It's easy to overlook the importance of the first few games, but infielder Jen Acunto emphasized it wouldn't be an issue for the Penn State softball team.

"This weekend will set the foundation for our season," she said. "We're playing some tough opponents, but I think we need to believe that we can compete at the level with those teams."

That level is among the highest the nation has to offer. The Nittany Lions are slated to open their season today at the GRU Gator Invitational in Florida and will compete against three ranked teams, including No. 1 Michigan. Penn State will play five games in all.

"[Michigan] has the experience and the reputation, but we beat them last year, Penn State coach Robin Petrini said. "The pressure's on them to win, not us."

The Wolverines are the defending national champions and expectations are once again through the roof. Three players were selected to the USA Softball Player of the Year Watch List -- only the top 50 athletes in the United States earn that honor.

Still, that doesn't change the Lions' goal of advancing to the Super Regional. But it does put a damper on guaranteeing the conference championship.

"It's pretty tough to say we're going to go out and win the Big Ten title with Michigan returning," Petrini said. "But our aspirations are to battle for a Big Ten title."

This weekend should be a tell-tale sign of whether that's a reality. The Lions return all but one starter from last year's run into the postseason and look much improved from last year's squad.

Penn State returns its three pitchers: Missy Beseres, Ashley Esparza and Jen Reynolds. Each starter finished last season with under a 2.00 ERA.

Petrini said defense is the Lions' main strength and acknowledged that early offensive success is sometimes difficult to predict.

"Pitching and defense is something we've seen every day," Petrini said. "But you don't know how your hitters are going to hit against somebody else's pitching."

The Lions certainly aren't getting a break the first game either.

DePaul's ace, Tracie Adix, hasn't allowed a run through 12 innings. And the No. 2 pitcher isn't much of a slacker either -- she has a 0.54 ERA.

"Our offense is probably going to be the key to our success this year," Acunto said.

Acunto paced the team with a .369 batting average and 10 home runs last year.

Esparza also provided an offensive lift, hitting .402 and chipping in five long balls.

Both were rookies last season.

"We play four top-25 teams, and that's kinda like what we'll face in the postseason," Esparza said with a smile. "It's a big weekend -- good thing for our freshmen, it'll break 'em in fast."