If anyone was going to break the Penn State softball record for career hits it was going to be Gina Bianchini.

Needing just one hit heading into yesterday, that is exactly what the Nittany Lion center fielder did.

Bianchini went 2-for-5 yesterday during a doubleheader with Akron (20-22-1). Penn State (25-18) won the opening game 4-3 but fell in the second 2-1. These were the last games played at Nittany Lion Field this season.

With her two hits Bianchini now owns the career record at 231. The record breaking hit came in the fifth inning of the opener in true Bianchini fashion -- a bunt. The combination of speed, bunting and slap hitting has been a major contributor to her success.

"Slappers do get on a lot more than other people," Penn State softball coach Robin Petrini said.

"Some by hits and some by errors. They put a lot of pressure on the defense."

Bianchini, a self-proclaimed non-stat watcher, said she was just trying to get a starting job when she came to Penn State. She said the record will mean a lot more to her when she is looking back on her career than it does right now.

Bianchini also scored a run in the two games.

That run was the only one the Lions would score in their loss. Following an Akron run in the fifth inning, Penn State had a runner as far as third base in the sixth inning but was unable to score..

That lack of clutch offense was a major problem for the Lions, as they left six runners on base.

"We just didn't get the hits when we needed them," Bianchini said. "We had a few people in scoring position but didn't get the big hits."

Right fielder Kelley Galigher led the Lions at the plate, going 2-for-3 and driving in the lone run.

Tina Skelly (6-8) pitched all but the sixth inning in taking the loss. Marisa Hanson pitched that sixth inning.

Sporting a Hannibal Lector-like mask, it was the first appearance for Hanson since suffering a broken jaw Saturday against Michigan State. Petrini said it was just a chance to get Hanson some work again before the team's upcoming Big Ten series.

Penn State was able to hold on through a late Akron rally for the win in the opener.

First baseman Erin Norton and left fielder Megan Humphrey combined to go 5-for-6 and score all four Penn State runs.

Shana Riggleman (7-3) got the win on the mound, while Skelly picked up her first save of the season.

Petrini knew Akron was not going to be an easy opponent coming in.

"Akron is a good team," Petrini said. "They are having kind of an up-and-down year but they can play."