When a team is hitting and playing good defense, they have a pretty good chance of winning.

The Penn State softball team did both this weekend and swept Illinois 7-0 and 4-2 at Nittany Lion Field.

In Saturday's contest, the Nittany Lions (21-15, 3-3 Big Ten) blasted Illinois starting pitcher Amanda Fortune. They scored four runs before Fortune was lifted just one and two-thirds innings into the game.

Lions senior pitcher Kelly McCann gave up a hit to the second batter of the game, then proceeded to retire 15 straight Illini batters. That hit was the only one McCann allowed as she pitched a complete game shutout, walking one and striking out six.

"There was not question about it, we had to get a win today," McCann said.

The Lions pounded 10 hits off the Illini, getting contributions from eight different players.

"Hitting is one of those things that you just have to have a couple people hitting at the same time," Penn State softball coach Robin Petrini said. "So, when somebody goes into a slump, if somebody else comes out of their slump, you get a couple people hitting at the same time. If you look at our average, we're hitting .300 for the year and its come from different people.

"There we're no negatives tonight. Kelly pitched great. The defense played really well. It was a great effort."

Sunday, the Illini (33-17, 3-5) had just one bad inning. The Lions used five hits and a generous call by the umpire to score four runs, which was all they would need to pull out the victory.

Catcher Colleen Kersey started off the inning with a single. Adrienne Manzo reached on a fielders choice, and then the flood gates opened. Leadoff hitter Karen Gulini doubled into left-center, then Jennifer Tripken doubled to score Manzo and Gulini.

Then, things got interesting.

Allison Medellin hit a fly ball to shallow right field. Illini right fielder Sarah Baumgartner appeared to make a spectacular diving catch, however the umpire ruled Baumgartner trapped the ball. Tripken was running on the hit and would have been doubled up to end the inning had it been ruled a catch. The Lions took full advantage of the oppurtunity as sophomore Erin Norton doubled, scoring Tripken and Medellin.

"You can't worry about things you can't control whether it's the umpire, the weather or the day you have," Illinois coach Terri Sullivan said. "You're only as good as the next pitch. We didn't play well yesterday. Hats off to Penn State. They really came out and jumped on us."

The two wins pulled the Lions to .500 in the Big Ten after a 1-3 start last weekend.

"I think it was important to come out of there with two wins," Petrini said. "Illinois has been beating people and anytime you beat somebody who is beating other people you gain games on people."

Although the Illini are new to the Big Ten this year and comprised only of freshmen, they have had a strong season and were a concern for the Lions.

"I think it was huge," Kersey said. "It was a big boost for everyone. We didn't know what to expect but we just went out and played our game.

"When we do that, it's hard to beat us."