The Penn State softball team won its fourth straight home game, and third overall, with a doubleheader sweep of Kent State yesterday.

In two games that saw great pitching from both pitchers in the circle, the Nittany Lions (22-13) came out victorious, 4-0 and 2-1, respectively, against the Golden Flash (15-16).

In game one, Kent State pitcher Jamie Fitzpatrick was cruising along through two innings of work, giving up just one hit and striking out two Penn State hitters to a lineup that had been hot of late.

Fitzpatrick lost control of her pitches in the third inning. She was bailed out of a bases-loaded jam when Lions catcher Hollee Haines and center fielder Leigh Murray didn't get the ball out of the infield, with a popup and a ground out, respectively.

After a close call in the third, Fitzpatrick didn't get so lucky in next inning. After loading the bases again, she gave up a grand slam to freshman shortstop Jen Acunto -- the first of her career at any level. The slam was Acunto's fifth home run of the season and upped her RBI total to a team leading 26.

"Honestly, I just wanted to get the runner from third home," Acunto said, who leads the team in five offensive categories. "I wasn't thinking anything more than a single, just move the runners and get one home and take the lead."

The four-run lead, was more than enough for freshman pitcher Ashley Esparza, who pitched seven shutout innings and picked up seven strikeouts in the process.

In the second game, Penn State allowed its first run at Nittany Lion Field in 21 innings when Kent State's Ashley Bell double to left to bring in lead off hitter Kim Hamilton to tie the game at 1-1.

Penn State took the lead in the sixth when Esparza and Haines, who both had come up short earlier, had back-to-back hits off Golden Flash ace Brittany Robinson.

Esparza lead off the inning with a double and scored on fellow freshman Haines' bloop single to left.

"People came through in clutch situations," Murray said, whose seven-game hitting streak came to an end in game one. "Our hitting was very efficient today.

The game ended on a terrible base running decision by Hamilton, when she tried to sneak by Lions third baseman Destinie Chavez on a bunt attempt by Golden Flash catcher Whitney Lebowitz.

Hamilton was trying to score from second and was thrown out easily at the plate.

The Lions resume Big Ten action at Michigan State Sunday; the first game begins at noon.