Sometimes, victory is even sweeter when it doesn't come easily.

It took seven innings, but the Penn State softball team's offense came through with one run against Kent State yesterday, and that was all it needed. Freshman Steph Viola broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the seventh inning, giving the Nittany Lions (19-17) a 1-0 win over the Golden Flash (12-15) yesterday at Nittany Lion Field.

Viola's single, just the Lions' fourth hit of the game, sent home Megan Humphrey from third base to end the game. The freshman had been hitting just .250 this season with only 16 plate appearances entering the contest.

"I just wanted to make something positive happen," Viola said. "It's great, because I know when I get out there I have to produce."

After a strikeout by first baseman Erin Norton started the final inning, Humphrey reached base on a single along the first base line. A groundout by catcher Erica Greenberg advanced Humphrey to second, and a subsequent stolen base by the Lions' left fielder put the winning run on third. Viola then sent a two-out liner to the shortstop and beat out the throw to first as Humphrey came home for the win.

"Once (Humphrey) got to second, Steph was up, and she's not used to being in that situation so I thought 'Hey, let's at least steal third,' " Lions head coach Robin Petrini said. "Then when Steph was up, all I was thinking was put the ball in play ... but she did even better getting a base hit, putting the ball in the hole there."

The Lions were helped by the third consecutive strong outing on the mound from starter Marisa Hanson. The sophomore held the Flash to just two hits and gave up no walks over seven innings, bringing her record to 10-7.

"It was good to come out from a few wins against Wisconsin on Sunday," Hanson said. "I was just ready to come back and play."

Hanson recorded six strikeouts in the first game of a doubleheader against the Badgers on Sunday, and then earned a save in the second contest as the Lions won 4-1. The Victoria, Texas native's arm has been extremely valuable to Petrini's club this season, especially when the Lions have had difficulty at the plate.

"Obviously we were struggling a little bit offensively in that game," Petrini said. "She just always gives us a chance to win games by keeping other teams off balance."

The Lions were without starters Kelley Galligher and Jackie Dabrowski because they had broken team rules, Petrini said. Freshman Mandy Nuxoll was also feeling ill and skipped the game to concentrate on academics.

Norton and senior Gina Bianchini had the Lions' only other hits of the game. Kent State starter Kate Leary walked just one batter and recorded four strikeouts throughout the game before Penn State's timely offense in the seventh.

"You could have a great game hitting and then come up short," Humphrey said. "But if you have the right hits at the right time, it works out."