LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The East Stroudsburg Warriors and Mercyhurst Lakers have been voted as the top teams in the Eastern and Western divisions, respectively, in the 2024 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Softball Preseason Polls.
The polls are voted on by the conference’s head coaches.
East Stroudsburg sits atop the Eastern Division poll after collecting five first-place votes, with West Chester (second in the poll) and Shippensburg (third) each collecting a pair of first-place votes. In the Western Division poll, Mercyhurst received four first-place votes, outpacing Seton Hill (three) and one vote each for Gannon and Slippery Rock.
Find the complete polls as well as team-by-team capsules below.
EASTERN DIVISION (# of first place votes)
1. East Stroudsburg (5)
2. West Chester (2)
3. Shippensburg (2)
4. Kutztown
5. Bloomsburg
6. Lock Haven
7. Shepherd
8. Millersville
9. Mansfield
WESTERN DIVISION (# of first place votes)
1. Mercyhurst (4)
2. Seton Hill (3)
3. Gannon (1)
4. Slippery Rock (1)
5. California
6. IUP
7. Clarion
8. Pitt-Johnstown
9. Edinboro
EASTERN DIVISION
The top spot in the Eastern Division’s preseason poll was secured by East Stroudsburg. The Warriors completed a record-breaking season in 2023 by finishing with a 44-19 overall record and capturing its first NCAA Division II Atlantic Region Championship in program history. Five of ESU’s six All-PSAC performers return in 2024, including ace Paige Zigmund (26 wins, 1.96 ERA, 186 strikeouts in 214.2 innings). Offensively, those returners are led by Reilly Vicendese (.371 average, 16 doubles, 34 RBIs, 27 stolen bases) and also include Katherine Donaghue, Jada Smallwood, and Abigail Weirich. ESU is also the lone PSAC team named in the NFCA Division II Top-25 Coaches Preseason Poll, coming in at No. 6.
Voted second in the 2024 PSAC Softball Preseason Poll is West Chester. The Golden Rams advanced to the NCAA Atlantic Region Tournament after finishing the season as the Eastern Division’s top seed (37-19 overall record, 24-6 PSAC). Freshman pitcher Danielle Ciliberto emerged as a dominant force, tallying 14 wins and a 1.66 ERA over 122 innings of work. Also returning as a graduate student is Madison Melvin, who led the entire PSAC in average (.481) and scored 58 runs with seven triples and a conference-best 37 stolen bases in 2023.
The defending PSAC Tournament champion Shippensburg Raiders were voted third in this year’s poll. SU’s bats came alive in the postseason, as the team rampaged unbeaten throughout the PSAC bracket and defeated Bloomsburg 7-4 to claim the 2023 title. Tournament MVP Caitlyn Martell returns as a sophomore after batting .378 with 50 runs scored, eight home runs, and 16 doubles last season and joins fellow returning sluggers Morgan Lindsay (.388, 58 RBIs, 10 home runs) and Taylor Myers (.378, 48 runs) to anchor the Shippensburg lineup.
Kutztown (30-26 overall, 22-10 PSAC in 2023) comes in fourth in this year’s poll. Pitcher Haley Gravish (164.1 innings, 2.34 ERA, 19 wins) was a workhorse for the Golden Bears and should return to the circle this spring. Junior outfielder Brianna Stocklin is also back after batting .361 with 45 runs scored and stealing 24 bases last spring.
The Bloomsburg Huskies (25-33 overall, 15-17 PSAC) advanced to the 2023 PSAC Championship in large part due to the efforts of pitcher Callie Sowers, who led the conference in strikeouts (259 total) by nearly 80 and tossed 209 innings with a 2.85 ERA. Sophomore Sage Weidlich is also back after logging a .372 average with 24 RBIs, 30 runss scored, and 11 doubles as a freshman in 2023.
The remainder of the 2024 PSAC Softball Eastern Division Preseason Poll is rounded out by Lock Haven, Shepherd, Millersville, and Mansfield.
WESTERN DIVISION
The Western Division’s top team in the 2024 poll is Mercyhurst (34-21 overall, 21-11 PSAC in 2023). The deep lineup that led the PSAC in average (.341), runs (541), and hits (541) includes returner Eliza Reynolds (.374 average, 33 RBIs, 10 doubles). In the circle, the trio of Laker arms all with over 20 appearances return – Mikaela Schramski, Morgan Hilty, and Alexa North. Hilty tossed 18 complete games with a 3.12 ERA, while Schramski (65 strikeout sin 108.1 innings) and North (2.96 ERA and 63 strikeouts in 68.2 innings) were also incredibly effective.
Right behind Mercyhurst in the No. 2 spot is the Seton Hill Griffins, who ended 2023 29-17 overall (22-8 in conference play.) Pitcher Lauren Dellett was one of the most successful arms in the conference, earning the second-best ERA (1.89) in 174.1 innings with 147 strikeouts. Dellett also has some pop at the plate, hitting .374 and three home runs. Grace Paredes (10 home runs, 38 RBIs) and Mackenzie Zang (.374, 24 runs scored) also return to the lineup.
The Gannon Golden Knights (19-28 overall, 17-15 PSAC) qualified as the West’s fifth seed in last year’s PSAC Tournament but performed well, losing to eventual champion Shippensburg in the first round but eliminating the East’s top seed West Chester with a 9-7 win. Gannon led the conference in home runs with 43 – including returner Abbey Girman’s 12 long balls and 42 RBIs. Jules Ryan (.320 average, six home runs, 27 RBIs) and Josie Spano (.287, six home runs, 18 RBIs) also return. The Knights’ top returning arm is junior Maggie Lendo, who threw 142.2 innings with a 3.73 ERA and 112 strikeouts.
Voted the No. 4 team in this year’s poll is Slippery Rock, who finished 2023 with an overall record of 29-24 (19-13 PSAC). Two-way player Alexsa Hurd is back after posting impressive totals at the plate (.395, 36 runs, 13 home runs, 58 RBIs) and in the circle (116 innings, 3.44 ERA, 124 strikeouts.) The Rock’s other option in the circle is senior Kelsi Anderson, who notched 146.2 innings with a 3.01 ERA and 176 strikeouts.
The California Vulcans (27-24 overall, 19-13 PSAC) were voted fifth in this spring’s poll and should once again be a threat. Offensively, Kaitlyn Achtermeier returns after compiling a .386 average, 28 runs, 16 doubles, and 40 RBIs in 2023. Pitcher Caleigh Rister anchors the pitching staff after finishing last spring with a 2.12 ERA (fourth-best in the conference) in 141.2 innings with 100 strikeouts.
The remainder of the 2024 PSAC Softball Western Division Preseason Poll is rounded out by IUP, Clarion, UPJ, and Edinboro.