It's only February, but the softball season is underway.

Last weekend, the team started the year off right in stride, advancing to the finals of the North Carolina-Wilmington tournament.

The Lady Lions held all of their opponents to two runs or less, including three shutouts. Penn State was 4-2 during the two-day event.

Coach Sue Rankin said that this is the earliest that the team has ever played. The early experience will be a benefit when the Lady Lions travel to Florida over spring break to face some of the nation's top teams.

"We've got excellent pitching as well as strong defensive play to hold our opponents in check," Rankin said. "We'll have to play at or above that level in Florida to compete."

"We're playing with confidence in each other and I think that will make us a better team," pitcher Leigh Bakun said.

Rankin said that the defense sets the tone for the offense, which was equally impressive.

"We hit the ball hard, which is something we weren't able to do last season," Rankin said. "It is definitely something that will give the team confidence going into the rest of the season."

Rankin will look to the entire team for contributions.

"The season is too long to keep relying on just a few people," Rankin said. "We will look for each person on the team to contribute in order to have a good season."

The Lady Lions were 4-22 in the Big Ten and 10-22 overall last year.

"Though the goal of every team is to improve, we have no expectations going into this season because of the pressure that it puts on the entire team, as well as the coaching staff," Rankin said. "We are just going to take it one game at a time and then evaluate our performance at the end of the season."

Rankin feels that the team gained more experience in the offseason than it did all last season.

"Last year was our first season in the Big Ten and it was a struggle," Rankin said. "Since then, they have worked hard in bettering themselves, which benefits the team in the end."