By Kelsey Detweiler, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - After nearly three months of play, Penn State softball head coach Robin Petrini says that there are two words to describe her 2013 Nittany Lions.

"Never quit."

The team ended its regular season with a 2-0 setback to Nebraska on Monday at Beard Field and finish with a 15-33 record overall. But numbers and losses aren't much of interest to Petrini after 48 games that she felt were played hard and played well.

"We never took the field as a defeated team," said Petrini. "We always took the field like, 'Let's go play hard.' And that says a lot about the character of your kids."

And for a team that featured six seniors, four juniors, three sophomores and eight freshmen, successfully coming together and working hard is quite the accomplishment.

Macy Jones, who is one of those eight newcomers, said that she bought right into the Nittany Lion program even though she only expected to be playing a few innings here and there. The freshman pitcher threw 166 of the 305 innings that the team played and started 47 of the 48 contests.

"I think we grew the whole season," said Jones. "I think our record doesn't show our potential and how good we really are and we definitely learned a lot."

Jones said that the rest of her team made her job much less stressful most of the time too, as the Penn State offense scored a total of 206 runs to support her whoever was in the circle.

"It's really encouraging. I don't feel like I have to throw a shut-out every game," said Jones. "Even though we didn't score this game we usually get runs across the board so it takes away the pressure."

Looking ahead, the 11th-seeded Lions turn to the Big Ten Tournament in Lincoln, Neb. and prepare to face sixth-seeded Illinois in the first round of play on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.

Senior Cassidy Bell played her last contest at Beard Field on Monday afternoon, but said that she's not giving up here blue and white uniform just yet. The veteran said that the way her team has recently been pitching, hitting and fielding, she doesn't see why it wouldn't make a postseason run.

"I think we are underdogs going into it but sometimes teams come into it expecting to just walk over us but that hasn't been the case lately and that's to our advantage," said Bell. "We have everything going right now so I think it will be a good matchup."

Thursday's match-up will be the first between Penn State and the Illini this year, but Bell said that she and her teammates won't prepare much differently than they have been all season.

"We've just got to keep being 'pesky Penn State'," said Bell. "We keep coming at you and we don't back down and that's what we've done all season. We're good at never saying die."

By Kelsey Detweiler, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - With bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth, senior Lauren Yao doubled to left on the 17^th pitch of her at-bat to bring in three runs and give the Nittany Lions a 3-2 lead over Nebraska.

It was her longest at-bat of the season, but when Yao finally put the ball between the white lines she said it was easily the highlight of her year.

"The energy is what keeps you motivated and especially since my parents were here and we had a huge crowd out, I was happy I could be the one to get it done," said Yao.

The hit would prove to be enough to give the Lions the lead and the victory two innings later as the Cornhuskers could not respond. And while head coach Robin Petrini said that she was happy for Yao to come up big in a pressure spot, she was even more proud of the way it all came together.

Kasie Hatfield led off the inning with a single to right and Alyssa Renwick put down a sacrifice-bunt to move her. Then, Liz Presto pinch-hit for Shannon Hutchinson and battled a nine-pitch at-bat to earn a single to left. Cassidy Bell followed with a walk, and the bases were loaded for Yao. Petrini said that she couldn't have asked for more. 

"For them to fight and overcome all of the adversity that we've had all year shows a lot of character for this team," said Petrini. "They made it happen like I know they can, but more importantly like they know they can."

And what really sealed the deal was the pressure pitching that came from sophomore Marissa Diescher. Diescher took over for started Jordan Wheatley in the middle of the third and was supposed to get the Lions through two innings of play.

"After I stuck her in there and she got us out of the third, I told her I needed one more out of her and then we'd go from there," said Petrini.

But Diescher wanted more.

She finished the game and allowed just two hits to get the win.

"I just had to attack the batters and kept throwing hard," said Diescher. "As the game goes on I really get into it and I actually start to throw harder as the game goes on."

The victory marks the Lions' fourth in the last six games played, and their fifth Big Ten win this season. And on a day that celebrated six seniors that have averaged more than 162 starts for the Nittany Lions, their head coach was nothing but proud.

"This team has never torn apart, they've never gotten on each other, they've come out every day, they've worked hard and they've encouraged each other," said Petrini. "That's a sign of good leadership from your seniors."

Penn State closes out its regular-season schedule in the finale of a three-game series against Nebraska at 1 p.m. on Monday at Beard Field.

By Sean Flanery, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Wednesday afternoon, Penn State (12-30, 2-14 Big Ten) relied on its clutch hitting and pitching to weather two different types of storms to capture a non-conference victory over the Golden Flashes of Kent State (21-17-1).

It was the first at-bat in the bottom of the first inning in game one of what was supposed to be a double-header, when senior Cassidy Bell connected on a pitch sending it over the wall in left field. However, following the solo-blast from Bell, the Lions began to struggle and opposing pitcher Emma Johnson settled in for the Golden Flashes.

Following Bell's homerun, the Nittany Lions only managed to register one more hit, while Johnson tallied nine strikeouts against the Lions.

"She [Johnson] really has a really nice rise ball," said Penn State head coach Robin Petrini. "It's just kind of a sneaky rise ball and I told her [Kent State's head coach] that no one has made us look that bad all year. We've only been shut out four times and we've hit just about everybody. It was just a smooth rise ball and she did a great job."

Johnson put together a flurry of strikeouts, including four in a row at one point in the game, but the Nittany Lions never gave in despite their frustrations.

"I think it's hard on the pitchers, especially if were not hitting the ball," said Bell. "It kind of puts more pressure on them to make sure they keep the hits from not happening. We started making adjustments and started making contact with the ball, we just weren't getting anywhere with it."

While the Lions struggled at the plate, they persevered through the struggles. However, while the Blue and White offense didn't light up the box score, neither did Kent States until they evened the score at one run apiece in the fifth inning. However, shortly after the Golden Flashes gained momentum, Penn State received a blessing in the form of a thunderstorm. It was an hour and a half delay, which cancelled the second game, but it might have been just what the Lions needed. Petrini stated that the break from action allowed the team to gather themselves.

"I actually pulled them together and told them that they had to refocus. It's really tough coming out of rain delays and I saw people were doing all sorts of different things in our team room and I actually waited until it started raining to send them into the team room because when you go into the team room you get distracted. I pulled them together and said you got to refocus because we need this win and they did. They did a really nice job."

Following the delay, Penn State came out hot, especially one Lion in particular, Jordan Wheatley. The junior sat down the Kent State batters in order during the top of the sixth.

"I think I have been finding the strike zone easier," said Wheatley. "I think I just had a switch in my brain and it's time to get it done. It's the end of the season and we got to get ready for the Big Ten Tournament."

Following the tremendous pitching effort by Wheatley, the Lions came through with some clutch at-bats. With Cassidy Bell on second base and no outs, freshman Macy Jones stepped up to the plate and delivered a much-needed RBI single.

"We did need to score runs and it was a very tight game," said Bell. "We just had clutch hitting like when Macy [Jones] got that hit right when we needed another run and that's all you need. We were very efficient today."

Bell uses the word 'efficient' to describe the Lions two-hit, two-run victory and that is exactly what it was. When you receive a four-hit, one-run outing from Wheatley on the mound, two runs is all it takes.

Moving forward, the Lions will travel to Iowa (24-21, 4-13 Big Ten) for the teams' last road series of the season. The Hawkeyes are another team struggling to find conference wins this season having lost six straight to Big Ten opponents. With only two series remaining before the Big Ten tournament starts, the Lions would love to gather more momentum and build upon the gritty, grind-it-out victory the team captured Wednesday afternoon.

The three-game series versus Iowa is set to begin this Friday afternoon at 6 p.m. CT in Iowa City, Iowa. 

By Michael Renahan, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - On a beautiful sunny day at Beard Field, the Penn State Nittany Lions battled hard but fell to the Northwestern Wildcats, 2-1. The Wildcats completed the sweep against their conference foe, but the Nittany Lions showed a lot of promise going forward.

Penn State (11-30, 2-14) had the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh looking for the walk-off victory. After pitcher Jordan Wheatley had thrown a complete game, the walk-off ending seemed perfect. The team, however, was unable to take advantage of the opportunity. Freshman pinch-hitter Karlie Habitz popped out and Lauren Yao grounded out to end the game.

Habitz entered the game for Alyssa Renwick, who had worked a walk and struck-out earlier in the game.

"Karli has been swinging a pretty big stick for us and she has had some great at bats in the batting cage and pre-game and we were hoping that she could get a hold of one and get something in the gap and get us a run there," associate head coach Jen McIntyre said.

After a night where Penn State put up a season-high 14 runs, the Nittany Lions were unable to duplicate the magic loading the bases three times but not scoring.

"You just keep taking your hacks at the plate and having good at-bats. I thought that we were patient at the plate today and with runners in scoring positions it's just a game of inches. You put the ball six inches one way or six inches the other and it's a different ball game," McIntyre said.

The one run of the game came off the bat of infielder Reina Furuya. She ripped a low fastball from Northwestern (25-16, 9-5) pitcher Amy Letourneau over the left field fence and was mobbed by teammates when she got back to home plate.

"[Hitting a home run] felt great. The past couple days I was struggling against [Letourneau] and it just felt really good to finally get a hit off of her. I just told myself, 'swing at the ball'," Furuya said. "I think I'm just getting more comfortable playing at the collegiate level and I'm just trying to help the team out."

Furuya, who has 5 RBI's in her previous two games, played outstanding for the Nittany Lions in the loss. Along with her home-run, the freshman shortstop made several key defensive stops to keep the game close against the Wildcats.

"She's hitting the ball. She has been great. She did a great job of working through a little bit of a slump that she had there and she made a little bit of an adjustment in the batting cage and now the ball is starting to look a little bit bigger and anytime the ball starts to look bigger, you're going to swing a little bit better," McIntyre said of Furuya.

The Nittany Lions got a stellar pitching performance from Jordan Wheatley. After pitching 2.1 innings in Saturday night's game, the junior went a complete seven today allowing just two earned runs on nine hits.

"Anytime that you don't win its frustrating. Jordan [Wheatley] threw a great game, she did a tremendous job keeping the ball down and keeping them off-balance, and that's what you're looking for from the mound, so she did a great job," McIntyre said.

The NIttany Lions had a strong weekend against their conference foes. They managed to score 18 runs on 23 hits during the three-game set. The team also played stellar defense throughout the weekend, including a tremendous diving play from centerfielder Cassidy Bell to keep the game to a one run lead.

"I felt good. It's the first complete game in a while and it was nice to finally be able to go a whole game. It was awesome, Cassidy is a great player and she comes up with many plays and many hits for us and I wish her luck on her season past this," Wheatley said.

The team now prepares for a showdown with Kent State starting on Wednesday. The Golden Flashes come into State College five games over .500 and riding a two game win streak. Although they lost the series to the Wildcats, Wheatley says her team will be just fine and ready to go come Wednesday.

"It's tough. Obviously when you lose, it's always tough, whether it's game after game or if it's one game. We're a good team and were going to fight back that's, why we're going to come through the next few weeks."

By Kelsey Detweiler, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Most of the spectators who had stayed for the second game of Wednesday evening's doubleheader at Beard Field weren't even back in their seats before Cassidy Bell broke her second homerun record this season.

The senior lefty popped the second pitch of the game over the left field wall for her 18^th home run of the season and 35^th in four years with the team, making her the newest leader in career home runs as a Nittany Lion. The record of 34 blasts was previously held by Shannon Salsburg, who graduated from Penn State in 1998.

Less than a week ago, Bell also broke the record of homeruns in a single season. But she said that for some reason or another, this one was a bit sweeter.

"I knew I was one hit away and I knew I had tied it so after I hit that one, I was I knew that one was out," said Bell. "The single season is great but this one is career, all four years, and I feel like that is a greater accomplish. This one was the bigger one."

The Lions' head coach Robin Petrini has been with the program since 1997 and said that she remembers Salsburg, the former record holder. But as good as Salsburg was, Petrini said that Bell is just seeing the ball that much better.

"I was here for the tail-end of that young lady's career and she hit a lot of home runs," said Petrini. "But Cassidy is hitting them, I mean it's constant. She's getting all of the ball."

Bell's big one to start the second contest of the day didn't spark a victory however, as the Lions dropped a 12-3 decision to Purdue in the final game of the day.

Penn State did get a team-win in the first half of the doubleheader against the Boilermakers, stealing game one by a score of 8-4. Freshman lefty Macy Jones threw all seven innings out of the circle to increase her numbers to 129.1 innings pitched and ten wins on the season.

But what literally brought in the runs for the Lions in the first contest were the smart at-bats at the plate. After the game, Petrini explained how her team warms up offensively by hitting a deflated basketball off of a tee to enhance their power.

"I think that we're just driving the ball really well," said Petrini. "I'm a big proponent of driving the basketball and everyone hit the basketball prior to the game. When you hit it far you get an immediate feedback of what your swing looks like and we looked good."

In the win, Penn State tallied 11 hits and six doubles, which came from five different athletes. As a leadoff, Bell said that it was nice to see such a strong line-up show up to play.

"Hits are contagious so if we can keep stringing the hits along and keep switching places I think that's great," said Bell. "That was a great team win. It showed just how great our character is as a team."

Next up, the Lions continue Big Ten play and welcome Northwestern to Beard Field in a three-game series that begins on Friday.

By Kelsey Detweiler, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Two of the 21 names on the Penn State softball roster have lit up just about every box score since the season started.

Both names belong to athletes who are quick on the base-paths, smart at the plate and swing left-handed. They also wear double-digit jersey numbers that just happen to have the same two single-digit numbers in them, 21 and 12, and they both have long blonde hair.

Senior Cassidy Bell and freshman Macy Jones have been getting it done in all facets of the game for the Nittany Lions.

Take a look across the stat sheet for the start of this 2013 season and you'll see that the two are at the top in almost every offensive category. Bell leads the team with a .462 average on 42 hits, 36 RBIs and 16 homeruns. Jones follows next in suit hitting .355 in a team-high 93 at-bats with 22 hits, 20 RBIs and four homeruns.

"They are both competitors," said their head coach Robin Petrini. "They want to win and they'll do anything in their power to make it happen and I think that their teammates expect that out of them at this point."

Over the past three seasons Petrini said that she has watched Bell grow into not only one of the best softball players to come through the Penn State program, but also one of the best in the country.

"Cassidy is just on her game and when she's dialed in there's no stopping her," said Petrini. "I can't blame her for being so passionate. It's her final season and you can tell every day in practice that this year means a lot to her."

As for Jones, the freshman lefty is beginning to make a name for herself not only at the plate but also out of the circle. Jones has become the clear-cut top starter for the Lions in her first year with the team and has already thrown more than 100 innings of collegiate softball. She holds an 8-9 record overall and has hurled seven complete games.

On Wednesday evening, Jones will likely throw one of the Lions' two games against conference rival Purdue at Beard Field. Penn State has played 196.2 innings of softball so far this season and Jones has thrown 101.1 of those.

"I just really like to play," said Jones. "There's not much else to it. I like to think the game out of the circle, remember which hitters I've faced and try to figure out how I can out-pitch them in their next at-bats. That's why they call it a game."

After three weeks of Big Ten play, the Lions have one win against a conference team. However, the freshman said that a back-to-back contest on her team's home field is the perfect opportunity to add a few more to the win column.

"We have to take advantage of playing on our on dirt and we know we're a good team," said Jones. "We'll get there and we'll get the win and when we do, I think that all of the hard work that we've put in will really show."

By Sean Flanery, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
COLUMBUS, Ohio - When Penn State senior outfielder Cassidy Bell (Bakersfield, Calif.) dug her cleats in at the plate shortly after 2 p.m. ET for the first at-bat of the game on Saturday afternoon, little did she know that it would be an unforgettable plate appearance.

If this week wasn't already a week to remember for the senior, now it is. The count was two balls and no strikes, when Ohio State pitcher Olivia O'Reilly wound up. As the ball approached home plate, so did Bell's bat. It was a line drive to deep center clearing the wall just above the sign posting '220 feet.' It was homerun number 17 for Bell on the season, surpassing Jennifer Tripken's 16-homeruns in 2002, making her the single-season homerun record holder at Penn State.

"It's feel's good," said Bell. "I was just wanting to get it out of the way. Now, I don't have to worry about it anymore. I mean I tied the other one, but as long as that one is out of the way, I'm good."

However, while this record is out of the way for the senior, there are plenty more on the horizon for the slugger. With the homerun Saturday, Bell also tied Shannon Salsburg for first all-time in career homeruns in the Blue and White with 34. Only one more deep ball would place Bell as the single best homerun threat in Nittany Lion history. However, hitting homeruns isn't something the senior has ever concentrated on when stepping to the plate.

"No, I mean, it's something in the back of my mind kind of, like oh if I hit a homerun right now, but I just go up to the plate and try to get a nice solid hit," said Bell. "I've never tried to hit a homerun, they just happen, so as long as I keep hitting the ball hard and doing what I do I'll get another one."

Homeruns aren't the only thing in Bell's repertoire. The senior knows how to make solid contact and put the ball in play. With the homerun Saturday afternoon, the senior has now reached base safely in 18 consecutive games while extending her current hit streak to seven games. Bell has only failed to register a hit in five contests, 30 for 35, so far this year.

The California-native's performance in past seasons earned her a lot of respect in the Big Ten for her offensive abilities, but her statistics this season have now earned her national recognition. This past Wednesday night, it was announced that the outfielder had performed well enough this season to be named one of the Top-25 Finalist for the 2013 USA Collegiate Softball Player of the Year award.

"It feels great," said Bell. "I didn't even know that was a chance, or anything to look to. I saw the top-50 list and I was like, 'oh okay, cool.' Then I was like, 'oh, maybe top-25,' and then I saw it and was like, 'oh my gosh.' I really wasn't expecting that. There are a lot of great names on that list and I'm honored to be on it."

So far, Bell has let her offensive numbers speak for themselves and she has created an image for herself as one of the most elite players in collegiate softball. However, there are still plenty of games left on the diamond for Bell to separate herself even more in the record books.

"Try to make it better," said Bell when asked how she wanted to end her senior season. "Just keep doing what I'm doing and if a better outcome comes like just keep working hard and keep going at it. I can't wait to see how it ends."

The outfielder's batting average from last season, .423, already ranks first in the record books, and this year's average is even better at .465. Her 37 runs-batted-in this season are only 12 off the single-season record of 49. And the list goes on. There are many records within reach as Bell and the Lions play out these last 14 games. This past week may have very well been the best week of Bell's career, but this entire season will also be one the slugging senior will never forget.

"Well, it feels great," said Bell. "Senior year, everyone wants to go out with a bang and I'm on my way to do that, so I couldn't ask for a better senior year right now." 

By Sean Flanery, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - After stringing together back-to-back wins at home versus Saint Francis University (Pa.) and at Pittsburgh on Tuesday, and Wednesday, respectively, Penn State (10-23, 1-7 Big Ten) will remain on the road to attempt to win three games in a row for the first time this season.

"It's nice," said senior infielder Alyssa Renwick. "Definitely key to get the win at home and then turn around and get a win on the road. It's good to just start off a win streak on the road in general. We just talked before the game yesterday [Tuesday] and said we had 19 games left and just focus on the 19 games we have left, put all the previous ones behind us and do what we can the rest of the season."

So far, the Nittany Lions have done exactly that taking head coach Robin Petrini's speech to heart.

"It helped," said Renwick. "I think at this point we just have to relax. We still feel the pressure to do well and to start a streak, but it was just kind of a reminder that the record, there's nothing we can do about it at this point."

Prior to Tuesday's pregame speech, the Lions held an 8-23 record, but since have recorded back-to-back wins, during which they have registered 15 runs, which included an 11-run explosion at Pittsburgh Wednesday afternoon. During its two-game winning streak, Penn State has also tallied 20 hits, with 13 coming in Wednesday afternoon's game.

However, the hits haven't come easily all season, but senior infielder Kailyn Johnson, who was responsible for three hits and five runs-batted-in during Wednesday's game, believes the team has been making solid contact all season, but the ball is just now starting to find the gaps.

"I don't know if there was much of a difference [Wednesday]," said Johnson. "I think it was us just continuing to do the same things and making adjustments. Yeah, definitely plenty of balls dropped today."

While the Nittany Lions hope to continue their offensive hot streak, they will be tested this weekend on the road in a three-game series with a very talented Ohio State (23-14, 3-6 Big Ten) squad. The Buckeyes, like the Lions, have also played Indiana and Michigan so far this year in conference play posting a slightly better mark at 2-4 than that of Penn State's at 1-5.

One key for Penn State in this series will be in the circle. The Buckeyes, like Penn State, have a very potent offense and is capable of scoring in bunches. However, the Nittany Lion pitching staff has come around in recent weeks posting great numbers including a shutout in the team's lone Big Ten win.

Great pitching coupled with the hot bats the Lions have going during their current winning streak could be just the recipe the team needs to strike for a few more conference wins this weekend. Penn State and Ohio State will begin their three-game series this Friday evening with the first pitch being thrown at 6 p.m. in Columbus, Ohio. 

By Sean Flanery, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - On what was one of the nicest days in State College so far this year, it was only fitting that one Nittany Lions would join history in the team's 4-1 victory over Saint Francis University (Pa.) on Tuesday night at Beard Field.

The stage was set. With one out and nobody on for the Lions in the bottom of the first, Penn State senior outfielder Cassidy Bell stepped into the box. With the first pitch missing just a bit inside, Bell noticed right away that the opposing pitcher was making a mistake.

"They were coming in on me and normally people don't," said Bell. "I was just excited that they were coming in. So, they were just throwing it in there and at first I didn't think it was going to go over, but it did. I'll take it."

On a 1-0 count, the senior connected on an inside pitch that cleared the wall in right field bringing her homerun count to 16 on the season. Her 16 homeruns this season place her atop the single-season homerun record list along with Jennifer Tripken, who blasted 16 homeruns for the Blue and White in 2002.

"Every time Cassidy steps up to the plate she swings so hard, she gives you a chance," said Penn State head coach Robin Petrini. "She's one of the top-50 players in the country and there's a reason for that. If she wanted to go to the WPF [Women's Professional Fast pitch] then she would have been drafted, but she wants to play in Italy. I mean she's a complete player."

The phrase 'complete player' only begins to describe Bell's success in the Blue and White this season and throughout her career. Her .462 season batting average ranks right at the top of the Penn State record book right along with her .351 career average. The homerun Bell blasted in Tuesday night's affair also brought her career total to 33, which is just one shy of tying the career record as well.

"If you think about it then it's not going to get done," said Bell. "I know I'm close to a few records, but I'm not thinking about it. I'm just going to keep doing what I'm doing, playing out the year and maybe break a few, or a couple. Whatever happens, happens."

However, teams are beginning to catch on to just how dangerous Bell is when she digs her cleats in at the plate. In her second at-bat of the game, Saint Francis pitcher Keterah Devries showed no hesitation in intentionally walking the Penn State star, bringing the number to 10 intentional walks for Bell on the season.

"I'm getting used to it now," said Bell. "I feel like that's just going to be the strategy from here on out. That just means that it gives someone else an opportunity. Like, Macy [Jones] today when she hit the homerun."

With a player of Bell's caliber in the lineup, it works to the Nittany Lions' advantage as long as the players behind her step up with big hits, which has been happening of late for the Blue and White. Penn State (10-23) tallied its second-straight mid-week win with an 11-7 triumph over Pittsburgh on Wednesday before rain in Western Pennsylvania cut the doubleheader short.  

By Sean Flanery, GoPSUsports.com Student Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Searching for its first conference victory, Penn State (7-21, 0-5 Big Ten), currently in the middle of a string of eight games in nine days stretch, heads to Indiana for a three-game weekend series with the Hoosiers.

Following a doubleheader on Wednesday at Michigan State in which the Lions dropped both games by scores of 4-1, and 7-1, Robin Petrini's club traveled straight to Bloomington, Ind. The the Lions will square off with Indiana Hoosiers (17-19, 1-5 Big Ten) beginning Friday at 6 p.m.

"It's really tough especially when our travel schedule gets changed," said senior Lauren Yao. "This past week when we were supposed to play Tuesday and then they rescheduled for Wednesday, it messes with our schedules too, especially with school and stuff. It's really difficult but we just have to manage."

The Blue and White will have to do just that and endure what has been a lengthy week of traveling thus far. Yao stated that sometimes while being away from home and classes it can get frustrating, especially when you're a freshman that hasn't adjusted to the lifestyle.

"At least for games when they're struggling, I try and tell them you worked hard for this moment, so there is no reason to not do your best," Yao said. "Get what you deserve, so every time they're struggling I tell them, 'You go get yours.' I just remind them of how hard they've worked."

For a team that has a few freshmen in Macy Jones and Taylor Abeyta contributing both at the plate and in the field, Yao and the rest of the senior class' advice could be essential during these lengthy road trips.

However, it doesn't seem there has been any lack of focus from the Lions' roster thus far. Wednesday night, Penn State put the ball in play while only striking out two times in the second game of the doubleheader.

"I think we are actually doing a lot of good things right now and our defense has improved," said Yao. "I think these past few games, our offense, we're hitting the ball, especially in the last game that we played, but they were just right at people. So, we just need to continue what we're doing and hopefully it works out in our favor."

The Lions could use the momentum gained from a solid stretch of games in Indiana as they will return home for a quick one-game matchup with Saint Francis (Pa.) on Tuesday before heading back out on the road for a five-game stretch.

According to Yao, success at Indiana would be exactly what the team needs to create some more positive energy as they return home.