Artificial turf probably wasn't the ideal surface for the softball team to begin strengthening its infield for the second half of the season. On Sunday, however, it was good enough.

Following a five-inning stalemate in the first game of Sunday's scrimmage doubleheader against Cortland State (N.Y.), Penn State, behind a solid outing from right-hander Leigh Bakun, won 6-0 on the carpet in Holuba Hall.

"Both Leigh and Dawn (Hoover) did a really good job," Coach Sue Rankin said. "We had them keeping the balls down on the ground and in here it bounces so much. . . that won't happen outside."

In five shutout innings, Bakun allowed just two hits and one walk while fanning three batters. Although Bakun kept batters off balance with her curve, the freshman gave the credit to the infield, which backed her up consistently all day.

"I'm really happy with the defense," Bakun said. "I'm always confident that they're behind me."

Bakun breezed through the first inning 1-2-3, but hit Cortland State's Missy Emery with a pitch to start the second. After Emery moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, Holly Brown lined a single and advanced to second on an off-target throw to the infield, putting runners on second and third.

Cortland's Pam Chilbert then hit a fly ball to right, which appeared deep enough to score the runner from third. However, right fielder Amy Myers threw a perfect strike to the plate and catcher Kathy Cafazzo applied the tag to Emery, completing the double play.

In the Lady Lions' half of the inning, Amy Tortorella scored the game's first run when Cortland State's Chris Lenihan issued a one-out walk to Denise Oswald with the bases loaded. However, Penn State failed to capitalize on Lenihan's control problems and left the bases loaded to end the inning.

But in the fourth inning, with the score 2-0, the Lady Lions finally took advantage of its scoring opportunities. Sandy Lehr knocked in Joyce Tinner and Dawn Hoover to give Penn State a 4-0 advantage. Tortorella added another run in the inning, scoring on a double steal with Lehr on first.

"We worked a lot on (scoring runners) Thursday and Friday at practice, making it a consequnce for not doing your job," Rankin said. "I'm real pleased that came around today -- they hit the ball real well when they had to."

The Lady Lions now have a week of practice left before their home opener, a doubleheader against St. Francis (Pa.) on March 26.