She currently has 317 Ks and ranks 15th nationally in strikeouts-per-game.

"We didn't know anything about her strikeouts or wins or losses going into the game. We just looked at her as another opponent, another pitcher that we needed to beat," Penn State shortstop Jen Acunto said.

"So, yeah, she's a powerful pitcher -- but when you go up to bat, you're not thinking about that."

Whatever Acunto was thinking about seemed to work. She went 3-for-7, while her team picked up 18 hits.

The Lions offense played well, but even Petrini acknowledged that her squad was able to capitalize off Kent State's mistakes.

The Golden Flashes recorded five errors, and Penn State got its first run on a passed ball.

"I love it when they score first," pitcher Missy Beseres said.

"It takes away some pressure. When a run gets on if you have a four-run lead, it's not as big a deal. But when you're tied, it's a different story."

Penn State never trailed and led for 12 of 14 frames, but it did have one close call in the second game.

The Lions had a one-run cushion in the bottom of the sixth inning when the Golden Flashes had a runner on third-base and only one out.

Petrini plugged in Ashley Esparza at reliever, as the California native sent Kent State packing -- the next two batters went down swinging.

The Lions added two more insurance runs the next inning, putting any idea of a Kent State upset to rest.

"Pitching and defense has been taking care of business," Petrini said.

"Pitching and defense are the ticket -- you just need enough offense to win. In some games, we just got enough and others we got more than enough."

The Lions have now won 12 of their last 13 games, and the offensive-turnaround has played a major role.

Penn State did strand nearly a dozen runners in the first contest, but Acunto said that was no big deal.

"It doesn't bother us. If anything that's positive because when you get a runner in scoring position and you get a hitter up to the plate, anything can happen," she said. "Just because we didn't capitalize doesn't mean we weren't getting the job done, they made some good plays defensively and robbed us of a few hits."