As the first pitches of the season are thrown, the Penn State softball team will focus on their fundamentals.
"I don't worry about the outcome as much as the process," Penn State coach Robin Petrini said. "If we play solid defense, score runs when the opportunities present themselves and have solid pitching, the outcome will take care of themselves."
The Nittany Lions travel this weekend to the Seminole Classic on the campus of Florida State.
Penn State plays a doubleheader today against St. John's at 10 a.m. and Maryland (3-2) at noon. Saturday morning, the Lions take on the host squad, No. 15 Seminoles (5-3) at 10 a.m., and again at 2 p.m. against Georgia (10-0). Penn State wraps up the weekend Sunday at 10 a.m. vs. Syracuse.
Just two years ago, the Lions competed at the Seminole Classic and posted a mark of 4-1.
Excitement has filled many of the Lions players, as they are excited too finally have the chance to play outside, and get off the artificial surface.
"We haven't been outside all year," sophomore pitcher Marisa Hanson said. "Its gonna be good for us to get outside again and to get back in the grove, on dirt, once again."
The Red Storm will meet the Lions for the first time ever, today. Last year, St. John's went one game under .500, at 30-31 and 8-12 in the Big East. The Red Storm has returns a veteran squad including seven starters.
In the second game of the doubleheader, the Lions encounter Maryland, who has never beat them in three chances.
The switch hitting outfielder, Samantha Sweeney has been carrying the offense for the Terps by posting a batting average .533 and slugging percentage of .800.
The Lions will attempt to break through and get the first ever victory, against the Seminoles.
The two-time All-American Brandi Stuart, who is batting .556 with a home run and four runs batted in, the Lions will need to keep Stuart in check, to compete with the Florida State, Petrini feels.
"She's a slapper, and we'll force her to put the ball in play," Petrini said. "We will bring the defense in, so she won't beat us by putting the ball in front of us."
Despite posting an undefeated mark of 10-0, the Bulldogs do not pose a real fear to Petrini.
She said Georgia has not really beaten anybody, the only team worth mentioning is Purdue, which they beat twice, each time by a run, but Purdue had their chances.
The Lions and Orangemen match up for the third time in two years, each team winning one. Last year, was Syracuse's inaugural season and they posted a mark of 19-28. The Lions will look to start off on the right foot as they did in 1999, in Florida.
"It's very important to set the tone early," Hanson said. "A good performance will give us the needed confidence."
