Making its second stop on its initial Big Ten tour, the softball team picked up a big victory in the series opener.

However, it fell victim to tough Minnesota piching and its own inopportune sloppy defense and came up short in the last three games.

The Lady Lions (6-13 overall, 2-6 in the Big Ten) pulled out a 1-0 extra-inning win over the 11th-ranked Golden Gophers (16-16-1 overall, 3-1 Big Ten) in Friday's opener and lost the nightcap, 6-0. On Saturday, Minnesota, behind the pitching of Robin Bumpus, the team's winningest pitcher over the last two seasons, swept the Lady Lions, 3-1 and 6-0.

"The first game was a great win," Coach Sue Rankin said. "Minnesota is ranked and to hang with them is an accomplishment. They had some great pitching and I think it built our confidence knowing we can hit that pitching."

Neither team scored in the first seven innings of the opener, but the Lady Lions made a move in the top of the eighth. Dawn Hoover led the inning off with a single but was forced out at second when Rebecca Wisnoff grounded into a fielders' choice. Julie Shalom sacrificed Wisnoff to second and Marie Hawkins stroked a two-out single to right-center that scored Wisnoff with the winning run.

Hoover (1-8) picked up her first victory of the season, a five-hit, eight-inning complete game. She walked three and struck out one to pick up the shutout win. Brenda Bixby, who leads the Big Ten with a 0.48 ERA, took the complete-game loss.

"I'm pleased we came close, but I would have liked to come out with a few more wins," Hoover said. "It's pretty good to come away with a win against a nationally ranked team."

In the second game, Minnesota turned up the offensive intensity and shut the Lady Lions out, 6-0. The Golden Gophers struck losing pitcher Leigh Bakun for nine hits and six runs. Bakun (5-5) went five innings, striking out one and walking one. Freshman Beth Reeves, making her first appearance of the season, gave up three hits and struck out one in relief of Bakun.

In Saturday's opener, Minnesota got on the board early, scoring a run off Hoover in the first. Penn State responded in the third when Wisnoff doubled to left center. Shalom bunted her to third and, after Hawkins struck out, Rebecca Starrett singled to right to knock Wisnoff in.

Hoover gave up eight hits and took the complete-game loss. She struck out one and walked one. Bumpus earned her second victory of the weekend with the three-hit, five-strikeout performance.

Penn State once again had trouble putting hits together in the final game. Minnesota racked Bakun for 11 hits and six runs, only one of which was earned. She struck out three and walked two in picking up the loss. Bumpus threw 4 2/3 innings to pick up the win. Hoover and Shalom both picked up two hits in a losing cause.

"I think we did well getting the hits, but we couldn't put them together," Hoover said. "We got some hits and they got themselves out with their pitching. That says a lot for their pitchers."