LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Mercyhurst University softball team was predicted to finish fourth in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West Division announced Thursday afternoon by the conference office.

The Lakers finished with an overall record of 20-30-0 and 7-9 in the PSAC to capture their third straight playoff bid. Mercyhurst fell to both Kutztown and Gannon to be knocked out of the tournament. The Lakers finished the regular season in second with Gannon.

The Lakers returned 13 lettermen to the roster and lost six including five due to graduation. The Lakers returned five starters to the line-up including power house senior Courtney Smith who led the team last year in a career-high batting average (.411).

Sophomore Allison Yule and senior Megan Smith also return as crucial members to the Lakers offense. Yule ended her season with a .321 batting average including a team high three homeruns and collected 20 RBIs in the process. Smith collected a .263 batting average and ten RBIs as the starting short stop for the Lakers.

As a team, the Lakers collected a .365 batting average in the 50 games played. They totaled 365 hits and drove in 158 RBIs. On the field the Lakers collected 946 putouts and 510 assists with Courtney Smith leading the putouts with 400 as a first basemen. Mercyhurst also marked a .950 field percentage to their opponents .955.

Under the direction of head coach Leanne Baker and assistant coaches Dana Webb and Kristi Janoske the Lakers look to improve their record in the newly revamped PSAC divisions. In previous year, the PSAC had softball split up into three divisions with this year the teams forming just two. IUP, Seton Hill and Clarion will move from the central division to the west.

California (Pa.) was picked to win the conference with 7 first place votes. IUP was favored second while Gannon received one first place vote and was picked third. Slippery Rock (5), Edinboro (6), Seton Hill (7), and Clarion (8) will also compete in the division.

The Lakers kick off their season on Saturday, February 8 at Queens University in North Carolina. The double header is set for a 1:00 p.m. start. The weekend down south will conclude on Sunday, February 9 with a double header at Lenoir-Rhyne College at 1:00 p.m.