The walk-off home run -- the most severe emotional swing known in sports. The Penn State softball team was one pitch away from pulling itself out of a season-worst six-game slump before experiencing the demoralizing side of just such a shift in the grandest of fashions.

The Nittany Lions (21-11, 1-7 Big Ten) failed to avoid a sweep as they dropped a doubleheader and lost their seventh straight game in the Big Ten yesterday. The Lions' only lead of the weekend was squandered when Illinois shortstop Angelina Mexicano sent a two-out, 3-2 count, fairy-tale-ending, walk-off grand slam off the scoreboard to win the game, 7-5.

After two walks and a single, it was apparent starting pitcher Jenn Reynolds was beginning to struggle but the frustrated Penn State coach Robin Petrini refused to take out her hurler. After sub-par performances by Missy Beseres and pitcher Ashley Esparza, Petrini said she was willing to take the gamble with Reynolds.

"Have you seen what they've been doing lately?" Petrini said of Esparza and Beseres. "They haven't been stellar out there. I don't have any confidence in them, so I'll leave Jenn out there."

"We hope [Reynolds] can get it done. [Mexicano] steps to the plate, and I'm like yeah, this is the kid that hit it out earlier. One pitch, she hits it out. Grand Slam. Great for them."

Mexicano said she and Reynolds had been altering their approaches to one another throughout the game.

"The whole game, the pitcher had me on the outside pitch. I knew the first pitch she was always trying to get ahead," Mexicano said. "I just told myself I was going to get that first pitch, and it was amazing.

Illinois coach Terri Sullivan said she used a new lineup for the first time against Penn State and was impressed with the results.

"It's funny how it worked out in the seventh inning," Sullivan said. "Angelina's really been seeing the ball well and making great contact. We've never had her bat after Jenna Hall, so it shows how smart we are I guess."

After starting the weekend 0-3, the Lions had finally put the ping back in

their swing. Cruising with a 5-2 victory headed into the bottom of the seventh, the team appeared loose and confident.

Reynolds had pitched effectively and ignited the offense with a two-home-run performance. Her three RBIs were enough to trump the Illini run total through six innings.

In the bottom of the seventh, though, the game took a cruel turn for Penn State. Reynolds loaded the bases with one out and walked Illinois' best hitter, Jenna Hall, while pitching defensively. Coming into the series, Hall was batting .506 with 11 home runs.

The walk brought Mexicano to the plate for her base-clearing blast that put another strike in the loss column for the Lions.

Earlier in the inning, Penn State had a chance to end the game on a tailor-made double-play ball with one out and the bases loaded. Unfortunately, the Lions infield was shifted at normal depth and shortstop Jen Acunto made a high-risk, high-reward throw home forcing out the lead runner at the plate.

Petrini did not think positioning for a double play would be effective.

"It's really hard to turn a double play in softball," Petrini said. "I had expected her to go to [first] with that. She went to the plate instead and got the force out. Because she got the out there's no problem with that, but typically you would just go to first base."

Penn State struggled on offense as it dropped consecutive decisions 1-0 and 3-1 to Northwestern on Friday and Saturday before losing 5-0 and 7-5 against Illinois.

After the weekend, Petrini was still not satisfied with the offense, which prior to Sunday's loss had not scored more than one run in six straight games.

"I'd say the offense is struggling in general," Petrini said. "I could take them all out right now."

Petrini gave Jen Williams and Reynolds credit for being offensive contributors in the loss.

"[Reynolds] was responsible for quite a bit of [the run production]. It's unfortunate she's going to take the loss on the mound."