After an up-and-down showing at last weekend's Carolina Classic, the Penn State softball team will be looking for a quick pick-me-up in today's home opener at 6 p.m.

And tonight may just be the perfect opportunity to do so; the Nittany Lions' opponent in the doubleheader is the St. Francis (Pa). Red Flash (2-16), who have started out the season by losing 16 out of its first 18 games. Add the fact that the team's average loss is by nearly 10 runs per game and the Lions hold a 19-0 all-time series record against the Flash, tonight's contests may at first seem like guaranteed victories.

But the Lions (16-11) believe they know better than to take an opponent too lightly at this stage of the season. The squad is off to quite the start this year with its best opening season stretch since 2001, when the Lions started the year 16-10.

"It's just like every other game," sophomore outfielder Jen Williams said. "We have worked on a few minor things since last weekend, but we can only take on game at a time."

After playing their first 28 games of the year on the road, they know there is truly no place like home. In their minds, it's a new year, a new roster and a new chance to create a positive impression on the Penn State faithful. Even so, Williams said it's not a major difference playing on the road or at home.

"It's nice that we won't be traveling, we won't have to miss class like we have," she said. "But other than that, it's just another game, it doesn't matter where it's at."

Leading the way for the Lions is the team's own version of the Fab Five, in freshmen Ashley Esparza, Jen Acunto, Jenn Reynolds, Hollee Haines and Rebecca Bautista. All five earned starting spots early in the season and have been made an impact all over the field.

"It's not like you can single one out or anything," Williams said. "They've all been playing real well."

Unfortunately for the Flash, there haven't been many upbeat moments for this year's squad. To say St. Francis has been struggling offensively this season would be an understatement: They have been shut out 10 times and scored only one run three times.

Hoping to give the Flash another shutout on the season will be some combination of Penn State's pitching trio. Redshirt junior Missy Beseres leads the pitchers with an ERA of only 1.27. The two freshmen, Esparza and Reynolds haven't been too shabby either.

In particular, Esparza, a double threat both on the mound and at the plate, is coming off a solid stretch of play. In 10-2/3 innings she gave up only one run and five hits while picking up the Lions' two victories of the weekend, bringing her record to 5-1 as a starter. In addition to her pitching success, the freshman also registered six hits on the weekend.