---

---

QUAKERTOWN, Pa. - Familiar foes. In their third straight appearance at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Softball Tournament, the Western Division third-seeded Gannon Lady Knights will open postseason action against the Eastern Division second-seeded Bloomsburg Huskies Thursday afternoon at Veterans Park. The first pitch is set for 11 a.m. The Lady Knights enter the postseason on an eight-game win streak, which helped clinch the team's fourth consecutive appearance in the conference championship.

TICKETS
Tickets will be available at the gate each day. Cost is $10 per day with children under 12 free. Students of a PSAC institution will be admitted free with a valid school ID.

LIVE STATISTICS
Live statistics will be streamed throughout the three-day conference championship. With two fields being used simultaneously on the first day, the even games can be followed here and the odds games here. The second and third days of competition can be followed here. For a list of game opponents, locations and times, please click here.

SKILLS CLINIC CANCELED
Due to rain in the region Wednesday, the annual skills clinic with children from the Richland Area Softball Association (RASA) has been canceled. Last year, the Lady Knights' student-athletes and coaches joined four additional conference members in providing free instruction for two hours to children ranging from kindergarten to seventh grade at Veterans Park, home of the conference tournament. The student-athletes and coaches setup drills and gave instruction in throwing, hitting and fielding mechanics.

PSAC TOURNAMENT
For the second straight year, the PSAC Softball Tournament will be held at Veterans Park located in Quakertown, Pa. Home of RASA, the complex offers a four-diamond facility with lights for the three-day tournament. The tournament features a double-elimination format. This year's tournament marks the second year the conference championship will be held at a central location. The tournament features two divisions compared to previous years that featured three divisions with the opening round played at on-campus sites before bringing the final three teams together for the championship.

The Lady Knights will join this season's field of eight teams featuring the top four from the Western and the Eastern Divisions. The Lady Knights hold the Western Division's third seed. Included in the Western Division field is No. 1 seed California (Pa.), No. 2 seed Indiana (Pa.) and No. 4 seed Edinboro. The Eastern Division field includes No. 1 seed West Chester, No. 2 seed Bloomsburg, No. 3 seed Shippensburg and No. 4 seed Mansfield. The conference title will not be defended this season, as last year's PSAC champion Kutztown did not qualify for the conference championship after posting a 20-29 overall mark and an 11-17 record in Eastern Division play to finish seventh.

Among the teams competing, Bloomsburg has claimed the most team titles (15) at the PSAC Tournament followed by California (Pa.) with six, Shippensburg with three and Indiana (Pa.) with two. Gannon, Edinboro, West Chester and Mansfield are in the hunt for their first conference crown.

PSAC TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Day One:  Thursday, May 1
11 a.m. | Game 1: West No. 1 California (Pa.) vs. East No. 4 Mansfield
11 a.m. | Game 2: East No. 2 Bloomsburg vs. West No. 3 Gannon
1:30 p.m. | Game 3: East No. 1 West Chester vs. West No. 4 Edinboro
1:30 p.m. | Game 4:  West No. 2 Indiana (Pa.) vs. East No. 3 Shippensburg
4 p.m. | Game 5:  Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2
4 p.m. | Game 6:  Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2 
6:30 p.m. | Game 7:  Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4
6:30 p.m. | Game 8:  Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4  

Day Two:  Friday, May 2
11 a.m. | Game 9:  Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 7
1:30 p.m. | Game 10:  Winner Game 8 vs. Loser Game 5
4 p.m. | Game 11:  Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 7
6:30 p.m | Game 12:  Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10

Day Three:  Saturday, May 3
11 a.m. | Game 13:  Winner Game 12 vs. Loser Game 11 
1:30 p.m. | Game 14: Winner Game 11 vs.  Winner Game 13
4 p.m. | Game 15: IF NECESSARY (If Game 13 winner wins Game 14)

WESTERN DIVISION FIELD

NO. 1 SEED CALIFORNIA (PA.) VULCANS
Roster | Schedule & Results | Statistics
Head Coach: Rick Bertagnolli (21st Season)
Overall Record: 30-4
PSAC Record: 23-0 (First Place West)
NCAA Regional Ranking: First
NFCA National Ranking: 12th
Batting Average: .347
ERA: 1.91 
All-Time Record vs. Gannon: 30-3
PSAC Tournament Record vs. Gannon: 1-0

TEAM NOTES
- Holding a 30-4 overall record, the No. 12 California (Pa.) Vulcans enter the postseason on a 26-game win streak, the longest active streak in NCAA Division II. The Vulcans finished the regular season unbeaten in PSAC Western Division action, posting a 23-0 record. Since April 16, the Vulcans have been ranked in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Top 25 poll each week. 
- The Vulcans remain atop the latest NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional ranking.
- Three Vulcans occupy a spot among the PSAC's top-8 hitters including Breanna Morris in second (.442), Natalie Wideman in third (.424) and Lindsay Reicoff in eighth (.398). Stephani Ellis joins Morris, Wideman and Reicoff among the league's top slugging percentages.
- The Vulcans' pitching staff holds a 1.91 ERA to rank second among the PSAC. The Vulcans are led by Alex Sagl (19-2) with a 1.49 ERA, ranking second (144) in strikeouts among conference pitchers.    
 
NO. 2 SEED INDIANA (PA.) CRIMSON HAWKS
Roster | Schedule & Results | Statistics
Head Coach: Bill Graham (Fifth Season)
Overall Record: 29-13
PSAC Record: 22-6 (Second Place West)
NCAA Regional Ranking: Seventh
NFCA National Ranking: n/a
Batting Average: .286
ERA: 2.54
All-Time Record vs. Gannon: 7-7
PSAC Tournament Record vs. Gannon: 0-0

TEAM NOTES
- After stumbling in three straight games, the Indiana (Pa.) Crimson Hawks concluded the regular season with six consecutive wins. The Crimson Hawks finished the season 29-13 overall and 22-6 in the division to occupy second place.
- The Crimson Hawks occupy seventh place in the latest NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional ranking.
- Jasa Mitchell leads the Crimson Hawks' offense, batting a .375 with 12 doubles, two triples and 11 home runs. Among the PSAC leaders, Mitchell ranks second in slugging percentage (.735) and Stefanie McCoy leads the PSAC in RBI (39).
- The Crimson Hawks' pitching staff ranks fifth among the PSAC with a 2.54 ERA. Two pitchers hold below a 2.00 ERA for the Crimson Hawks, including Tara Senn with a 1.30 in 12 appearances and Alexa Campbell with a 1.94 ERA in 23 appearances. Campbell ranks second among the conference ERA leaders.   
 
NO. 3 SEED GANNON LADY KNIGHTS
Roster | Schedule & Results | Statistics
Head Coach: Jake Jakubowski (Sixth Season)
Overall Record: 23-19
PSAC Record: 16-12 (Third Place West)
NCAA Regional Ranking: n/a
NFCA National Ranking: n/a
Batting Average: .292
ERA: 3.20

TEAM NOTES
- The Gannon Lady Knights relied on an eight-game winning streak to clinch their fourth consecutive berth to the PSAC Tournament.
- The Lady Knights concluded the regular season with a 23-19 overall record and a 16-12 mark in Western Division play to secure the third seed.
- Among the PSAC leaders, junior Jess Rectenwald (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) occupies the top spot in hitting percentage (.455) and doubles per game (0.43). Rectenwald is the toughest batter to strikeout across the nation with only one strikeout in 134 at bats. Nationally, she ranks 19th in hitting percentage and eighth in doubles per game.
- The Lady Knights' pitching staff is listed 10th among the PSAC with a 3.20 ERA, ranking sixth in total strikeouts (175). Rectenwald provides the Lady Knights dual-threat, she ranks second on the team in ERA (2.60) and leads the team in strikeouts (74). Freshman starter Olivia Gumbita (Latrobe, Pa./Greater Latrobe) ranks 10th in the PSAC with a 2.13 ERA, striking out 69 batters. Among pitchers with at least 15 appearances, Gumbita is tied for sixth in walks allowed (16) and ranks fifth in runs allowed (32).

LADY KNIGHTS AT THE PSAC TOURNAMENT
The Lady Knights own a combined record of 2-6 in three previous appearances at the PSAC Tournament since joining the conference in the 2009 season. Including this season, Gannon and Bloomsburg have squared off in the all four Lady Knights' PSAC Tournament appearances.

Last season, the Lady Knights compiled a 2-2 record for their best showing at the conference championship. The Lady Knights collected their first win postseason victory at the tournament with a 7-3 win over Lock Haven in their second game of the day after falling to Bloomsburg, 7-1, in the opening round. The next day, the Lady Knights defeated rival Mercyhurst, 14-2, in five innings before being eliminated by conference runner-up California (Pa.), 4-1.

NO. 4 SEED EDINBORO FIGHTING SCOTS
Roster | Schedule & Results | Statistics
Head Coach: Dan Gierlak (24th Season)
Overall Record: 17-22-1
PSAC Record: 12-15-1 (Fourth Place West)
NCAA Regional Ranking: n/a
NFCA National Ranking: n/a
Batting Average: .284
ERA: 4.95
All-Time Record vs. Gannon: 30-36
PSAC Tournament Record vs. Gannon: 0-0

TEAM NOTES
- Despite posting a 3-6-1 record in the last 10 games, the Edinboro Fighting Scots punched the final ticket to the PSAC Tournament on the final day of play after a 16-1 five-inning loss by Slippery Rock. The Fighting Scots concluded the regular season with a 17-22-1 record and a 12-15-1 mark in divisional play.
- The Fighting Scots' lone tie came in a 4-4 draw with visitor Mercyhurst April 21, which was called after five innings due to darkness.
- Among the PSAC leaders, Brenna Cosgrove ranks fourth in batting average (.411) and third in hits (53).
- The Fighting Scots' pitching staff ranks 15th among the PSAC with a 4.95 ERA and 16th in opponents' batting average (.322). The Fighting Scots have rotated the starting spot among four pitchers with 10 appearances or more.
 
EASTERN DIVISION FIELD
 
NO. 1 SEED WEST CHESTER GOLDEN RAMS
Roster | Schedule & Results | Statistics
Head Coach: Diane Lokey (11th Season)
Overall Record: 34-17
PSAC Record: 19-9 (First Place East)
NCAA Regional Ranking: Fourth
NFCA National Ranking: Receiving votes
Batting Average: .279
ERA: 2.64
All-Time Record vs. Gannon: 1-1
PSAC Tournament Record vs. Gannon: 0-0

TEAM NOTES
- Atop the PSAC Eastern Division, the West Chester Golden Rams hold a 19-9 mark in divisional play and 34-17 overall mark. The Golden Rams went 6-4 in their final 10 outings including a split with divisional runner-up Bloomsburg to clinch the East Division regular season title. In the latest NFCA rankings, the Golden Rams are among those receiving votes.
- The Golden Rams sit in fourth place in the latest NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional ranking.
- As a dual-threat pitcher and batter, Kim Murl holds a team-best .346 batting average and ranks 11th among the PSAC pitchers with a 2.18 ERA. Among the conference leaders, Murl is tied for second in RBI (38) and Jessica Norris is second in hits (57).    
- The Golden Rams' pitching staff ranks sixth among the PSAC with a 2.60 ERA. Beyond Murl, the Golden Rams rely on both Katie Erb (2.87 ERA in 32 appearances) and Micaela McSpadden (3.16 ERA in 25 appearances).    
 
NO. 2 SEED BLOOMSBURG HUSKIES
Roster | Schedule & Results | Statistics
Head Coach: Susan Kocher (Fourth Season)
Overall Record: 26-15
PSAC Record: 18-10 (Second Place East)
NCAA Regional Ranking: Fifth
NFCA National Ranking: n/a
Batting Average: .314
ERA: 1.87
All-Time Record vs. Gannon: 7-1
PSAC Tournament Record vs. Gannon: 3-0

TEAM NOTES
- The Bloomsburg Huskies recorded a 7-3 mark in the final 10 games of the regular season to earn a split in three of their final five PSAC doubleheaders. As the Eastern Division No. 2 seed, the Huskies hold a 26-15 overall mark and an 18-10 record in divisional play.
- The Huskies hold fifth place in the latest NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional ranking.
- Chrissy Belko ranks seventh among PSAC leaders in batting average (.398), while Sarah Bertoni is one spot out of 10th place in the category with a .386 hitting percentage. Belko and Bertoni are tied for fourth in total hits (49) among the conference batters. Registering a .724 slugging percentage for fourth in the PSAC, Belko is also tied for third in home runs (9)      
- The Huskies' pitching staff occupies the top spot in the PSAC with a 1.87 ERA, ranking fifth in total strikeouts (176). Two Huskies' pitchers rank among the top-10 in the PSAC, including Mallory Tomaschik (1.43 ERA in 12 appearances) and Taylor Parker (1.57 ERA in 22 appearances). Rounding out the Huskies' rotation is Bertoni with a 2.21 ERA in 17 appearances.
 
NO. 3 SEED SHIPPENSBURG RAIDERS
Roster | Schedule & Results | Statistics
Head Coach: Bob Brookens (14th Season)
Overall Record: 31-13
PSAC Record: 17-11 (Third Place East)
NCAA Regional Ranking: Third
NFCA National Ranking: n/a
Batting Average: .292
ERA: 2.50
All-Time Record vs. Gannon: 3-2
PSAC Tournament Record vs. Gannon: 0-0

TEAM NOTES
- Before earning a sweep of East Stroudsburg to close the regular season, the Shippensburg Raiders split five straight series. Compiling a 31-13 overall record and a 17-11 division mark, the Raiders were ranked as high as 16th place twice in the NFCA rankings released March 19 and April 2.
- In the latest NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional ranking, the Raiders hold the third slot.
- Taylor Weisman leads the Raiders' offense at a clip of .379 in the box. Among the conference leaders, Weisman is tied for second in triples (3) and tied for sixth in home runs (8) and owns the sixth best slugging percentage (.702).
- The Raiders' pitching staff ranks fourth in the PSAC with a 2.50 ERA, compiling the second most strikeouts (250) and third lowest opponents' batting average (.239). Emily Estep accounts for most of the Raiders' success, posting a 0.96 ERA in 26 appearances. Estep owns a 20-2 overall record, collecting the second most shutouts (7) among league pitchers. In addition, she leads the conference in strikeouts (158).
 
NO. 4 SEED MANSFIELD MOUNTAINEERS
Roster | Schedule & Results | Statistics
Head Coach: Edith Gallagher (23rd Season)
Overall Record: 23-15
PSAC Record: 15-13 (Fourth Place East)
NCAA Regional Ranking: Sixth
NFCA National Ranking: n/a
Batting Average: .276
ERA: 2.28
All-Time Record vs. Gannon: 3-4
PSAC Tournament Record vs. Gannon: 0-0

TEAM NOTES
- The Mansfield Mountaineers concluded the final 10 regular-season games with a 6-4 mark. All four losses came against divisional second-seed Bloomsburg. The Mountaineers compiled a 23-15 overall record and a 15-13 divisional record to clinch the final spot in the East.
- The Mountaineers currently hold the sixth spot in the latest NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional ranking.
- Stephanie Simmeth ranks among PSAC batters with a .407 hitting percentage. A dual-threat pitcher and batter, Kate Pratt is tied for second on the team in batting average (.341) and holds the best slugging percentage (.643). Pratt has accumulated team-highs with seven home runs and 15 doubles to rank among the top-10 in each conference category.
- The Mountaineers' pitching staff occupies third in the PSAC with a 2.25 ERA, surrendering the second lowest amount of hits (217) and opponent's batting average (.227). Ashley Inman and Pratt rank among the top-six pitchers in the conference. Registering a 1.28 ERA in 18 appearances, Inman ranks second. Starting in all 20 appearances, Pratt posted a 1.61 ERA to occupy sixth.