When Indiana came roaring out of the box to take the lead in the Big Ten softball standings, some questions remained. Weren't Iowa and Michigan supposed to lead the conference? Sure the Hoosiers were 16-9, but are they for real?

Judging from their 39-run total in four wins over the Lady Lions in Bloomington this weekend, the Big Ten race may have found a front-runner.

"Hitting-wise -- they were a lot better than we've seen," second baseman Marisa Marucci said. "Even with the teams we played in Florida, they were definitely the best."

In the first three games, the Hoosiers' bats proved too much for the Lady Lions, who were defeated by counts of 10-0, 14-6, and 13-3. Big Ten offensive juggernaut Michelle Venturella played an important role, both behind the plate and at it. She went 6-for-11 with three home runs, 12 RBIs, and five runs scored.

"She's a great catcher defensively," Penn State Coach Sue Rankin said. "And she's an awesome hitter. We pitched her in, we pitched her down, we pitched her out, wherever we threw the ball, she hit it well."

Big Ten steals leader Aimee Lonigro, who provided a spark at the top of the lineup, went 8-for-17 with two RBIs and 10 runs scored.

"When you have a leadoff hitter like that, you have a lot more options," Rankin said. "She was very much an asset to their team."

The Lady Lions first showed signs of life in game two, with the bats finally coming around. Offensive stars included Jennifer Accordino (3-for-3), Susannah Forde (3-for-4), and Dana Burns, (3-for-3, HR).

But Indiana ace Gina Ugo, who was called upon for relief in game two, settled things down to get the win for the Hoosiers. Ugo pitched in three of the four games, not overpowering the Lady Lion lineup but tallying three victories nonetheless.

"She threw pretty well," Lady Lion pitcher Misty Hackett said. "She threw a lot of strikes, and she didn't walk anyone. We probably should have hit her, though."

In the final game of the weekend set, the Lady Lions were solid defensively and on the mound, as Leigh Bakun blanked Indiana for the first six innings of the game. When Valerie Serpico's RBI double gave the team the lead, the Lady Lions thought they would take one from the Hoosiers.

But with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, after Indiana had tied the game, Misten Mager singled in Meg Montgomery, ending Penn State's hopes to win one in Bloomington.

"We seem to get so close," Forde said. "But there's always something that beats us somehow."

Note:

-- The Lady Lions have cancelled tomorrow's doubleheader at home with Bucknell due to field conditions.