Despite getting just one win in its opening weekend, the Penn State softball team can take solace in the fact that this season started out better than last.

Bouncing back from two difficult losses on Saturday, the Nittany Lions left the Alabama Crimson Classic with a 1-4 record after picking up their first win of the season against Maryland Saturday afternoon, 7-1.

Last year the Lions lost their first seven games and 11 of their first 12 to start the season.

After three scoreless innings against the Terrapins, the Lions were in prime position to get on the scoreboard in the fourth after loading the bases. But junior Destinie Chavez grounded out to third base, ending the inning.

It was in the fifth that Penn State finally got on the board. Outfielder Jen Williams had a successful bunt to get on base and later scored after a Maryland error, giving Penn State a 1-0 lead.

After fellow outfielder Meghan Wolfer scored, freshman Hollee Haines hit a two-run homer to break the game open. The Lions added three more runs in the sixth and allowed one in the seventh for the 7-1 victory.

The victory against Maryland would prove to be one of the only highlights of the weekend.

The Lions opened the tournament with a difficult 3-2 loss to Missouri in their season opener on Friday. Sophomore Kelsey Francisco, pinch running in the fourth, tied the score at 2-2 after a single by freshman Jen Acunto. But Missouri struck back with the go-ahead run in the bottom of the inning for the win.

The Lions found even tougher footing against No. 6 Alabama. The hometown team took command right from the start, with three runs in the first stanza and five more in the second inning, winning 11-2. Penn State's lone highlight of the contest was a home run by Acunto in the bottom of the third to put the Lions on the board.

After the victory against Maryland on Saturday, the Lions fell once again to Alabama, but this time in a much closer fashion. After quickly falling behind 3-0, Penn State staged a late rally in the top of the sixth. But the team could only get home two runners and lost 3-2.

On the third and final day of the tournament yesterday, the Lions had their fourth loss on the weekend, falling again to Missouri.