last weekend," captain Scot Hopps said, referring to the team's opening games in Florida last week. "This week we want to make sure we execute when given the opportunity."

The Crimson's first games were a source of both optimism and disappointment. Prominent among last weekend's positive developments was the team's ability to hit consistently. Harvard managed 51 hits in the five games, with no fewer than eight in any one outing.

Considering that the Crimson hit only .253 last year, a mark that was last in the Ivy League, the early offense was a more than welcome sight.

Senior outfielder Joe Llanes, who is recovering from testicular cancer, led the barrage with an 11-for-18 weekend.

Harvard's pitching was characteristically stellar, but at least one of the sources was a pleasant surprise. Freshman Marc Hordon turned in seven innings of two-hit ball in the Crimson's 9-1 win over Fairleigh Dickinson. Because of his inexperience and a partially separated non-throwing shoulder, no one expected him to be that effective.