The dugout was abuzz with chatter at yesterday's practice until those three unspeakable words were uttered -- "Where's Jenn Reynolds?"

Reynolds' teammates froze in their seats, lips sealed, until one player spoke out when someone remarked how quiet it was.

"Why do you think?" the player shot back.

Reynolds was the hero-turned-goat, a pitcher who could taste a Sunday win -- but, instead, discovered a bitter taste in her mouth. She smacked two home runs in the same game but later allowed a game-winning grand slam in the bottom of the last inning.

"It went from one of my best games to one of my worst games in a matter of a pitch," Reynolds said.

Softball seasons have often been likened to roller coasters, but this up-and-down year has been more like taking a helicopter ride and then leaping from the cockpit -- it's been one large "up" followed by one incredible downfall.

The Lions made Penn State history by starting out a program-best 21-4. Since then, however, they've gone 1-7 and find themselves tied at the bottom of the conference standings.

"As a team, we're obviously in our down part," pitcher/first basemen Ashley Esparza said. "I mean, you can only get better from here -- you can't do any worse."

There's no argument about that. Even Penn State coach Robin Petrini said, "We are at the bottom," following Sunday's game.

Clearly, offense has been the main issue. Prior to the second game of Sunday's doubleheader, the Lions had scored only two runs in six games.

Even now, Penn State has the second-fewest overall runs in the Big Ten and is batting a combined .203 in conference play. Petrini didn't try to sugarcoat any of that after the last game.

When asked about one particular player struggling, Petrini took it one step further.

"The offense is struggling in general, so I can take them all out right now," she said. "Jen Williams had a great day today, and [Reynolds] had two home runs -- but name other people that had multiple hits today."

Esparza said it was a "mental thing" since the Lions have been getting on base but haven't been getting subsequent runs. And that lack of clutch hits must be driving Penn State crazy. In the first game vs. Illinois, the Lions were shut out after stranding at least half a dozen baserunners.

Illinois, a team whose ace pitcher boasts a 5.04 ERA, held Penn State to zero runs the first game. It was the Fighting Illini's second shutout of the season -- the other came against the Southern Utah Thunderbirds, a squad that came away with one victory in its first 19 games.

Everywhere you look, it seems there's some evidence of the Lions' struggles. Even when the team was relaxing in the dugout between games on Sunday, the appropriate Simon & Garfunkel song "Cecilia" was played over the loudspeakers. It seemed like a proper tune with lyrics like, You're breaking my heart/You're shaking my confidence daily.

And just when Penn State was about to rebound in the second contest, it came up short.

"We're not coming through with the hits when we need to -- except we did that game, and then I gave up a grand slam at the end," Reynolds said.

Petrini reiterated that she still has plenty of confidence in her pitchers, and that it's not quite time to hit the panic button. But it has to be getting there.

Penn State has played four conference teams and only six remain. Time's running out -- and so are the Lions' chances at a run into the postseason. It's still possible to rebound, but with seven conference losses, the damage has already been done.