Lady sluggers look to clip 'Cats

By LAWRENCE R.V. POTTER
Collegian Sports Writer

Revenge. No matter what the sport, players and coaches both know it can be a powerful motivating factor.

When the Penn State softball team (12-11, 1-3 Big Ten) faces Northwestern (10-8, 0-0) for doubleheaders at 1 p.m. tomorrow and Sunday at Lady Lion Field, both teams will find out just how revenge can impact a weekend series between Big Ten foes.

The Wildcats and Lady Lions last met on Feb. 24 during the East Carolina Lady Pirate Invitational in Greenville, N.C., and Penn State defeated Northwestern, 2-1.

And that one-run victory by the Lady Lions was a vast improvement over their performances against the Wildcats last season.

While the majority of students spent last April 29 and 30 studying for final exams, which were only a few days away, the Lady Lions spent those afternoons losing four games to the Wildcats.

Northwestern swept Penn State by margins of 10-0, 5-2, 1-0 and 3-0. But Wildcat pitcher Michele Hawkins, who pitched in three of the games, has since graduated.

Lady Lion pitcher Heidi Hanna (3-1), who got the win against Northwestern in February, knows what the Wildcats are like and will be prepared this weekend.

"I know that they're really solid throughout their lineup," she said. "I did throw against them last time in North Carolina, and they're just like any Big Ten team. I think they're a lot like Indiana in the fact that they're not really overpowering defensively and their pitcher's not going to be overpowering, but everybody in their lineup is going to hit the ball hard."

In the February game, the Lady Lions managed to score their two runs on only four hits. The Wildcats had six hits, but only one run. Considering that the Lady Lions outhit a very good Akron team on Wednesday, this weekend's games may be more offensive and high-scoring than the February clash.

Offensive fireworks or not, the Wildcats will probably be looking for some revenge. And the Lady Lions will be looking to improve their Big Ten record, which currently stands at 1-3 after last weekend's trip to Bloomington, Ind.

"We played (Northwestern) earlier this year and we beat them, and it was a really big game for us," Hanna said. "So I know they're going to be out to get us. But as far as our attitude, I think we're a little bit more inspired when we play a Big Ten team."

Heading into its first weekend of Big Ten competition, Northwestern is batting .263 as a team and has a team ERA of 1.88. Lady Lion Coach Sue Rankin has looked over the Wildcats' schedule and admits they have "played some tough competition." Rankin is looking forward to the weekend contests.

"That was a 2-1 game," she said of the February meeting. "So, I think we're pretty evenly matched."

Note:

-- Lady Lion senior co-captain Rebecca Wisnoff, who redshirted last season due to a shoulder injury which required surgery, aggravated the injury last weekend against Indiana. The third baseman did not see any action in Wednesday's games and will be evaluated by the team's doctor today. That evaluation will determine if she plays this weekend.