Most people would return from a week-long trip to Hawaii with visions of palm trees, sandy beaches, beautiful oceans and luaus. The Penn State softball team, however, remained focused on its task and returned with visions of a walk-off grand slam, a Hawaiian Airlines Spring Fling Tournament Championship, a tournament MVP and a start hotter than the paradise-like atmosphere it left behind in Honolulu this weekend.

There are not too many situations in an athlete's life where they are asked to make a game changing play like the situation that freshman Danielle Kinley was put in against the University of Las Vegas on Friday. Kinley took the rare opportunity to define herself, and proved to be a bona fide gamer.

When the offensively sound leadoff hitter Jen Williams popped up to shortstop for the second out with bases loaded, it left only one out between a undefeated tournament record with a 10-game win streak, or a demoralizing loss. A slight shutter of uncertainty crept through the Penn State dugout as they watched a surefire scoring opportunity become a last chance test of nerves for a relatively untested rookie.

The next hitter, Kinley, came into the game batting only .222 and had gone 0-2 in her previous at bats.

"It was pretty nerve-racking," Kinley said. "If I don't get a hit, the game's over. It's an opportunity you wait for."

Kinley waited for her pitch, and didn't hesitate when she found it. The result was a deep fly ball to dead centerfield that caught just enough air to allow Kinley and the Lions to say Aloha to the ball, as well as the game, in a parting celebratory fashion.

"Actually, I didn't think it was going over," Kinley said. "I thought the centerfielder had a chance to make a play. It was a great feeling after."

Kinley's teammates stormed from the dugout and had the courtesy to allow her to touch home plate before mobbing her.

"They were all out at the plate," Kinley said. "They started pounding my helmet. It was great."

The Lions continued their winning trends after the memorable home run, defeating Longwood and University of Hawaii at Manoa to finish out the tournament a perfect 6-0 during the spring break week. Before beginning the tournament, Penn State also defeated Hawaii at its home field, 5-0.

The tear improved the team record to an unprecedented 14-3, as well as increasing its win streak to 12 games in their first-ever trip to Hawaii under the guidance of coach Robin Petrini.

The team also finished the trip out scoring their opponents by an incredible 35-5 differential.

"We're hitting throughout the lineup right now," Petrini said. "That accounts for the offensive success. We don't need to count on any particular part of the lineup right now."

Ashley Esparza earned the tournament MVP award for her performance on the mound during the week, as she improved her record to 5-1. During the tournament, Esparza pitched 18.2 innings while giving up no runs, six hits, and three walks and struck out 18. She also contributed at the plate with an on base percentage of .467 and three runs scored.

Her biggest offensive game actually came against Hawaii before the tournament began as she went 4-4 with 2 RBI's and a run scored.

"It's honorable, but I couldn't have done it without the girls," Esparza said. "This [week] is something we really needed heading into Big Tens."

Keep your eye on the ball...game

Coach Petrini was a little nervous before the team traveled over break because of the potential distractions of playing a tournament in Hawaii.

"I think we were really well focused," Esparza said. "We didn't take advantage of the whole Hawaii thing. We were able to have just enough fun."