Between games of Sunday's Penn State softball doubleheader against Purdue, center fielder Danielle Kinley showed off some of her best dance moves in front of the Nittany Lion dugout while the beats of Swedish DJ Basshunter blasted over the Nittany Lion Field sound system.

This year, Kinley has used her more relaxed attitude to find a home at the heart of the Penn State batting order. She has hit in either the third or fourth slot during every game this season and used her bat to make an assault on the Penn State single-season record books.

Kinley is two doubles away from the Lion record set by teammate Jen Acunto in 2005, and her average is four points behind Nan Sichler's record .418 set in 1988.

A year ago, you would have been hardpressed to find Kinley, now a sophomore, comfortable enough to dance between games.

As a freshman, she said it was a little difficult not having a set spot on the team while she battled to earn playing time. But by the end of her rookie season, Kinley had become one of the Lions' premier batters and cemented her spot in head coach Robin Petrini's lineup. Kinley batted cleanup in 19 of Penn State's final 20 games and earned second-team All-Big Ten honors.

Though easy-going off the field, Kinley is everything but calm when she steps into the batter's box. Her balanced stance, coupled with a powerful swing -- often punctuated by a boisterous grunt -- make her one of the most feared sluggers in the Big Ten.

With her relaxation level rising each day, Kinley has risen on the list of conference batting records as well.

Her .409 average and 16 doubles are both second in the league. Kinley also ranks among the nation's top 10 in doubles per game.

She is also on track to solidify her name amongst the all-time Penn State greats. Less than midway through her career, Kinley is more than halfway to the all-time doubles mark and currently amongst the leaders for lifetime average.

But the notoriety does not phase Kinley. Once again showing her laid-back style off the field, she said it would be "sweet" to win such titles, but added they are the least of her concerns.

"That'd be really exciting," Kinley said. "I mean it's quite and honor, quite a big deal, so it'd be awesome. But knowing that any kind of hitting and RBIs are good for the team, I just want to keep contributing."

Although she doesn't bask in all of the attention she had received, if Kinley continues her proficient production at the plate, she may find herself dancing her way off the field and into Penn State softball history.

Behind all the records, Kinley remains a fierce competitor with an even fiercer bat. Petrini said Kinley has become a huge cog for the team this season and one of the most reliable and consistent presences in the lineup.

"Danielle Kinley has been clutch for us all year," Petrini said. "She's a great player, she's very demanding of herself. She expects herself to come through in every opportunity she gets, and that's a critical person to have on your roster."