Emotions run high in sports.

From a terrible injury to a terrific victory, all of the emotions were there this past weekend for the Penn State softball team.

The Nittany Lions (24-17, 6-6 in Big Ten) lost their pitching ace for a week, then responded with a shocker over the top team in the conference, all in a weekend in which the Lions went 2-2 against Michigan State (29-13, 8-5) and No. 13 Michigan (31-10, 9-3).

Junior Marisa Hanson took the mound against Michigan State on Saturday. Her day would only last two batters, though, as she was forced to leave the game after the Spartans' Sandy Lewis hit a line drive that caught Hanson in the face. A lengthy delay ended with Hanson being taken to the hospital via ambulance. The ball broke Hanson's jaw, which needed to be wired shut. Penn State softball coach Robin Petrini said Hanson would be fitted for a protective device and ready to pitch next weekend.

"She was out there communicating to us," Petrini said. "I asked her to give [the team] a thumbs up when she was OK, and she did, which made them much more relieved."

Penn State gathered itself and battled hard the rest of the game. However, Michigan State was able to plate two runs in the sixth inning and take home the 5-3 win.

Sophomore Shana Riggleman (6-3) finished that game for Penn State. She appeared in three games over the weekend and got the victory in a must-win game yesterday for Penn State.

Riggleman squared off with Michigan's Nicole Motycka in the second game of the doubleheader. In what turned out to be a pitcher's dual, Penn State came through in the ninth inning to get the win.

With the bases loaded and two outs, freshman third baseman Destinie Chavez hit a single to left field, scoring the only run in the 1-0 game. The win was only the third for Penn State in 37 games all-time against Michigan.

"Michigan is our biggest rival and we haven't had that great of a record against them," Penn State center fielder Gina Bianchini said. "Considering they are at the top of the conference right now, this was definitely the biggest win of the season so far."

With her two hits in the win, Bianchini tied the Penn State record for career hits at 229. Penn State split the other two games this weekend, beating Michigan State 6-5 Friday and losing 3-1 in the opener against Michigan yesterday. The win over Michigan State came as the Lions were able to collect 10 hits, the most they have had in a Big Ten game this season. That total was also the most allowed by Spartan ace Jessica Beech this year, as she fell to 20-5. Hanson (12-7) got the win.

Penn State sophomore Tina Skelly (6-7) took the loss against the Wolverines despite pitching well. All of Michigan's runs came in the second inning. Penn State catcher Erica Greenberg said the team needed Skelly and Riggleman to step up in the absence of Hanson, and both did a great job.

The best sign for Penn State may have come during an exchange between the coaches after the game.

"[Michigan coach Carol Hutchins] paid me a compliment when she was leaving," Petrini said. "She said, 'You guys are the toughest team in the conference.' "