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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Last Year's PSAC Central Co-Champion Mounties Open 2014 Softball Season in North Carolina this Weekend

MANSFIELD – After capturing the first PSAC divisional title in program history, the Mansfield University softball team will take the first steps to a 2014 playoff berth when the Mountaineers travel to Raleigh, NC this weekend for five games at the Shaw University Softball Challenge.

Friday's opening game schedule has been postponed because of projected weather concerns. Mansfield is now scheduled to open the season Saturday against USC-Aiken at 1 p.m. and Virginia Union at 3 p.m. They are scheduled to play Columbus State on Sunday at 9 a.m. followed by a 1 p.m. game with Shaw before departing for home.

The Mountaineers, last year's PSAC Central Co-Champions, will be moving to the PSAC East this season with the conference dropping the three division format of the past five seasons and returning to the two division East – West format.

With the addition of the top three teams from the PSAC Central, the newly reorganized PSAC East has emerged as a super division in NCAA Division II softball. Still, the Mountaineers have well-earned expectations of continuing the success of the past two seasons that produced 45 wins and a divisional crown.

Bloomsburg and Lock Haven, both of which tied with Mansfield for the PSAC Central crown in 2013, will also move to the PSAC East creating an eight-team division. The division includes Shippensburg, last year's East winner, Kutztown, which played in the 2013 NCAA Division II National Championship game, West Chester, Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, East Stroudsburg and Millersville in addition to Mansfield.

"This division was very competitive before and with the addition of us, Bloomsburg and Lock Haven will be even more so," said head coach Edith Gallagher. "There are so many good teams that it's going to be tough for any one or two teams to dominate making the ability to bounce back and keep focused the keys for success."

The PSAC West features last year's members California, Gannon, Edinboro, Slippery Rock and Mercyhurst with Indiana and Clarion moving over from the PSAC Central. Seton Hill is new to the PSAC this season.

While the task may sound challenging, Gallagher enters her 23rd season at the helm with the core of last season's championship team intact headed by three All-PSAC selections including All-American Kate Pratt (Troy/Troy).

Pratt, who was the NCAA Division II home runs per game leader, was named the PSAC Central Player of the Year in 2013 for her stellar performance with her bat as well as on the mound. The senior led the PSAC in home runs (15), slugging percentage (.854), and RBI's per game while finishing seventh in the conference with a .392 batting average.

When she wasn't playing shortstop, Pratt was also exceptional on the mound posting an 8-7 mark with a 2.33 ERA and 68 strikeouts.

Pratt and fellow senior Emily Crandell (Mifflinburg/Mifflinburg) will be the mainstays in the circle this season. Crandell, who was the top reliever over the past three years, will move into the starting rotation after striking out 27 batters in 26 innings last season. A cagey veteran who performs well in pressure situations, Crandell is expected to make a smooth transition into her new role.

Sophomore Ashley Inman (Tunkhannock/Tunhannock) will also see time in circle after going 3-1 as a freshman with a 3-to-1 strikeout to walk ratio in 32 innings work. Inman also played a key role for the Mountaineers offensively last season starting 39 games as the DP and at first with three home runs and 20 RBI's.

Laura Knight (Conklin,NY/Susquehanna Valley) joins the staff after transferring from Broome Community College. Knight earned all-league honors in each of last two high school seasons.

Handling the catching chores will be junior Alanna Jenknis (Apalachin,NY/Owego Free) and freshman Hannah Secord (Johnson City, NY/Johnson City). Jenkins stared 11 games last season and has displayed improved hitting prowess during the offseason while Secord has impressive defensive skills for a first-year player.

While Pratt deservedly received recognition as one of the top players in the county, fellow senior Stephanie Simmeth (Cheektowaga,NY/St. Mary's) was equally impressive. Perhaps one of the most overlooked players in the PSAC, Simmeth is an exceptional hitter who earned 1st Team All-PSAC Central honors last season. Simmeth has been the Mountaineers starting centerfielder and leadoff hitter for the past three seasons. Last year, Simmeth was second on the team with a .339 batting average, posting 11 multi-hit games while recording an error-free season in the field.

Simmeth will anchor the outfield, but the Mountaineers will be without the services of Megan Miller (Hughesvile/Hughesville) and Taylor Stupski (Binghamton,NY/Chenango Valley) for at least the start of the season. The duo, who combined for 77 starts in the outfield as freshmen last season, are both nursing injuries.

That opens potential starting spots for freshmen Kayla Allen (Jersey Shore/Jersey Shore), Kate Savage (Scranton/Scranton) and Laura Lawson (Morgantown/Twin Valley). Allen, a two-time All-State selection, stole 40 bases in her last two seasons in high school. Savage hit .440 as a senior and was a two-time all-league selection while Lawson earned all-division honors three times in high school.

Senior Kaitlyn Harris (Endwell,NY/Maine-Endwell) returns at first base where she has seen action as a starter for the past three years. A polished fielder, Harris started 39 games at first in 2013 and showed consistent improvement at the plate while leading the team in walks.

Courtney Bauder (Jersey Shore/Jersey Shore) started all 40 games at second as a sophomore last season, earning 1st Team All-PSAC Central honors by hitting .333 with six home runs and 24 runs batted in. A bulldog at the plate as well as in the field, Bauder also earned All-Region honors.

Bauder will be backed up by sophomore Kaitlyn Hewitt (Endicott,NY/Union-Endicott) who has a season of varsity experience under her belt.
Junior Amanda Goodwin (Troy/Troy) is slotted for the starting spot at third and will move to shortstop when Pratt pitches. Goodwin, who started 16 games last year, is an exceptional fielder with good speed.

When Goodwin's playing short, look for freshman Kayla Hahn (Buffalo,NY/Hutchinson Central) to take over third. Hahn earned 1st Team All-League honors four times in high school as a third baseman and pitcher.