After posting three straight 30-win seasons for the first time in its history, the Penn State softball team will be hard pressed to make it four in a row this year.

The Nittany Lions have lost five starters from last year's 34-29 squad, including one half of their pitching staff with the graduation of senior Kelly McCann. McCann posted 22 victories last year, a Penn State single-season record, and recorded an ERA of 1.93 in 218 innings. Lions' head coach Robin Petrini said that despite the loss of McCann, the team still has reason for optimism.

"Every year we head into the season and try to do better than the year before," Petrini said. "We have a young pitching staff and we return a lot of strength in our hitters, and consistency on defense, so we have a lot to look forward to this year."

The Lions' pitching staff still features one half of last year's tandem, sophomore right-hander Marisa Hanson. The Victoria, Texas native posted a 12-14 record in her freshman campaign and will be counted on as the Lions' ace this year. The staff will also be bolstered by the return of Shana Riggleman, who redshirted last season with a knee injury. Rounding out the pitching ranks are Missy Beseres and Tina Skelly, two of seven freshmen on this year's roster.

Another returnee this year is outfielder Gina Bianchini, who was injured four games into the 2001 season. The Pottsville native will look to recapture her 2000 form, in which she hit .337 and swiped 42 bases as a first-team All-Big Ten honoree.

"Gina is kind of the catalyst for us," Petrini said. "She steals a lot of bases, she scores on a pretty regular basis, and when she can get on it enhances our offense and allows us to do a lot of different things."

Bianchini is expected to be joined in the outfield by junior Megan Humphrey in left and sophomore Kelley Galigher in right. Humphrey was the team's offensive leader in 2001 with a .351 batting average and three home runs, and her 15 doubles last season were a Penn State record.

Humphrey said that the addition of new assistant coach Jen McIntyre will help her and the other outfielders sharpen their defensive skills.

"She has told us to be a lot more aggressive in the outfield," Humphrey said. "She has helped us and told us to dive for more balls. She also asks us for our feedback on what we think."

Petrini will also rely on leadership from the two seniors on her roster, third baseman Jennifer Tripken and second baseman Susan Shuplock. Shuplock, who recorded only 40 plate appearances last year, will be asked to fill the shoes of departed second-team All-Big Ten slugger Allison Medellin.

The other two infield starters will be junior first baseman Erin Norton and sophomore shortstop Barbie Pierce. A starter last season, Norton was second on the team in hits (60) and runs batted in (25) and posted a .311 batting average. Pierce started 33 games last season, hitting .240.

Sophomore Erica Greenberg will be behind the plate in 2002, replacing last year's senior captain, Colleen Kersey. Greenberg saw limited action last season but recorded just one error in 13 starts. While Humphrey will be asked to carry much of the offensive load this season, Petrini says her team has enough balance to return to last year's form.

"I think it's very difficult to rely on one person all the time," Petrini said. "A lot of times (last year) Megan would come through, but there were times when Megan didn't come through and someone else stepped up and got the big hit."

Petrini stressed that her formula for winning is a simple one.

"Pitching, offense, and defense," Petirni said. "I tell the girls you need two of the three every day to be successful."