Nine runs given up in five games is a pretty impressive statistic. But when five of those runs are unearned, that's when the statistic becomes extremely striking.

That's what the pitching staff for the Penn State softball team surrendered last weekend en route to a 3-2 showing at New Mexico State's Troy Cox Classic. Penn State dropped a 1-0 decision to New Mexico Friday in the opening round. But the Lady Lions bounced back to beat Butler 15-0 in five innings to even its record at 1-1.

Penn State built on the win against Butler to sweep two games Saturday against Northwestern, 8-6, and Texas Tech, 2-1.

The two second-round wins pushed Penn State to 3-1 in its pool and qualified them to play in the championship bracket yesterday. However, Robin Petrini's squad was nipped 1-0 by Utah in the first-round of championship bracket play to end its weekend. Penn State moved to 4-7 on the season.

Oregon State edged New Mexico, 3-2, in the championship to finish 6-0 and Cox Classic champions.