Posted: 4/7/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Wesley Fane Illinois' Angelena Mexicano (left) judges whether to run to third base while Eastern Illinois' Megan Nelson watches for the ball during the first game of a doubleheader on April 2. The Illini went 1-3 over this past weekend, splitting a pair of games at Penn State and dropping two contests at Michigan.

Entering the weekend, Illinois softball was 1-1 in Big Ten play and coming off an impressive performance against Eastern Illinois, winning both games of last Thursday's doubleheader.

On Friday, the women in Orange and Blue continued their impressive play, defeating Penn State 11-1 in six innings.

Leading the way for the Illini offense was junior catcher Lana Armstrong, who had six RBIs on a home run and a double. Sophomore right fielder Hope Howell added a home run - her first of the season. Senior center fielder Sarah Bryers contributed three RBIs and senior shortstop Angelena Mexicano also had an RBI in the team's dominating offensive performance.

"Everyone contributed offensively in that first win at Penn State, from top to bottom," head coach Terri Sullivan said.

Illinois senior pitcher Claire DeVreese handled the Nittany Lions' offense, giving up just two hits and one unearned run in the game.

But the rest of the weekend saw the Fighting Illini on the wrong side of dominating offensive and pitching performances.

"We always give it 110 percent, everything we do," Armstrong said. "It just doesn't go your way sometimes."

Nittany Lions senior pitcher Ashley Esparza subdued the Illini offense Saturday, not allowing a single hit. Only two players reached base in the game. Freshman second baseman Danielle Zymkowitz reached via a walk in the first, and Bryers reached on an error in the fifth.

DeVreese, who dominated the Nittany Lions on Friday, surrendered seven runs, four earned, in just one and two-thirds innings as Illinois fell 13-0 in five innings.

Penn State's offense was powered by junior shortstop Kayce Zielinski, who hit two home runs and drove in five. Freshman first baseman Desi Giordano added four RBIs for the Nittany Lions (26-11, 3-3 Big Ten).

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