After winning 10 of its last 11 games, sophomore shortstop Jen Acunto said everything finally feels "back to normal" for the Penn State softball team.

The bats have woken up, the pitching staff continues to lead the Big Ten in most categories and the defense remains one of Penn State's signature strengths. That has helped move the Nittany Lions from last to seventh place in the conference standings, all the while maintaining a 31-12 record.

"There's no use in dwelling the past, but you can't look at the future too much either," Acunto said. "That was part of our problem. We were looking to accomplish outcome goals rather than looking at the process, and that's what we've been doing the past 10 games."

Acunto and the Lions will look to continue that trend at 3 p.m. today when they square off against non-conference opponent Kent State on the road. Penn State faced the Golden Flashes earlier this season, coming out on top by a score of 5-3.

"We played them earlier this year. They can hit well and they've got a good pitcher," Penn State coach Robin Petrini said. "It's not going to be a cakewalk."

Kent State's ace, Brittney Robinson, started in nearly all of her team's games by amassing a 20-10 record. Robinson has pitched 203 in innings, compared to the No. 2 pitcher's 35.2 frames.

Robinson boasts 307 strikeouts and a 1.17 ERA -- impressive numbers, but still less than those posted by the Lions' Missy Beseres.

By comparison, Beseres has collected a 0.90 ERA thus far, collecting 17 wins along the way. The Penn State ace has started in seven of the Lions' last eight wins.

"Missy's really stepped up in these last couple weeks," Petrini said. "She's carried more than her share, and it's been great to have that."

Winning three out of four weekend games comes at a good time for the Lions, who had to rebound from a seven-game conference losing streak that ended just two weeks ago -- only 1997's 11-game losing streak was worse.

"We went through our dry spell, and it happens," Acunto said. "It happens to the best teams, and we as players know the kind of potential we have.

"Everything's finally coming together."