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QUAKERTOWN, Pa. -  Familiar foes once again. For the fourth straight time at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Softball Tournament, the Western Division third-seeded Gannon Lady Knights will open postseason action against Eastern Division second-seeded Bloomsburg Thursday afternoon at Veterans Park. The first pitch is set for 1:30 p.m. on field two. The Lady Knights are making their fifth 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.

PSAC TOURNAMENT
For the third straight year, the PSAC Softball Tournament will be held at Veteran's Park located in Quakertown, Pa. Home of the Richland Area Softball Association (RASA), the complex offers a four-diamond facility with lights for the three-day tournament. The tournament features a double-elimination format.
 
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 Seton Hill and No. 4 seed Indiana (Pa.). The Eastern Division field includes No. 1 seed West Chester, No. 2 seed Bloomsburg, No. 3 seed Kutztown and No. 4 seed East Stroudsburg.
 
Reigning champion California (Pa.) will look to defend its conference title. The Vulcans emerged from the consolation bracket, capturing three-straight one-run victories en route to their seventh conference crown. Among the teams competing, Bloomsburg has claimed the most team titles (15) at the PSAC Tournament followed by California (Pa.) with seventh, Indiana (Pa.) with two and Kutztown and East Stroudsburg with one each. Gannon, Seton Hill and West Chester are in the hunt for their first conference crown.

PSAC TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
* Even games to be played on field two. Odd games to be played on field four.

Day One:  Thursday, April 30
11 a.m. | Game 1: East No. 1 West Chester vs. West No. 4 Indiana (Pa.)
11a.m. | Game 2: West No. 2 Seton Hill vs. East No. 3 Kutztown
1:30 p.m. | Game 3: West No. 1 California (Pa.) vs. East No. 4 East Stroudsburg
1:30 p.m. | Game 4:  East No. 2 Bloomsburg vs. West No. 3 Gannon
4 p.m. | Game 5:  Winner Game 1 v. Winner Game 2
4 p.m. | Game 6:  Loser Game 1 v. Loser Game 2 (Loser Eliminated)
6:30 p.m. | Game 7:  Winner Game 3 v. Winner Game 4
6:30 p.m. | Game 8:  Loser Game 3 v. Loser Game 4 (Loser Eliminated)
 
Day Two:  Friday, May 1
11 a.m. | Game 9:  Winner Game 6 v. Loser Game 7 (Loser Eliminated)
1:30 p.m. | Game 10:  Winner Game 8 v Loser Game 5 (Loser Eliminated)
4 p.m. | Game 11:  Winner Game 5 v. Winner Game 7
6:30 p.m | Game 12:  Winner Game 9 v Winner Game 10 (Loser Eliminated)
 
Day Three:  Saturday, May 3
11 a.m. | Game 13:  Winner Game 12 v. Loser Game 11 (Loser Eliminated)
1:30 p.m. | Game 14: Winner Game 11 v.  Winner Game 13
4 p.m. | Game 15: IF NECESSARY….should Game 13 winner win Game 14

WESTERN DIVISION FIELD

NO. 1 SEED CALIFORNIA (PA.) VULCANS
Head Coach: Rick Bertagnolli (22nd Season)
Overall Record: 29-9
PSAC Record: 23-5 (First Place West)
NCAA Regional Ranking: Fifth
NFCA National Ranking: Receiving votes
All-Time Record vs. Gannon: 33-4
PSAC Tournament Record vs. Gannon: 1-0
Batting Average: .346
ERA: 1.87
 
TEAM NOTES
- Posting a 29-9 overall mark, California (Pa.) enters the postseason on a 12-game win streak. The Vulcans are currently receiving votes in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II Poll. Cal claimed the Western Division's top seed with 23 total victories. Cal posted a 23-5 record in division play.
- The Vulcans occupy the fifth spot in the latest NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional ranking.
- Among PSAC leaders, California (Pa.) ranks first in batting average (.346), slugging percentage (.536), on-base percentage (.406) and home runs (46).
- First baseman Lindsey Reicoff leads the conference with a .451 batting average. The All-PSAC Western Division first-team selection also sits atop the PSAC in slugging percentage (917), on-base percentage (.500), RBIs (44) and home runs (16). Teammate Kaity Finley also occupies a spot among the top-10 conference hitters with a .392 batting average.
- Reicoff, 2015 PSAC Western Division Freshman of the Year Emily Price (.684) and Jacquelyn Fowler (.625) rank among the league's top slugging percentages. 
- The Vulcans' pitching staff holds a 1.81 ERA to rank first among the PSAC. The Vulcans are led by 2015 PSAC Western Division Pitcher of the Year and reigning Louisville Slugger Division II Player of the Week Alex Sagl (16-4) with a 1.33 ERA, ranking first in strikeouts (176) among conference leaders.    
 
NO. 2 SEED SETON HILL GRIFFINS
Head Coach: Bill Monstrola (First Season)
Overall Record: 30-11-1
PSAC Record: 22-9-1 (Second Place West)
NCAA Regional Ranking: n/a
NFCA National Ranking: n/a
All-Time Record vs. Gannon: 18-3
PSAC Tournament Record vs. Gannon: 0-0
Batting Average: .343
ERA: 2.49
 
TEAM NOTES
- In its second year as a PSAC member, Seton Hill will make its first appearance at the PSAC Tournament. The Griffins own a 30-11-1 overall record and 22-9-1 division mark.
- Entering the PSAC Tournament, the Griffins have dropped three of their last four games. Prior to the recent stumble, SHU had won 14 straight following a sweep by visiting Gannon April 4.
- The Griffins are led by first-year head coach Bill Monstrola, who was named this year's PSAC Western Division Coach of the Year.
- Among PSAC leaders, the Griffins hold the second-best batting average (.343). The Griffins also rank second in runs scored (263), total hits (407), triples (20) and RBIs (227). The team leads the conference in doubles (81).
- Designated player Ashley Perillo and pitcher Christine Henderson each landed on the PSAC Western Division First Team.
- The Griffins' pitching staff ranks fifth among the PSAC with a 2.49 ERA. All-PSAC Western Division second-team selection Kaitlyn Kutchman ranks ninth (2.07) in ERA. Kutchman (.216) and Henderson (.218) are among the top-10 leaders in opponents' batting averages.    
 
NO. 3 SEED GANNON LADY KNIGHTS
Head Coach: Jake Jakubowski (Seventh Season)
Overall Record: 25-12
PSAC Record: 19-7 (Third Place West)
NCAA Regional Ranking: Seventh
NFCA National Ranking: n/a
Batting Average: .312
ERA: 3.41
 
TEAM NOTES
- Gannon owns the Western Division's third seed with a division record of 19-7 and 25-12 overall mark. The Lady Knights have split their last eight games. For the fifth consecutive season, the Lady Knights reached the 20-win milestone.
- Senior Jess Rectenwald (Pittsburgh, Pa. / North Hills) was named the PSAC Western Division Athlete of the Year announced by the conference April 29. Rectenwald also earned first-team honors with five additional Lady Knights claiming second-team honors. Junior Alexa Archambeault (Horseheads, N.Y. / Horseheads), junior Alyssa Bates (Greensburg, Pa. / Hempfield), redshirt senior Katie Dunn (Clarkston, Mich. / Troy), sophomore Olivia Gumbita (Latrobe, Pa. / Greater Latrobe) and sophomore Jen Moran (West Mifflin, Pa. / Fox Chapel) each landed on the division's second team.
- The Lady Knights hold the seventh spot in the latest NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional ranking.
- GU possesses the PSAC's fourth-best offense with a .312 hitting average. The Lady Knights rank among the conference's top-five in runs (217), doubles (61), RBIs (195) and on-base percentage (.384).
- Rectenwald occupies second among the league's top hitters. She is second in batting average (.425) and on-base percentage (.466). Bates also joins Rectenwald in the conference's list of top hitters. The junior ranks second in RBIs (43) and seventh in slugging percentage (.652) and is tied for second in home runs (8).
- The Lady Knights' pitching staff is listed 10th among the PSAC leaders with a 3.41 ERA, ranking ninth in total strikeouts (182). Rectenwald provides the Lady Knights dual-threat, she ranks first on the team in ERA (2.37) and hitting average (.425). Gumbita has compiled a 3.75 ERA with a 12-4 overall mark. She ranks fourth in batters struck out (114) and eighth in batters struck out looking (27).
 
LADY KNIGHTS AT PSAC TOURNAMENT
The Lady Knights own a combined record of 3-8 in four 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 five Lady Knights' PSAC Tournament appearances.
 
The Lady Knights posted a 1-2 record last year in the double-elimination conference tournament. GU fell to Eastern Division second-seed Bloomsburg, 5-2, in the opening contest May 1, before walking off with a 3-2 win in nine innings over Eastern Division fourth-seed Mansfield later in the evening. The Lady Knights dropped a 2-1 pitcher's duel decision on a walk-off home run to Eastern Division top-seed West Chester. The Maroon and Gold closed the season with a 24-21 overall record, reaching the 20-win plateau for the fourth consecutive year.

NO. 4 SEED INDIANA (PA.) CRIMSON HAWKS
Head Coach: Bill Graham (Sixth Season)
Overall Record: 18-22
PSAC Record: 14-14 (Fourth Place West)
NCAA Regional Ranking: n/a
NFCA National Ranking: n/a
All-Time Record vs. Gannon: 8-8
PSAC Tournament Record vs. Gannon: 0-0
Batting Average: .328
ERA: 5.25
 
TEAM NOTES
- Indiana (Pa.) clinched the Western Division's fourth and final seed of the PSAC Tournament following a sweep of Edinboro April 28. The Crimson Hawks own an18-22 overall mark and 14-14 record in divisional play. IUP won four of their last six games to secure the last seed.
- Three Crimson Hawks earned an All-PSAC Western Division first-team selection including shortstop Stefanie McCoy, outfielder Megan Gould and catcher Meghan Carney. Among PSAC hitting leaders, second-team selection Hannah Mercer ranks fifth in both batting average (.405) and slugging percentage (.669). 
- The Crimson Hawks claimed five All-PSAC selections this season.
- Among the PSAC pitching leaders, the Crimson Hawks rank 15th with a 5.22 ERA and 16th in opponents' batting average (.339). 
 
EASTERN DIVISION FIELD
 
NO. 1 SEED WEST CHESTER GOLDEN RAMS
Head Coach: Diane Lokey (12th Season)
Overall Record: 38-12
PSAC Record: 22-6 (First Place East)
NCAA Regional Ranking: Third
NFCA National Ranking: 25th
All-Time Record vs. Gannon: 2-1
PSAC Tournament Record vs. Gannon: 1-0
Batting Average: .310
ERA: 1.97
 
TEAM NOTES
- West Chester earned the PSAC Eastern Division's top seed with a 22-6 divisional mark and 38-12 overall record. The Golden Rams have won 12 of their last 14 games entering the tournament.
- The Golden Rams occupy third place in the latest NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional ranking.
- West Chester swept the PSAC Eastern Division major student-athlete awards. Laura Alternberger was named Athlete of the Year, while Amanda Houck earned both Pitcher and Freshman of the Year honors.
- Among PSAC hitting leaders, the Golden Rams rank first in runs scored (274), total hits (424) and triples (20), second in doubles (80), home runs (34) and RBIs (242), fourth in slugging percentage (.472) and fifth in batting average (.310).
- The Golden Rams' pitching staff ranks third among the PSAC with a 1.97 ERA. The team's staff is led by Houck, who owns the conference's third-best ERA (1.43). Katie Erb joins Houck among the top-10 pitchers in the conference with a 1.86 ERA. Brooke Harner has held opposing batters to a .209 average followed by Houck at a clip of .215.     
 
NO. 2 SEED BLOOMSBURG HUSKIES
Head Coach: Susan Kocher (Fifth Season)
Overall Record: 24-14
PSAC Record: 19-9 (Second Place East)
NCAA Regional Ranking: Sixth
NFCA National Ranking: n/a
All-Time Record vs. Gannon: 8-1
PSAC Tournament Record vs. Gannon: 4-0
Batting Average: .263
ERA: 1.94
 
TEAM NOTES
- Bloomsburg secured the Eastern Division second seed with a 19-9 division record and 24-14 overall mark. The Huskies have dropped four of their last five games to conclude the regular season.
- The Huskies hold sixth place in the latest NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional ranking.
- Among the PSAC team leaders, the Huskies own the 11th-best batting average (.263). The Huskies' offense is led by Kayla McHale, who is batting .377 for the season.
- Three Huskies landed on the All-PSAC Eastern Division First Team including outfielder Emily Mayhew, pitcher Taylor Parker and utility/pitcher Sarah Bertoni.     
- The Huskies' pitching staff ranks second in the PSAC with a 1.94 ERA, sharing fifth place in total strikeouts (211). Two Huskies' pitchers rank among the top-10 in the PSAC, including Sarah Bortner with a 1.37 ERA and Taylor Parker with a 1.67 ERA.
 
NO. 3 SEED KUTZTOWN GOLDEN BEARS
Head Coach: Judy Lawes (28th Season)
Overall Record: 30-16
PSAC Record: 16-12 (Third Place East)
NCAA Regional Ranking: Fourth
NFCA National Ranking: n/a
All-Time Record vs. Gannon: 4-1
PSAC Tournament Record vs. Gannon: 1-0
Batting Average: .250
ERA: 2.29
 
TEAM NOTES
- Kutztown clinched the third spot in the PSAC Eastern Division with a 16-12 division record and 30-16 overall mark. The Golden Bears were swept by division leader West Chester to close the regular-season slate.
- The Golden Bears missed the PSAC Tournament last season for the first time in a decade. In missing last season, the Golden Bears were unable to defend the program's first conference title.
- In the latest NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional ranking, the Golden Bears own the fourth slot.
- Freshman catcher Bridget Newman earned All-PSAC Eastern Division first-team honors. Fellow freshman designated player Danielle Amato claimed an All-PSAC Eastern Division second-team spot along with pitcher Savannah Nierintz, who ranks fifth in the conference with a 1.79 ERA. Nierintz also occupies seventh among conference leaders in strikeouts (79).
- The Golden Bears' pitching staff ranks fourth in the PSAC with a 2.29 ERA. 
 
NO. 4 SEED EAST STROUDSBURG WARRIORS
Head Coach: Jill Fuduric (Eighth Season)
Overall Record: 21-18
PSAC Record: 14-14 (Fourth Place East)
NCAA Regional Ranking: Ninth
NFCA National Ranking: n/a
All-Time Record vs. Gannon: 0-0
PSAC Tournament Record vs. Gannon: 0-0
Batting Average: .281
ERA: 2.85
 
TEAM NOTES
- East Stroudsburg finished the season on a three-game winning streak to secure the fourth and final Eastern Division spot with a 14-14 division mark and 21-18 overall record. Prior to the Warriors' win streak, they went on a six-game slump late in the season.
- The Warriors currently hold the ninth spot in the latest NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional ranking.
- Head coach Jill Fuduric was named this season's PSAC Eastern Division Coach of the Year.
- Third baseman Mary Wallick and designated player Sierra Wagner each picked up All-PSAC Eastern Division first-team honors. Wallick (.359) and Wagner (.333) concluded the regular season as the Warriors' top-two batters, respectively.
- Among the PSAC hitting leaders, the Warriors occupy ninth with a .281 average.
- The Warriors' pitching staff occupies eighth in the PSAC with a 2.85 ERA, surrendering the fourth-lowest amount of hits (260). The staff is led by Rachael Liguori, who ranks among the top-10 PSAC leaders in multiple categories. Liguori ranks 10th in the conference in ERA (2.09), ninth in opposing batting average (.226) and strikeouts (85). She is also sixth in batters struck out looking (28).