Four games, four wins.

The Penn State softball team swept both Mississippi State and UNLV during this weekend's UNLV Tri-Tournament.

Saturday the Nittany Lions (6-4) defeated the No. 23 team in the country twice. They took game one 8-3 against the Bulldogs and held them off 6-5 in the second game of the doubleheader. Penn State beat UNLV 1-0 and 5-4 on Sunday.

The first game of the tournament featured a four-run first inning in which the entire Penn State lineup came to the plate. Outfielder Karen Gulini sparked that outburst when she led off with a bunt for a base hit.

Gulini's contribution did not stop in the first inning. She went 7-for-9 on the day and stole four bases to help the team to its two wins.

The second game did not feature one big inning. Instead the Lions scored throughout the game, getting runs in four different innings. That game was also the first victory for freshman pitcher Marisa Hanson. She worked seven innings and only gave up one earned run.

Hanson and senior captain Kelly McCann were the two pitchers who shared the wins this weekend. Coach Robin Petrini said that the two hurlers did exactly what they were supposed to do this weekend.

"Their job is to give us a chance to win, and they did that," Petrini said.

Another thing that allowed the team to win its games was its improved defense. The defense was sighted as one of the team's problems in last weekend's Aggie Invitational.

This weekend it was one of its greatest assets.

"We handled the ball much better defensively," Petrini said. "We got out of some traffic jams with great defensive plays."

Offensively the team had a big tournament. Petrini sighted Adrienne Manzo, Megan Humphrey, Kelley Galigher, and Allison Medellin as a few of the players who had impressive offensive outputs. Petrini said that offense is a staple of Penn State softball and that the offense did not surprise her.

With the Lions coming into the tournament with a 2-4 record they were more concerned with their quality of play and not what their record could be if they won their games this weekend.

"We just played well," Petrini said. "We didn't focus on our record."

With that approach the team has improved early on in the season, and the team has said it only expects to get better as it continues through its slate of games.

Overall Petrini was happy with the effort her team gave this weekend.

"It was a great trip," Petrini said. "I am pleased with the way they played."