The Penn State softball team has made a habit of splitting series this season.

The Nittany Lions (20-15, 4-4 Big Ten) have split all seven of their series. Tonight, at 6, on Nittany Lion field, that streak should be broken.

St. Francis comes into town for a doubleheader sporting a paltry 9-22 record. Last season, the Red Flash didn't touch the Lions' pitching, as Missy Beseres fired a perfect game and Tina Skelly had a no-hitter. The Red Flash had just two baserunners, one on an error and the other on a walk, as both games were ended early due to the eight-run rule. The Lions have not lost to St. Francis in 15 all-time meetings. Skelly could offer up a repeat performance, however, Beseres will not have the opportunity as she is out for the season due to an arm injury. Last season against St. Francis, staff ace Marisa Hanson was rested in favor of getting Skelly and Beseres some experience on the mound. The same thing could happen this year with sophomore Shana Riggleman (4-2) getting some time on the mound. Riggleman pitched against Iowa and allowed 10 hits, but all the damage was done on two homeruns.

"Our pitchers need to keep the ball in the park," said Penn State softball coach Robin Petrini after the Iowa game. "We are getting killed by homeruns. If we keep the ball in the park, people aren't really scoring off of us."

So what can the Lions work on against a team that has been outscored by 60 runs this season and whose few victories come against teams like Fairleigh Dickinson? They could start with trying to get their bats going against the lowly Red Flash. With a team batting average of .265, the Lions find themselves ninth overall in the conference. That mark will likely be raised if the Lions give the Red Flash's pitching staff the same shelling they gave them last season. One mark that cannot be raised with the non-conference game is the Lions' conference batting average. Their .138 mark falls well below the Mendoza line and is dead last in the Big Ten, 42 points behind 10th place Wisconsin. Their opponents in Big Ten games are hitting over twice their average, hovering around the .280 mark. The Lions will return to Big Ten action this weekend with series against first place Michigan and Michigan State.