The Penn State softball team figured to have a deep supply of pitchers this season as it returned all four from last season.

Now with just two weeks remaining in the regular season and the postseason getting closer in the rear-view mirror, the Nittany Lions (24-17, 6-6 Big Ten) are down to just two healthy pitchers after junior Marisa Hanson's injury. The Lions will need sophomores Shana Riggleman and Tina Skelly to step up today at 3 p.m. when Akron (19-21-1) visits Nittany Lion Field for a doubleheader. This series will mark the last time games will be played on Nittany Lion Field this season.

Hanson broke both sides of her jaw when a line drive off the bat of Michigan State's Sandy Lewis struck her in the face. There is no timetable for Hanson's return. Penn State softball coach Robin Petrini said the team is in the process of getting her headgear for protection, but even with that there is no guarantee that Hanson will return this season.

If Hanson (12-7, 1.27 earned run average) can't return, it will be a crushing blow to the Lions, who have relied on their horse game after game. Petrini said that the team has gone with two pitchers before.

"We have done two pitchers in the past," Petrini said. "They relieve each other. Two years ago, it was just Marisa and Kelly McCann and we had a great year."

While Petrini remains optimistic, the players know that they will have to give Skelly and Riggleman some run support to give them some added confidence. Skelly (6-7, 1.82 ERA) has had some control problems with 39 walks and just 41 strikeouts. The hard-throwing Skelly has struggled recently, getting touched up early against Michigan, Michigan State and Northwestern. Riggleman has been pitching well lately after struggling early in the season. After not pitching much early in the season, Riggleman has become a viable weapon on the mound.

"It definitely hurts us to have only two pitchers," first baseman Erin Norton said. "But the pitchers lately have really stepped up, and combined with good hitting and defense we should win."

After having some of these mid-week games cancelled earlier in the season due to weather, the Lions are happy to get the work in. Petrini said that she wants her team to see as much live pitching as possible. Her players also think that these games are a big help.

"It's a disadvantage waiting an entire week," Norton said. "It lets us get some practice in before we play Big Ten games."

The Lions will look to dominate the Zips like they dominated St. Francis last week. After their bats exploded against St. Francis, it carried over into the Big Ten weekend as they pounded out 26 hits over four Big Ten games.

That number was more than twice the amount of hits they had the weekend before in four Big Ten contests.

"I hope that our kids continue to hit the ball well," Petrini said. "Last weekend they did a great job getting lots of clutch hits and big hits."