The Penn State softball team has played a little role reversal so far this season.

The Nittany Lions (16-12) have not been led by a group of game-tested veterans, but by a quartet of freshmen -- right-handed pitchers Jenn Reynolds and Ashley Esparza, shortstop Jen Acunto and catcher Hollee Haines.

Esparza and Reynolds have helped ease the burden on Missy Beseres, Penn State's only veteran pitcher. The two freshmen have combined to go 8-5 and have a sub-2.00 ERA.

"It has been tough to get used to," Esparza said. "In my first game against Alabama I got rocked and Missy came in and helped me. She has been a great help for me and Jenn."

The freshmen haven't been slacking on the offensive end, either. They have been the most consistent run producers so far this season. Acunto and Esparza lead the team with 17 RBI apiece, while Haines and Reynolds are close behind with 16 and 14, respectively.

"We came in here with no expectations on ourselves," Esparza said about her classmates and their offensive success. "It's been hard getting used to, but we have been getting better."

Penn State finished up its 28-game road trip with a 3-2 win Sunday against host North Carolina at the Carolina Classic. Penn State beat North Carolina for the second time in consecutive tournaments.

The Lions were helped by three Tar Heel errors, the first of which led to the eventual winning run for Penn State. The Lions scored all three of their runs during a two-out rally in the third inning.

Penn State went 2-1 during Saturday's triple-header in which they won the first game 9-0 (five innings) against Harvard, and then was shut out in the next two games against Coastal Carolina and No. 3 California, 2-0 and 8-0, respectively.

Esparza picked up both wins for Penn State, along with four RBI in the run-rule win against Harvard. She gave up five hits and one run in 10 2/3 innings pitched the weekend.

Beseres pitched a tremendous game in relief, recording eight strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings pitched against Coastal Carolina. The Lions registered eight hits and were unable to get a run home against the Chanticleers. Coastal was led by junior right-handed pitcher Brittany Nelson, who had three strikeouts in the complete-game victory.

"We should have beaten Coastal Carolina," Acunto said. "Cal is the No. 3 team and we held our own until the seventh inning. We just had a lot of stupid errors."