With the Big Ten tournament less than a month away and the Penn State softball team sitting seven games under .500, every game is an important one. The Nittany Lions needed to carry the momentum from the offensive outburst Sunday against Michigan State into its series yesterday against the Akron Zips (18-21).

Unfortunately, the games didn't go exactly to plan as the Lions (19-26, 4-6 Big Ten) managed only five runs on the day, all of which came in game one of the doubleheader that saw Penn State win 5-2. However, the offense sputtered in game two, managing only four hits and losing the game 1-0, splitting the weekday series.

The offense started early in game one for Penn State with a second-inning single from the bat of captain Barbie Pierce. After a walk to second baseman Katie Stauffer moved Pierce into scoring position, catcher Kate Gentile singled to center to knock in the first run of the game. Akron's Becky Stern committed an error on the single that allowed Stauffer to cross the plate right behind Pierce and put the Lions up 2-0.

The Lions looked to add to their lead in the third as Penn State's designated hitter, Jen Williams, walked to start the inning. She moved herself into scoring position by stealing her 25th base of the season. Fellow freshman and right fielder Meghan Wolfer followed Williams' at-bat with a single of her own, moving Williams to third base. After Akron managed to get an out, Pierce hit a sacrifice fly that brought Williams in and increased the lead.

Penn State added two more runs in the fifth to put itself up 5-0. But Arkon looked to get back into the game, answering Penn State's two-run fifth with a run of its own to cut the lead to four. However, the Zips comeback fell short as they scored only one more run in the bottom of the seventh to give Penn State the 5-2 win. Redshirt senior Shana Riggleman kept the Zips at bay throughout the game, giving up eight hits and two runs in the complete game. It was her sixth win this season.

The second game of the doubleheader was a classic pitchers duel. Penn State's Missy Beseres pitched a six-inning complete game, giving up only four hits and striking out eight batters.

However, a costly first-inning error by Beseres allowed the Zips to score the first and only run of the game. The error made her pitching efforts goes to waste, as the Lions were unable to mount any kind of offensive attack. Akron's Tina McCauley stymied the Penn State bats as she threw a complete game, four-hit shut out, 1-0.

The Lions may have built up their offensive confidence against Michigan State, but the split against Akron proved they still have some kinks to work out.